ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the 'suicide cult' perception and how it helped shape the Davidian tragedy of 1993. Also, current theorists have stressed the important role hostile external forces play in the precipitation of much new religion-related violence. This line of thinking which seems to have originated from careful reflection on the Jonestown murder-suicides received considerable impetus from the Branch Davidians, who were for the most part victims rather than perpetrators of violence. It is thus useful to explore in some detail the 'exogenous' factors that set the Mount Carmel tragedy in motion. The Mount Carmel stand-off also instructively demonstrates the point that the anti-cult movement is simultaneously powerful and impotent. There were only a couple of direct connections between law enforcement authorities and the anti-cult movement. The testimony of deprogrammed former Davidians was used to support the contention that Koresh had to be served a search warrant.