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Branch Davidian Cult

Presentation by:

Riley O'Connor

Introduction

The Branch Davidians were a religious organization led by David Koresh located at Mount Carmel Center ranch in the community of Axtell, Texas, 13 miles away from Waco, Texas. The group was located here from 1959 - April 19, 1993, when the siege led by A.T.F. agents finally ended and the group was destroyed.

Introduction

History

Group History

The Branch Davidians, run by David Koresh, we know who were responsible for the Waco siege was derived from many different leaders and beliefs. The original Branch Davidians began when Victor Houteff was disfellowshipped from a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Los Angeles, in 1929/30. Houteff tried to remain affiliated with his old church but in 1942 he decided to instead officially form the Davidian Seventh-day Adevtists Association.

Victor Houteff

Victor Houteff

Houteff was the one who originally formed the Branch Davidians after being disfellowed from his original church. He then developed his own beliefs and led his followers to Mt. Carmel, Texas. While Houteff beliefs were derived from his Seventh-day Adventist roots, the group had four doctoral beliefs that they followed; Sabbatarianism, vegetarianism, abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and non-medicinal drugs, and an excessive preoccupation with prophecy. When Houtteff passed in 1955, prophetic leadership fell to his wife, Florence. Florence had predicted that on April 22, 1959, would be the day God cleared out the Jews and Arabs from Palestine, ushering in of the Davidic kingdom and the possibility of Christs second coming. In preperation for this event members sold all their earthly possesions and gave all their money to the church, so when this failed to happen, many of its members left the Devidian movement or joined one of the several factions that broke off from the main sect.

The Rodens

Benjamin & George Roden

The largest fraction of Houteff's old Davidians was a group remaining near Mt. Carmel led by Benjamin Roden, who claimed that he was the "sign" Houteff's followers were waiting for. He was the one who gave the group, the "Branch" Davidians. When Roden passed, in 1978, leadership fell to his wife Lois, until she passed in 1986. After Lois passed away George Roden, Benjamin and Lois' son, took over leading the groups members. These leaders came with their own beliefs and evolved the group to believe that Christians must keep the feast days of Old Testament Israel, the Holy Spirit is female, and that Lois Roden was the incarnation of the Holy Spirit.

David Koresh

David Koresh

In 1981 Vernon Howell a.k.a. David Koresh joined the Branch Davidians after he was disfellowshipped from a Tyler, Texas Seventh-day Adventist church. While nearly all of the members accepted Koresh, he did not get along with the groups leader, George Roden. In 1983, a power struggle broke out between Koresh and Roden, when Koresh first claimed to be inspired of God. When the Davidians in the commune felt twos rivalry their loyalty and beliefs soon split and the ones guided under Koresh's leadership left Roden's commune and settled in Palestine, Texas in 1985. Koresh and his followers stayed at this settlement for nearly two years before in late 1987, Koresh and seven of his, armed and loyal followers, raided Roden's compound at night. Him and his men were arrested and charged with attempted murder, but the trial was deemed a mistrial and Koresh and his men all left the court as free men. while Roden was given six-months in jail for filing a legal brief, threatening to call AIDS upon the justices of the Texas State Supreme Court. During Roden's time spent in jail, Koresh and his disciples tookover the Branch Davidian's compound, Mt. Carmel.

David Koresh

The teachings of Koresh lead the Branch Davidians to withdraw even further from the realm of orthodoxy. Koresh insisted that the King James Version is the only true and uncorrupted translation of the Bible. He believed that he himself was the only one who can interpret Scripture. and that he was the antitypical David, for which he changed his name. Koresh also led the Davidians to believe that he is the antitypical Cyrus and so everything Koresh does is led by God, he was the Lamb of Revelation, and that he was Jesus Christ. Another one of Koresh's twisted teachings, in 1989, allowed for his Davidians, whom he called the "Koreshians", to believe that all females in the commune belong to Koresh, including all married women, although some of Koresh's own “wives” have been as young as 12 years old.

Leaders

George Roden

Victor Houteff

Benjamin Roden

Leaders

David Koresh

Cult Operations

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A cult is based on a religion regarded as unorthodox with a great devotion to a particular belief. What classified the Branch Davidians as a cult was not only their devotion to their belief in God but also that the organization was reported for; extreme child abuse, beating disobedient members, punishments such as food/sleep deprivation, isolation from ex-members with family ties being severed, and the use of fear and intimidation against members who disagree with their leader.

How They Operated as a Cult

Timeline

In 1981 David Koresh is disfellowshipped from a Tyler, Texas Seventh-day Adventist church and moves to the Davidian compound.

