Brethren Overview
Group Name: Brethren, a.k.a. Garbage Eaters
Founder: Jimmy T. Roberts died 2015
Current Leader: Jerry Williams (Brother Hatsair)
Date Founded:1970s
Locations: Itinerant
Characteristics:
- The group endorses non-orthodox theology: The group is non-trinitarian, having adopted modalism, likely due to Roberts’s past exposure to the UPC. The end is imminent, and salvation is based on a literal and rigid following of Jesus’ teachings.[1]
- The Leader is an infallible authority: Roberts was viewed as infallible.[2]
- Leadership seeks control over members’ activities, behaviors, and finances: Perhaps due to his military experience, he tightly controlled the group’s members.
- Requires unquestioning faith and allegiance to the leader or group: He called for total obedience and demanded an immediate response from those with whom they made contact. There was a sense of urgency.[3]
- Suppression of Critical Thinking: The group demanded all the time of the disciples. Critical thinking was discouraged.
- Intimidation, fear, and shame are used to control members: There was a strong control structure and disobedience was not tolerated.
- Isolates or shuns former members, leading to loss of family connections and support: Members were hidden from their families and any contact was forbidden.[4]
- Allegations of financial abuse and lack of transparency: Members belongings went to the cult and they lived a life of voluntary poverty.
- Allegations of sexual misconduct: There is no mention of sexual malfeasance.
Narrative:
Brethren- The Brethren, established by Jimmy T. Roberts, traces its roots to the mid-20th century, presenting itself as a spiritual community advocating for simplicity, communal living, and adherence to Roberts’ teachings. However, over time, it has garnered a reputation for being cultish due to its authoritarian structure, strict control over members’ lives, and isolation from mainstream society. Roberts, often regarded as an infallible leader, exercises significant influence over members, dictating their behavior, relationships, and even career choices. The group’s closed-off nature and emphasis on secrecy raise concerns about manipulating and exploiting its followers. Reports of psychological manipulation, coerced donations, and the suppression of dissent further contribute to the perception of The Brethren as a cult, drawing parallels to other notorious groups with similar characteristics.
[1] James K. Walker and the Staff of Watchman Fellowship, Profile Notebook: An Evangelical Christian Evaluation of New Religious Movements, Cults, the Occult, and Controversial Doctrines (Arlington, TX: Watchman Fellowship, Inc., 1993-2024), 2, accessed May 30, 2024, https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/brethrenprofile.pdf.
[2] James K. Walker and the Staff of Watchman Fellowship, Profile Notebook: An Evangelical Christian Evaluation of New Religious Movements, Cults, the Occult, and Controversial Doctrines (Arlington, TX: Watchman Fellowship, Inc., 1993-2024), 1, accessed May 30, 2024, https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/brethrenprofile.pdf.
[3] The Clandestine Brotherhood: Inside a Secretive and Controversial Religious Cult, Religion News Blog, March 25, 1998, accessed May 30, 2024, https://www.religionnewsblog.com/13557/the-clandestine-brotherhood-inside-a-secretive-and-controversial-religious-cult
[4] Ibid.