Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2008, Page 50
have the same father, known in the group as Simon Peter. I mention ―biological‖ because as
a sociologist I am amazed at the strong connection between these sisters, who by their own
accounts were separated at a young age and continued to be kept apart with very little
physical interaction or communication throughout their lives. Also, as a former member of
The Children of God, I know that this group not only espoused but also enforced its
communal ideal by physically, emotionally, and psychologically dividing families, or what
they called ―selfish little units.‖
The authors‘ accounts of sexual, emotional, and physical exploitation and abuse will interest
all readers concerned with social justice and human rights. The book will be a compelling
read for any parent, instructional material for any student of social sciences, and an
informative account for anyone with family members involved in cults or other fanatic
religious groups. But my primary recommendation of this book is for scholars of
controversial religious and social movements, and professionals working with abuse victims,
dysfunctional families, and cult survivors.
I was a member of The Children of God for fifteen years. Based on my insider knowledge, as
well as my informed understanding of the academic debates regarding this group, I found
Not Without My Sister most effective in its exposure of the way in which sexual and physical
abuse was not only encouraged but also practiced by its leaders throughout the group‘s
history. I have written in my memoir that I did not see child sexual abuse everywhere, but
we group members all read reports that indicated it existed in the homes of the cult‘s
leaders. This book sheds more light on the degree and progression of child abuse in the
Children of God, starting with the perspective an abused child.
The book opens with the story of Celeste, the first-born of Simon Peter, a charismatic young
disciple of the Children of God who rose to fame and favor with the leaders of the group as
a result of his ―Music with Meaning‖ radio shows in Greece. Readers become aware that
Simon‘s access and unfailing obedience to top leadership resulted in his children‘s
subsequent exposure to some of the worst child-abuse scenarios in the history of the group.
I am not denying that perhaps Celeste‘s story chronicles one of the more bizarre and
atrocious abuse experiences of children in The Family, but I remain suspicious of scholars
who claim that this abuse was isolated, since the extent of such activities is still unknown.
Celeste describes scenes that have become legends among ex-members of this group, such
as the beatings at the huge ―Combo homes‖ for teens, the rapes of young girls, and the
suicides of young male members. These stories have been exposed in Internet sites and
newspaper articles for years, but Celeste‘s account supports the stories and offers more
detail from a true insider‘s perspective—as a young child growing up and viewing the scenes
first-hand. Moreover, Celeste herself is not spared these injustices, and while the reader is
aghast that her father is not protecting her, Celeste continues to excuse him and hold him
on a pedestal. Any pretense that the leadership did not know of adults forcing sex on
children is dispelled by Celeste‘s account of living in leadership homes where she is forced
to have sex with adults. Celeste lived in the homes that most Family members only read
about in The Family newsletters. More-concerned parents in the group feared that their
teens would be sent to one of these ―Combo‖ homes, which were considered the juvenile
detention homes of The Family. Celeste is sent there not because she is bad but because
her father is needed in secret homes where she is not needed.
Celeste longs for reunion with her absent mother and sister, who left the group after being
separated from the rest of the family. A golden opportunity for escape and justice arises
when she is asked to testify in a British court case involving child abuse in the Children of
God. Because Celeste is one of the young girls dancing naked and suggestively on a video
used as evidence in the case, a reputed religious expert interviews her and asks her to
explain her childhood strip dance experience. Celeste repeats exactly what the leaders of
have the same father, known in the group as Simon Peter. I mention ―biological‖ because as
a sociologist I am amazed at the strong connection between these sisters, who by their own
accounts were separated at a young age and continued to be kept apart with very little
physical interaction or communication throughout their lives. Also, as a former member of
The Children of God, I know that this group not only espoused but also enforced its
communal ideal by physically, emotionally, and psychologically dividing families, or what
they called ―selfish little units.‖
The authors‘ accounts of sexual, emotional, and physical exploitation and abuse will interest
all readers concerned with social justice and human rights. The book will be a compelling
read for any parent, instructional material for any student of social sciences, and an
informative account for anyone with family members involved in cults or other fanatic
religious groups. But my primary recommendation of this book is for scholars of
controversial religious and social movements, and professionals working with abuse victims,
dysfunctional families, and cult survivors.
I was a member of The Children of God for fifteen years. Based on my insider knowledge, as
well as my informed understanding of the academic debates regarding this group, I found
Not Without My Sister most effective in its exposure of the way in which sexual and physical
abuse was not only encouraged but also practiced by its leaders throughout the group‘s
history. I have written in my memoir that I did not see child sexual abuse everywhere, but
we group members all read reports that indicated it existed in the homes of the cult‘s
leaders. This book sheds more light on the degree and progression of child abuse in the
Children of God, starting with the perspective an abused child.
The book opens with the story of Celeste, the first-born of Simon Peter, a charismatic young
disciple of the Children of God who rose to fame and favor with the leaders of the group as
a result of his ―Music with Meaning‖ radio shows in Greece. Readers become aware that
Simon‘s access and unfailing obedience to top leadership resulted in his children‘s
subsequent exposure to some of the worst child-abuse scenarios in the history of the group.
I am not denying that perhaps Celeste‘s story chronicles one of the more bizarre and
atrocious abuse experiences of children in The Family, but I remain suspicious of scholars
who claim that this abuse was isolated, since the extent of such activities is still unknown.
Celeste describes scenes that have become legends among ex-members of this group, such
as the beatings at the huge ―Combo homes‖ for teens, the rapes of young girls, and the
suicides of young male members. These stories have been exposed in Internet sites and
newspaper articles for years, but Celeste‘s account supports the stories and offers more
detail from a true insider‘s perspective—as a young child growing up and viewing the scenes
first-hand. Moreover, Celeste herself is not spared these injustices, and while the reader is
aghast that her father is not protecting her, Celeste continues to excuse him and hold him
on a pedestal. Any pretense that the leadership did not know of adults forcing sex on
children is dispelled by Celeste‘s account of living in leadership homes where she is forced
to have sex with adults. Celeste lived in the homes that most Family members only read
about in The Family newsletters. More-concerned parents in the group feared that their
teens would be sent to one of these ―Combo‖ homes, which were considered the juvenile
detention homes of The Family. Celeste is sent there not because she is bad but because
her father is needed in secret homes where she is not needed.
Celeste longs for reunion with her absent mother and sister, who left the group after being
separated from the rest of the family. A golden opportunity for escape and justice arises
when she is asked to testify in a British court case involving child abuse in the Children of
God. Because Celeste is one of the young girls dancing naked and suggestively on a video
used as evidence in the case, a reputed religious expert interviews her and asks her to
explain her childhood strip dance experience. Celeste repeats exactly what the leaders of