In 1935 Houteff leads 12 of his followers to Mt. Carmel, Texas and in 1942 The Shepherd’s Rod Seventh-day Adventist group becomes the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association.

In 1988 Koresh and his disciples to take over the compound. Koresh is now the undisputed leader of the Branch Davidians.

Timeline

2/28/93-4/19/93 Waco Seige leaves the Branch Davidian compound burning to the ground.

In 1983 Koresh claims to be divinely inspired and friction continues to develop between him and Lois Roden’s son George.

In 1959 More than 1,000 Davidians gather at Mt. Carmel Texas between April 16 and April 22. When on April 22 the "end" doen't come, Houteffs group begins to disintegrate. Factions break out including one led by Ben Roden, the Branch Davidians.

Groupthink

Groupthink

Is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people when others conform to anothers beliefs in the group and results in an irrational or a dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Isolation of the Group

Factor 1

In 1957, Florence Houteff sold the last of the Davidian’s original headquarters and bought a 941-acre property in the countryside northeast of Waco, for the neighboring city of Waco began to expand around the edges of their community. When the original Davidian organization was disbanded in 1962 most of the New Mt. Carmel property was sold off but the Branch Davidians retained a core 77.8 acres around the administrative building.

High Group Cohesiveness

Factor 2

The Davidians banded together for their belief of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Directive Leadership

Factor 3

The Davidian's followed Koresh blindly during his reign for his followers who were raised by Houteff and Roden's Davidian's and were raised not to question their leader, a prophet of God.

Lack of Norms Regaurding Methodical Procedures

Factor 4

Under Koresh's leadership the Davidians were led to believe that ALL females in the commune belong to Koresh, including all married women.

Homogeneity of Member's Social Background

The members of the Branch Davidians all share the same religious background. In 1985, Koresh led his followers to recruit new members, particularly people who had been disfellowshipped from the SDA church because as a result of their beliefs not matching up with the beliefs of the church.

Factor 5

High Stress from External Threats

The Davidian's were being pressured by outside law enforcement long before the Waco siege. As in the past they had tried to throw Koresh and some of his followers in jail, along with George Roden who was found guilty of threatening the judges. It was during Rodens time in jail that Koresh and his followers were able to take control of the Mt. Carmel compound. Keeping the community "safe" from the outside threats.

Factor 6

Obedience to Authority

Obedience

This is situational and not a part of our personalities.

When a Peer is also Compliant

We as children learn and develop beliefs from watching our parents and with how they raise us. So when the Davidian children grow up in this organization they don't know of anything different and don't question it's proceedings as the other children are also unquestioning and obedient to the happenings of the Branch Davidian ways.

Condition 1

When the Victim was Not Around and Can Not be Seen or Heard

This condition of obedience to authority does not apply to the Branch Davidians.

Condition 2

When the Authority Figure is Directly Watching Them

Condition 3

Koresh was able to keep a direct eye on his followers by living at the Mt. Carmel headquarters with his family and the majority of his followers.

When the Authority Figure Participates by Observing

Condition 4

David Koresh and his family lived at the Mt. Carmel community with his loyal followers so he was able to observe and teach his disciples himself directly, face to face.

When the Authority Figure has a Higher Status

The Davidians like any other religious they believe in the reality of the mythological and spiritual aspects their religion. The Davidians believe that their leader, David Koresh, is their prophet, the last prophet to be exact, the only one who is able to talk directly with God. Their religion dictates that they are to submit to God's will and if "God" is speaking to them through Koresh, who are they to argue against him.

Condition 5

Aftermath

The Waco siege was a 51 day incident led by the American federal and Texas state law enforcement, as well as the U.S. military, between February 28 and April 19, 1993. The siege was conducted on the grounds of suspected weapons violations. When the siege finally ended 4 A.T.F. agents were killed with 12 wounded, and the Branch Dravidians suffered 82 people being killed including their leader David Koresh, who took a bullet to his head.

Bibliography

  • “ATF Raids Branch Davidian Compound.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Feb. 2010, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atf-raids-branch-davidian-compound.
  • “BRANCH DAVIDIANS (STUDENTS OF THE SEVEN SEALS).” Home Page of the ReligiousTolerance.org Web Site, www.religioustolerance.org/dc_branc1.htm.
  • Melton, J. Gordon. “Branch Davidian.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Branch-Davidian.
  • “The Branch Davidians.” Christian Research Institute, www.equip.org/article/the-branch-davidians/.
  • “The History of the Branch Davidians.” The History of the Branch Davidians Watchman Fellowship, Inc., www.watchman.org/articles/cults-alternative-religions/the-history-of-the-branch-davidians/.

Thank you!

Thank you!

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