Why Waco? Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America

So thoroughly negative is the public perception of groups labeled as "cults" that any attempt to balance the picture may be seen as misguided, if not downright threatening, to the best interests of society. In the case of the Branch Davidians, the news media were saturated with reports of gun stockpiling, sexual misconduct, and child abuse. Despite the alarm and hostility provoked by such reports and by popularly accepted notions of "cults" in general, we believe that an accurate, truthful portrayal of David Koresh and his followers and of the events surrounding the siege of their community in Waco is essential for understanding contemporary religious life in our country. We must confront our fascination with and fear of "cults" if we are to view them in the wider context of our national commitment to religious tolerance-after all, the United States was founded by estranged minorities seeking religious freedom. Our intent is to examine with honesty and objectivity the questions raised by its title: Why did Waco happen and how can this American tragedy be avoided in the future?