The Rise of the Children of God

This chapter explores the transformation of the cult from Teens for Christ to the Children of God under a charismatic yet authoritarian leader. It examines the group's financial strategies, control over members' lives, and the complex psychological dynamics at play, including the leader's descent into polygamy. Through the lens of the 'Mo letters' and the manipulation of counterculture, the narrative reveals the tension between the cult's image of freedom and the oppressive reality within.