On April 19th, 1993, after months of standoff, 76 people perished in a fire following an FBI raid on a Branch Davidian compound known commonly as "Waco". Led by David Koresh, the supposed final prophet and messiah of the Branch Davidian sect, the Branch Davidians refused the demands of the FBI and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) for 51 days. According to the Justice Department and interviews with survivors, Koresh fathered at least 13 children with sect followers and engaged in sexual acts with underage Davidian girls. Clive Doyle, one of the followers who managed to escape during the fire and the father of one of Koresh's "wives", says, "I couldn't argue because [Koresh would] show you where it was in the Bible." He insists that although his daughter was only 14, she was capable of making her own decisions on whether or not to sleep with Koresh. Doyle's daughter, Shari, was one of those who perished in the fire. However, Doyle still today sees Koresh as God, just as Shiela Martin also does, whose children burned alive. Martin says that "God wanted it that way."
The tragic fire was started after the FBI and ATF tried a second attempt to gain access to the compound. The authorities had a search warrant to look for supposed illegal weapons that the compound was holding, and they were also there to investigate allegations of statutory rape by Koresh and make arrests of those who had killed the ATF officers murdered in their last standoff. The authorities had tried to gain access to the compound on February 28th, which is when 4 ATF officers where shot. After attacked the compound with teargas, Koresh asked for a ceasefire, which the authorities granted. It was after this that Koresh ordered his followers to set fire to the compound, which killed 76 people, including around 20 children.
While this horrific event may not seem all that relevant today, it is in fact resurfacing as followers plan to meet on Tuesday with a memorial service for those who lost their lives. Martin and Doyle still believe Koresh is God, and they condone his acts (which include statutory rape and murder). A picture of Koresh still hangs in the new chapel that was rebuilt on the land where the compound once stood, which is where the memorial will take place. The views of the Branch Davidians who accept and praise Koresh's are very different from most of ours, and they themselves admit that they don't expect us to understand.
But are they crazy, as many people label them? Are they valid in following their beliefs, even if those beliefs condone murder or rape? While this may have happened nearly 20 years ago, what are your opinions on this sensitive and tragic event and what are your opinions on people's views of it today?
5 comments:
Religion should never be used as an excuse or justification for violence, murder, or rape. Many have killed in the name of God, such as the Crusaders, certain terrorists, and in this case David Koresh and his followers. Christian Catholics held the Crusades in which the individuals justified their actions through the religion, and belief that killing in the name of God and for the expansion of the Catholic religion was acceptable and correct, and apparently ignoring the commandment that states that you should not kill.
If God gave humans life, God would be the one to take it away. However, followers of Koresh believe that Koresh is God, and killing would be justified. It is true that there are scenes of violence in the Bible on several occasions, but acts of violence in the name of God is not legitimate.
I completely agree with Andrea's belief that "[r]eligion should never be used as an excuse for violence, murder, or rape."
I think this was a tragic situation from the FBI's perspective. David Koresh probably knew that if he gave himself up to the investigation, he would be put in jail for the rest of his life. Because of this, he had no incentive to give in to the police, leading to the standoff and fire.
A religion/cult that condones violence should not be allowed to exist, but it's extremely difficult to dictate people's thoughts, especially given our strong First Amendment rights.
I watched this event on TV 18 years ago. I thought 51 days and millions of $$$ was enough of a wait. I was relieved when tear gas was used, even though I was shocked at the loss of life. However it was all on the shoulders of Koresh, the murderer. He opposed my government back in the days when it actually effectively governed.
It always amazes me how easily fringe cults like the Branch Davidians can spring up and gain a following. When religion enters the picture, people are so often willing to abandon or completely rewrite morality or rationality. Why is this so? I have no idea. I don't think that the people involved in violent cults are necessarily mentally unstable compared to the remainder of the population, except that their involvement in the cults makes them so. The human mind is astonishingly pliable.
I agree with Andrea and Peter that religious justifications for evil actions are never valid. Religious groups and institutions are always accountable to the law and to basic morality. Though the First Amendment gives freedom of religion, it is not absolute, and illegal acts can still be regulated. Perhaps more importantly, it is the responsibility of people within the religious groups and around them to monitor them and keep them accountable.
It's terrible that people will follow false prophets like sheep and end up giving up their lives in exchange for a belief they can hold on to. In fact, this event is similar to what happened at Jonestown 15 years earlier. When you combine a leader that wins the hearts and minds of his followers and terrible rituals and practices, you end up with a tragedy that kills many. I don't think that the people who still see Koresh as God as being crazy. They are simply the products of voluntary brainwashing and are unable to see their beliefs as being valid. Their beliefs are definitely not valid and correct, but that's just how human psychology works. People tend to hold on to false beliefs even when they have seen the truth behind them.
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