Thoughts and Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of the Branch Davidian Tragedy in Waco, Texas

Last updated on: January 12, 2018 at 9:26 am by Roger E. Olson

Thoughts and Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of the Branch Davidian Tragedy in Waco, Texas 2018-01-12T09:26:10-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Thoughts and Reflections on the 25th Anniversary the Branch Davidian Tragedy in Waco, Texas

2018 marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most horrific tragedies in recent American history. It was not more horrific than others because of the number of people who died but because of the participants and especially because of the completely unnecessary deaths of about 18 children (depending on how one defines “child”).

I remember the events well even though I did not yet live in Waco, Texas. I watched the events unfold on CNN and other television news networks and shows and read about it then and afterwards. And I have talked with numerous people who had close knowledge of the events.

The reason I’m writing about is because 1) at the time it occurred I was teaching an elective college course on “America’s Cults and New Religions” (informally promoted as “Unsafe Sects”) and had a keen interest in the subject, and 2) the news media in the U.S. are now in a frenzy about the “Waco tragedy” in 1993 due to its 25th anniversary.

When it happened I knew little to nothing about the Branch Davidian sect—an offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. (Actually “offshoot” is not quite the right word because the Branch Davidians were excommunicated by the SDA General Conference.)

I well remember the very first news broadcast “from the scene” in 1993. The ignorant reporter stood in front of the “compound” under siege then by the “ATF” (Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms). She told viewers that this little-known religious sect called Branch Davidians was part of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Of course, soon afterwards journalists discovered and reported that it was not part of the SDA Church.

Slowly it came out (but many observers never really learned) that there are several branches of the Branch Davidians in the U.S. and Australia, none of which are Seventh Day Adventist although their roots are in the Adventist movement. Even in Waco there were in 1993 two distinct branches, one that looked to David Koresh as their leader and one that did not. Both still exist as of 2017. (A non-Koreshite Branch Davidian church stands just blocks from my house.)

During the siege of the Branch Davidian compound twelve miles outside of Waco many facts filtered out about this strange religious movement, but much about it I did not learn until I moved to Waco in 1999. One of the first things I did was drive out to the site of the compound and siege and tour it. Then, in 1999, one could see much even though the buildings were gone. Today, as of 2017, almost nothing is left to see except the swimming pool. In 1999, however, I stood and looked down into the bus where approximately 18 children died.

I well remember weeping in absolute shock and horror as I watched the FBI attack the compound at the end of the fifty-two day siege. Almost immediately fire broke out throughout the compound. I knew there were children inside the buildings. (Actually, as it was later revealed, the children had been herded into a school bus buried underground—connected to one of the buildings by a tunnel. There they died of smoke inhalation.) I watched it on live television and simply could not believe what I was seeing. I thought of the children as hostages; apparently the powers that be (viz., Attorney General Janet Reno) did not.

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

Without doubt the Koreshite Branch Davidian sect was a cult, but what I want to say is that labeling a sect a cult is not fair when everyone in it is treated the same. In almost every case many of the members, especially the children, are victims of the leaders. The popular mind, however, TENDS to lump everyone in a cult together and think of them as evil.

I know people in Waco who knew David Koresh personally. He wanted to be a rock star—literally. He thought he was a musician as well as a prophet. He was well-known among musicians in Waco because he sought them out for advice and help in advancing his music career. I am told by people who lived in Waco and who knew him that the ATF could have picked him and the Branch Davidian leaders under him off the streets of Waco anytime. He and they were frequently about town. Why the ATF chose to raid the compound as they did is a mystery to many people.

No doubt David Koresh was a narcissistic megalomaniac. Although he was never tried and convicted, there is strong reason to believe he was sexually abusing underage female members of the sect. Ostensibly the ATF raided the compound because it believed they were illegally modifying automatic weapons and possibly trafficking in them illegally.

And yet many of his followers were not insane or evil; they were deluded and brainwashed, but so are many other people—both secular and religious.

Many well-informed and thoughtful critics, not just anti-government conspiracy mongerers, sincerely believe the attacks on the Branch Davidian compound were unnecessary and ill-advised.

One of the things I like least about all the news programs, documentaries and probably forthcoming movie about the Branch Davidians and the tragedy is the lack of focus on the warmth of Koresh’s followers’ naïve faith and on their sincerely held beliefs. The focus tends to be solely on their bewildering and seemingly mindless faith in the would-be messiah and prophet David Koresh. Theology and the dynamics of faith get lost in the sensationalism.

What exactly David Koresh believed and taught is not easy to discover or understand. In order to understand it, one has to delve deeply into Adventist apocalyptic theology—as its background. Koresh put his own twist on all that, of course, and pointed to himself as much as to the returning Jesus Christ.

I personally know one religion scholar with a Ph.D. in religious studies who had studied that theology and approached the FBI during the siege and volunteered to “school” them in it so they could more helpfully converse with Koresh. He was rudely refused. He believes he might possibly have been able to convince Koresh that he was mistaken about the siege and the apocalypse and help convince him to surrender.

Now, please understand me. Or, please don’t misunderstand me. I am not playing a “blame game.” I was not on the inside of the decisions about how to handle the stand-off at the Branch Davidian compound 12 miles outside of Waco. (Many are surprised to learn that it did not happen “in Waco.” The reason most people think that is because the journalists reporting on it used “Waco, Texas” in their bylines because they were staying in Waco.) I do think the initial attack was ill-advised and the final attack was premature and did not sufficiently take into account the possibility of mass suicide (if that is what happened). However, I do not know what I would have done had I been in Janet Reno’s or others’ shoes—except seek out religion scholars’ advice and help. I think the authorities failed there. I also think they forgot the children or began to think of them as part of the mass of people inside the compound who refused to surrender and come out. (Some did exit before the fire.)

I wish the news and entertainment media (and it’s difficult to tell the difference) would restrain themselves and not sensationalize the horror that was the Branch Davidian conflict and tragedy of 1993. I wish the name of “Waco” were not once again being dragged through the mud for something that happened outside of the city and with which the city had nothing to do. I wish everyone would simply learn the important lessons of 1993 and other, similar tragedies that happened around that time (Jonestown and the Solar Temple, etc.). Especially the children of these religious cults are not to blame and all care should be taken to protect them—even if that means extreme restraint by authorities and others in dealing with the groups.

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 4, 2018

Why Become Roman Catholic? A Response to Christian Smith and Others

Next Post

January 11, 2018 How Much Change in Church Life is too Much?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group follows the Nicene Creed?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Seventh-day Adventists Baptists Jehovah’s Witnesses Orthodox