David Koresh: Difference between revisions
imported>Rangerkid51 Adding categories |
imported>Consus, the Erudite God |
||
Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
===Branch Davidians=== | ===Branch Davidians=== | ||
Koresh made his way to the Branch Davidian compound, and reportedly seduced the group's leader Lois Roden. The couple claimed that she had become pregnant (in her mid 60s) through their relationship, but that Roden had miscarried. Koresh claimed the miscarriage was God punishing Roden for stealing money. Koresh was able to usurp control of the group from Roden and her family. Following Roden's death in 1986 Koresh expelled Roden's supporters from the group, cementing his control over the group. | Koresh made his way to the Branch Davidian compound, and reportedly seduced the group's leader and described prophetess Lois Roden. The couple claimed that she had become pregnant (in her mid 60s) through their relationship, but that Roden had miscarried. Koresh claimed the miscarriage was God punishing Roden for stealing money. Koresh was able to usurp control of the group from Roden and her family through armed means. Following Roden's death in 1986 Koresh expelled Roden's supporters from the group, cementing his control over the group. | ||
During the 1980s Koresh took a 14 year old girl as his first wife. He would sleep with a large number of women and girls, with some being as young as 12 years old. | During the 1980s Koresh took a 14 year old girl as his first wife. He would sleep with a large number of women and girls, with some being as young as 12 years old. | ||
Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
In 1990 a California court granted Koresh's petition to formally change his name from Vernon Howell to David Koresh. He took the name David to symbolize a connection to the biblical King David. His last name Koresh was the biblical name of Cyrus the Great. | In 1990 a California court granted Koresh's petition to formally change his name from Vernon Howell to David Koresh. He took the name David to symbolize a connection to the biblical King David. His last name Koresh was the biblical name of Cyrus the Great. | ||
Koresh exercised near absolute control over the Branch Davidians, ruling every aspect of their lives. Children were beaten for the slightest offense, and grownups were required to engage in back breaking labor. Koresh himself often slept until early afternoon, and would engage in pleasures that he denied his people on the grounds that "God" said it was OK. | Koresh exercised near absolute control over the Branch Davidians, ruling every aspect of their lives and funding the group through buying and selling firearms. Children were beaten for the slightest offense, and grownups were required to engage in back breaking labor. Koresh himself often slept until early afternoon, and would engage in pleasures that he denied his people on the grounds that "God" said it was OK. Koresh also advocated polygamy and developed a harem of women consisting of under-age girls in the cult compound- fathering around a dozen children as a result of this depravity. All the other men on the compound had to be celibate. | ||
===Raid and Siege=== | ===Raid and Siege=== |