Ep 1. Children of God

In the season 2 premiere of People Magazine Investigates: Cults, the focus is on the notorious religious sect, Children of God. The episode explores the history of the cult and its charismatic founder, David Berg, who preached a lifestyle of free love and promiscuity in the name of God.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the cult's origins in California in the late 1960s, where Berg and his followers preached a revolutionary message in a time of social upheaval. However, as the cult grew, so did its dark underbelly, with reports of child abuse and sexual exploitation becoming increasingly common.

The victims of the cult's abuse are interviewed in the episode, recounting their harrowing experiences and the trauma that still haunts them to this day. The children born and raised within the cult were often subjected to unimaginable horrors, including forced prostitution and sexual abuse. The episode delves into the psychological manipulation that Berg and the cult's leaders used to maintain control over their followers, particularly those who were born into the cult and knew no other way of life.

Through interviews with former members of the cult and law enforcement officials, the episode also explores the complexity of investigating these kinds of cases, with many victims too traumatized to come forward or unable to provide concrete evidence of the crimes committed against them by the cult's leaders.

In a particularly poignant moment, one survivor who was born into the cult describes the guilt she still feels for having brought her own children into the world of the Children of God. It is a testament to the lasting impact of the cult and its abuse on those who were unfortunate enough to be caught up in its web.

Overall, the season 2 premiere of People Magazine Investigates: Cults does an excellent job of shining a light on a cult that is not as well-known as some of its contemporaries. The episode is a stark reminder of the horrors that can occur when blind faith is exploited and manipulated, and the devastating impact that such abuse can have on its victims.