The Family (Children of God)
Discussion Boards
exFamily.org Boards and Live Chat:
exFamily.org has 4 locally hosted discussion boards:
In addition, our Live Chatroom offers
instant live java chat with no moderation.
External Boards:
Links to other sites with popular discussion boards are provided for your convenience
- there are several at NewDayNews.com
which can be reached from here
using our interface.
Featured External Site:
Not just a chat board per se, the movingon.org
site is run by 2nd generation ex-members - and serves as a valuable resource for
information, research, and a safe haven for free, uncensored expression of 2nd
generation ex-members.
Archive and Information:
For your reference and information, a Who's Who
guide (Note: this section may be removed)
and a Hall of Fame repository are
also included in this section.
The rules and guidelines:
Each of these boards is different but there are common themes in all of them.
We ask you to note that coordinators operate in a non-editorial capacity, and
by posting at these boards you publish material world-wide instantly. As the publisher,
you must assume full legal responsibility for your statements. For more information
please see our Policies
section.
User end HTML Code and Layout:
The exFamily.org boards allow a limited number of html tags for formatting, and
codes for creating smileys. Learn about these tips and tricks
for using our locally hosted boards.
The following is an introduction of each discussion board or chatroom, internal
and external, and includes links to the rules and guidelines for each:
exFamily.org's locally hosted boards
- Generation eXers board - locally hosted
It is safe to assume that no member can come away from the COG experience
without re-examining his/her belief system. We recognize that many members once
exiting the Family have naturally become hesitant about their faith - if they
have any left to salvage. Many want to distance themselves from any talk of religion
whatsoever. With this in mind, we wish to offer a place where eXers can discuss
their ideas, hopes, despairs and aspirations freely and not feel compelled to
relate everything religiously. We realize that for some, this is a very necessary
and required space.
This board offers a friendly atmosphere where you can talk freely about your ideas,
thoughts, problems, politics...
>> see this board's
rules & guidelines for more info
>>
go to the Generation eXers board > >
- Academic/Research board - locally hosted
Si hoc legere scis numium eruditionis habes!
This discussion board is for Academic and Research purposes. Those with questions
about the existence of abuses in The Family, Family policies/doctrines/dogma,
Family publications, missing persons, or anything else that fits in the academic/research
vein may post here. Remember that when you present your ideas here, you present
them for discussion. We expect all posts to be written with an academic flavor
and dispassionate tone. If you wish to debate, please present your facts objectively,
do your homework and quote your sources if necessary. Posts unbefitting the above
will be deleted at the sole discretion of the coordinator.
>> see this board's
rules & guidelines for more info
>> go to the Academic/Research
board > >
- Journeys board - locally hosted
This board offers a safe, non-threatening environment for ex-members of The Family/Children
of God who, while de-toxing from the abusive spiritual atmosphere of the Family,
still have faith—or are on a spiritual journey, unsure of what they believe. It
was created for those who, while de-toxing from the spiritual atmosphere of The
Family, wish to discuss spiritual and Biblical issues, including comparing genuine
Christianity to heresies and spiritual abuse.
While we encourage active dialogue, we must caution you that respect for those
of different beliefs is imperative. The purpose of this board is not to preach
at or instruct others, but to share our hearts regarding our personal journey
out of the Family experience.
While we encourage active dialogue, we must caution you that respect for those
of different beliefs is imperative... This is a space for dialogue (not arguments)
between those who are of different spiritual persuasions. Some people have emerged
from Berg’s injurious teachings with faith in God intact, for others this is an
ongoing process; some have had their faith nearly destroyed by the group and have
put spiritual matters on ice. This board is a space for dialogue between those
who are of different spiritual persuasions.
>> see this board's
rules & guidelines for more info
> > go to the Journeys
board > >
- CQ (Seek You) board - locally hosted
This board was created in response to various requests we get from time to
time, from people seeking lost friends/family connected to the group called The
Family/Children of God. It is a place to reconnect and rediscover each other and
hopefully assist in the recovery process.... sort of a "Lost & Found" department.
Happy reunions!
In order to protect the identities of those who may not necessarily want to be
"found" only Bible names will be allowed in the CQs. An exception can be made
where there are extenuating circumstances, but written permission must be obtained
from the coordinator. Seekers may use their old Bible names as handles, or for
those who were never in the group, you may choose to use any name you want.
>> see this board's
rules & guidelines for more info
>> go to the CQ board >
>
- Chat room - locally hosted
For "live" interaction visit our Java-based chat room.
(Your firewall and browser setup must allow Java programs to run, and popup
windows to open)
> >
to the Chat room > >
external boards
These boards are hosted externally (belong to other websites) and we have simply
integrated them into the framework of this site so you can access them via a single
consistent interface.
We ask that you carefully observe the necessary etiquette for posting - the rules
for each board may vary considerably from one another. In accessing them via our
site, we ask that you also show all due courtesy and respect for the guidelines
as defined by the moderators of these boards, regardless of exFamily.org board
policies.
- NDN Recovery Forum - external
The Recovery Forum
is a non-political, non-religious, non-professional, self-support forum for ex-members,
families and friends... focused on supporting each other regarding our uncommon
experiences pre-cult, during and post-cult... without shame or blame. Leave your
doctrines at the door and share your strength, hope and support via your first
hand experience...
Hosted on the NewDayNews.com
(NDN) site, you can find your way to the other boards from the 'Recovery Forum'
page.
NDN was originally started by Barney, founder of the "Laurel Home", a place
which was run with a hybrid of current and ex-member values. Barney left NDN in
the reins of a new staff, and the site has been undergoing changes to accomodate
his departure. Some coordinators at NDN have recently expressed a less favourable
stance towards The Family, but wish to remain open to dialog with current members
and/or pro-Family factions.
> > go to the Recovery Forum (external) > >
Archives, Reference and Information:
Each board hosted by exFamily.org has it's own archive section. In addtion to
these archives, we have a Hall of Fame section where outstanding posts are reposited,
and a Who's Who section for information about regular board users.
- Hall of Fame - local repository
Some posts aren't that great - this is not about those...
Some are chit-chat or tit for tat - they don't end up here either...
Some are part of long discussion threads, which when read togther form a string
of pearls, offering some great insight - but we don't duplicate entire threads
here...
Some articles are just keepers! They are stand-alone classics. They might be works
of poetry or excellent and informative commentaries providing food for thought,
or soothing words to bring healing to the soul... or they might be a good laugh...
or the wonderful trademark essays of great writers. It is these collector's
items we want.
The coordinators reserve the right to include or omit any articles posted at exFamily.org
in this Hall of Fame. (Bulletin board posts are considered "public domain" unless
originating from other publishing media.)
>
> to the Hall of Fame > >
- Who's Who
A résumé of regular Bulletin Board posters
For meaningful dialogue to take place, it can be useful to know who you're dealing
with, and what they stand for.
It helps to know who to turn to, to discuss certain topics. And if you are a newcomer,
it helps if regular posters don't have to repeat themselves, restate their opinions,
or defend and reiterate their stance over and over again.
Skim through this alphabetical list of names and quick summaries (self-descriptions)
of their profiles. If available, you can then follow these profiles to archived
posts, previous articles and essays, and/or testimonies.
>
> to the Who's Who section > >
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