This extended in-depth look at the 1993 Waco Branch Davidian tragedy is an open discussion between four of us who have been closely involved and done research on "Why Waco?" for the past 28 years. This includes books published, countless articles, and many interviews--all trying to "get the facts straight." Rumors, conspiracy theories, and government propaganda abounds--but what really happened at Waco. If you are ready for a deep dive, this is it.

This program was born from the need that four religious studies experts felt for a forum to discuss w​hat actually transpired in the clash between the Branch Davidian religious community at Mount Carmel near Waco, Texas and American law enforcement in 1993 and how the tragedy could have been avoi​ded. Although these scholars have been interviewed by national media often for over 25 years, their accounts have been distorted and never reported in full. Now for the first time, they bypass major media and together tell their story in their own words without interruption.
It is the scholars’ hope that their analysis and insights will reach far into the future and contribute to society in a way that will benefit both law enforcement and religious groups when conflicts threaten. While their incisive criticism of the failure of American law enforcement authorities in the case of Waco is sharp and real, their goal is for society to learn from past failures and to say, “Never Again, Never Again.”

This is a lengthy presentation so the following is a guide to the segments:

"Live" 911 Calls from Branch Davidians to Waco Law Enforcement

I. Introducing the Four Scholars and the Topic
A. Names, affiliations, and research interests
B. How they got involved initially and pursued this
C. What methods they use to understand the Waco events
D. How did the siege start?

II. Introducing the Branch Davidians and David Koresh
A. Nationality
B. Gun issue
a. Gun shots through the siege
b. The victim’s family lawsuit against the government
c. Women and children
d. Both Branch Davidians and ATF killed on the first day of the siege, Feb 28, 1993.
1. Media
2 What actually happened.

III. The First day of the Siege
A. Why that day?
a. Media – The Sinful Messiah Series
b. Child abuse charges against the Branch Davidians

VI. Who are the Branch Davidians
A. History
a. Origin.
b. Religious Leaders and Movements related to David Koresh

B. Understanding of the Bible
a. Messiahs in the Bible and the Prophet in the present
b. Koresh’s teaching and exegesis of the Bible
c. His multiple marriages
d. His name change: Koresh or Cyrus and King David
C. Belief
a. Scrolls and Texts
b. Salvation
c. Prophesy and persecutions

V. FBI’s involvement and Escalation
A. Koresh’s communication with FBI: Koresh betraying or betrayed?
B. Conflicts between Koresh and FBI as well as the negotiators and FBI
C. Broadcasting and isolation
D. Reasons why Koresh want to talk: Seven seals and prophecies for now
E. FBI’s tactics and aggression against the Branch Davidians
a. Surveillance
b. Gas attack and Fire
c. Not cooperating with the scholars

VI. The Roles of Religious Studies
A. Efforts by Religion Experts to save people rejected by the FBI
B. Understanding this religious group
a. Understanding messages
b. Comparative Studies
c. What was actually done and tried by religious studies scholars during the standoff and what could have been achieved
d. Understanding the waiting time
e. Understanding what is the ultimate concern for this, or any religious group
f. Scholars entered into world view of Koresh in order to use his theology to create a Biblical way to surrender

VII. Despite the Efforts of Independent Scholars, Tragedy Strikes
A. The Assault starts
a. Surveillance devices
b. Engineering vehicles
c. Attacking children and women
d. Fire
e. Reactions of the Branch Davidians

VIII. How Can We Understand the New Religious Groups Better?
A. Cult narratives and essentialism
B. Placing them in the history of Religions
C. Apocalypse in Religions


IX. FBI Missed Opportunity
D. Now what can we do?
E. Positive cases after the Waco standoff Siege
F. Comparative Religions
G. Imagine if it had never happened?