A family of 14 has left their West Coast religious commune to start a new life after being convinced of not living in a "false system" forever. The family concluded their ties with Gloriavale Christian Community in Haupiri last weekend. At present, they are staying with another family 300km away in Timaru, major port city in New Zealand; wish to be absorbed into the lifestyles of ordinary people.

"It's a huge deal for them to stop wearing their community clothes and so they are going to transition slowly," said Liz Gregory, who has given them shelter.

When Mrs. Gregory appealed through her Facebook page for donations to help the family, it received a huge response. They are obviously "blown away" by the generosity of the local community shown in offering clothes, furniture, household items, books, toys etc. The Facebook has been deleted since it already brought about a positive reaction!

The life on the other side

A Timaru journalist Chris Hyde, who has visited Gloriavale twice, writes, “the Gloriavale Christian Community is by no means an ideal world, but my limited experiences of it was positive.” Apart from other interesting aspects of the community, dinners are a communal affair there. Everyone wears standard blue clothing and they generate cash out of a dairy farm and the baskets they produce out of sphagnum moss from Lake Haupiri.

Beginning of a new society

Neville Cooper, an Australian-born evangelist who was invited to preach in New Zealand, founded the religious group in 1969. It was initially known as the Springbank Christian Community near Christchurch in the South Island, as the community grew bigger, its members shifted to West Coast in a period of four years. They then named their new property the Gloriavale Christian Community. Copper was convicted of sexual abuse in 1994 and spent 11 months in jail.

A world within world

Last year, when TV2 aired a documentary called ‘Gloriavale - A World Apart’ following the six-week courtship and marriage of one young couple in the community, some former members described it as "the other side to the story". According to media reports, the community does not tolerate the use of birth control and it is common for a married couple to have 12 or more kids.

Here are some more perspectives to other beliefs:

Census 2013: Catholicism Most Popular Religion in New Zealand Despite Growing Number of Non-Believers

Religion Vs. Science: Parents Denied New Zealand Baby to Get Cancer Treatment, Lost Court Battle

New Zealand Pre-schooler Suffers Attack For Wearing A Jewish Cap; Anti-Semitic Act Condemned

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