Sex Education
Education, in William Branham’s cult of personality, is a topic of strong debate. Many sects in the cult forbid higher education and even basic education according to William Branham’s instruction, while other sects choose to ignore Branham’s rules and educate their children.
Education, in William Branham’s cult of personality, is a topic of strong debate. Many sects in the cult forbid higher education and even basic education according to William Branham’s instruction, while other sects choose to ignore Branham’s rules and educate their children.
In sects where education is permitted, sex education is typically forbidden. Branham preached strongly against the education system and used sex education as one of his reasons for asking cult members to make their children suffer in a world where many jobs require college degrees. According to Branham, teaching sex was part of "woman worship"[1] and caused children to "have affairs".[2] In one slip of the tongue, Branham almost exposed himself in these rants. Preaching against education, he said that people were "teaching sex in our chur …" and almost said churches.[3]
William Braham’s church was founded by Klan leader Roy E. Davis, who was a sexual predator. Davis was a bigamist and brought multiple children across state lines for the purposes of sex — leading to criminal suits. While working with Branham in Jeffersonville, Davis was arrested from the platform during a revival.[4] His victim, Allie Lee Garrison, became one of his many wives.[5] In the Texas prison log, the words "sex pervert" are written under his name.[6]
In a church founded by a sexual predator, as a bishop in a new Pentecostal denomination founded by that sexual predator, William Branham held sex classes for women.
Some little old girl, here not long ago…This ain't a joke, 'cause I don't mean to tell it as a joke. But the people knows that this is no place to joke. But a little old girl here, she…There was fine boys here, Christian boys. Long time ago, when I was pastoring here, we used to have just young men's classes. And I'd speak to the young women on Sunday afternoon, about sex and things. Then the next Sunday afternoon, speak to the young men, and try to get those things curbed out.[7]
As late as 1965, William Branham held sex classes. It is not surprising that these are missing from the cult's transcripts and recordings, but it is surprising that they made their way into his sermons. Branham openly discussed the female orgasm during a service and planned to spend the entire day talking about sex. In preparation for that discussion, Branham came to the service with papers and "things" to discuss sex.[8]
There is where she has her walleyed conditions and things, when she has her sensations far beyond what any man could ever do. I'll stop there 'cause we're in a mixed crowd. I'll get some men, I'll…we'll talk more about it. Got all the papers and things laying right here, right at my hand right now, and I was going to bring it to you this morning. I was going to take the full day in this[9]
While we do not have the missing transcripts, we do have some of Branham's doctrinal teachings about sex. Branham claimed that the Original Sin in the Garden of Eden was a result of Eve's lust for knowledge of sex.[10] The female human, according to Branham, was "designed to be a sex act".[11]