The Branch Davidian Cult
Uploaded by the_nashie on Aug 17, 2004
The Branch Davidian Cult, which was until its demise headed by Warren Jeffs, had over 6000 members at its peak. These 6000 members lived in sister cities of Hildale and Colorado City in the barren US state of Utah. The cult in which control is the key is now considered by many to be closer to a terrorist organisation.
The Branch Dividians had originated in the Seventh-day Adventist church where they in turn began to follow a “Millerite” which in short is a movement that believes the Bible sets out a date for the end of the world. The Branch Davidians began mainly as The Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists headed by self proclaimed prophet, Victor Houteff, after his death his wife Florence took over leadership, proclaiming that the world would end in 1959. When the world kept on going, the Davidians dispersed although a number reformed under the leadership of Ben Roden, the new group named themselves the Branch Davidians.
After Ben Rodden’s death in 1978, his wife Lois took over the running of the organisation and made the most famous of all the cult’s proclamations, that the Holy Spirit was female and brought the female aspect into the Trinity. Vernon Hall, later David Koresh, joined the Branch Davidians in 1981 and in 1983 he has his first vision from God. In 1990, after much friction between himself and other members, Hall became the leader of the Branch Davidians.
On 28 February 1993 a raid on the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas is beaten back by the Davidians. On 19th April another raid occurs. During the fire fight the compound explodes into flames, killing eighty-six people, including seventeen children. Vernon Howell (David Koresh) also dies in the flames. There are only nine survivors: Renos Avreem, Jaime Castillo, Graeme Craddock, Misty Ferguson, Derrick Lovelock, Ruth Ottman-Riddle, David Thibodeaux, Marjorie Thomas and Clive Doyle.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents initiated the raid and other agencies soon joined the long stand off. The details become very sketchy at this time, with the cult proclaiming that they won the initial skirmishes while the agencies say that they severely damaged the cult members during these incidents. This is the same with the details of how the building was set on fire, the cult members say that they government agents light the building on fire...