As the events of Waco, Texas, unfolded, civilians around the nation watched in horror as members of the Branch of Davidians followed their leader, David Koresh, into a standoff with the ATF and the FBI. David Koresh used his rise to power to extort his followers and use them for his benefit until his death. He showed society how easily cults could weaken one’s mindset to make them follow every whim in return for salvation. It is common within cults to be told that to reach “salvation” members must give up large amounts of money or participate in a mass suicide. Koresh forced his followers to meet a more brutal end, in turn, this would create warily and an odd fascination of cults for future generations. David Koresh was not known by that name until later in his life. He was born as Vernon Howell …show more content…
He had a young mother; she was fourteen or fifteen at the time of his birth (Howell 1). She was unmarried at the time, but she and Koresh still lived with his father, Bobby Howell, for two years (Howell 1). However, Koresh was said to be abused by his father which would cause him to move in with his grandparents. Koresh was a poor student and was eventually placed in a special needs class (Codes 1). Other kids would call him names such as “Mr. Retardo” because of this (Howell 1). Koresh was shocked by the experience and frequently mentioned it to his followers later in life (Howell 1). Dyslexia would later cause Koresh to drop out of high school (Codes 1). After this event, Koresh would then become a born-again Christian in the Southern Baptist Church (Codes 1). Soon after, he joined his mother's church, the