The Branch Davidians

Works Cited

Bystander Problem

"The Branch Davidians." Christian Research Institute, 14 Apr. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.

"ATF Raids Branch Davidian Compound." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.

Burnett, John. "Two Decades Later, Some Branch Davidians Still Believe." NPR. NPR, 20 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

People within the cult saw the abuse towards children and others as the answer to their misbehavior or misaligned morals.

Parents of the children didn't act upon their innate drive to protect them, but instead because of their personal priorities, would resist taking action.

Group Think

"Frequently Asked Questions about Waco." Waco: The Inside Story. PBS, 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

Robinson, B. A. "Branch Davidians." BRANCH DAVIDIANS (STUDENTS OF THE SEVEN SEALS). Religious Tolerance, 19 Apr. 2003. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

Factors that promoted

Group Think:

- Isolation within the compound.

- Everyone united by the belief in the prophet and their communal mission.

- Directive Leadership from the prophet, Koresh.

- Common belief of impending Armageddon.

Obedience

to Authority

Group Cohesiveness

Roles of the Members

Notoriety

Although the cult of the Branch Davidians itself has extreme beliefs, what exposed them most to the public eye is the firefight that occurred at the Mount Carmel Compound.

Reasons and Factors

that played a role:

Group members all have very similar beliefs and religious values.

Every member is committed to being an ingrained part of the cult, to be among the chosen to survive the apocalypse.

All members are followers of their common leader, David Koresh.

They all see their participation as their religious and civil duty.

Member's seek acceptance from Koresh to be deemed worthy for survival of the apocalypse.

To avoid mental and physical abuse from Koresh.

To be accepted as a true follower by their own prophet.

Everyone's devotion is so strong, that it makes one's personal convictions of the cult even stronger.

Saw following Koresh as their only option in order to survive Armageddon.

The primary role of the group members, was to follow the leadership of Koresh and fulfill whatever commands he gave.

Stay loyal to the cult and put your life on the line to help maintain the cult's longevity.

Give all of your earnings from your job to directly support the group.

Prepare for the apocalypse by any means possible.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) had reason to believe that within the compound, there were illegal explosives and weapons under their possession. Once the Davidians heard that the ATF was planning their warranted investigation, they lashed back with violence in a full-scale firefight.

Over 100 Davidians died

during the burning of the compound.

History and Mission

When and Where?

Cult Norms

"If the Bible is true, then I'm Christ."

- David

Koresh

The Branch Davidians derive directly from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) in 1942. The initial breakaway from the SDA was spurred by a man named, Victor Houteff, who left because his beliefs simply differed to those of the traditional SDA.

Houteff believed that Christ's return would only occur when a small number of Christians had been purified, and that God gave him the job of performing the cleansing. The group ended up splitting off as a result of radical differences in ideology.

The Branch Davidians began as an independent religious group in 1955. The roots of this religious group began in a place called the Mount Carmel Center, located in Elk, Texas.

All females in the commune belong to Koresh, including all married women.

Children had to be well-behaved and follow what their elders said.

Everyone within the cult must acknowledge Koresh as the prophet and sole leader.

Extreme child abuse, beatings of disobedient members, among other forms

of physical and mental abuse.

About 30 years later after Houteff's death and a multitude of separate leaders, a new man arrived previously named, Vernon Howell, would take what was left of the Branch Davidians, and truly undergo a reformation on the teachings of the religion, he'd rename himself to David Koresh, and deem himself as the prophet and ultimate leader.

Mission

Throughout the brief history there were many power struggles and shifts, along with the groups' size diminishing and increasing when certain prophecies didn't occur or when certain new beliefs were popular.

The main goal of the Branch Davidians under the reign of David Koresh, is to initiate Armageddon and usher in the Kingdom of God on Earth. Koresh also specifies that his mission included fathering a new line of God's children.

The Branch Davidians Compound

Entrance Stone to Mt. Carmel Center

The Branch Davidians