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

Rating:
Summary: Moving
Review: Exhaustively researched and sensitively written, this book gives humanity back to the Branch Davidians who Perished in the Waco tragedy, and to those struggling to pull their lives back together in it's wake. The author guides the reader through a wealth of information, sorting truth from misconception. The story will draw you in, and you will realize that what happened in Waco was, in part, due to our own prejustice and misunderstanding of marginalized groups. This book is truly an invaluable experience, sure to broaden your understanding not only of the people involved, but of the tragedy itself, it's context, it's meaning, and it's legacy.

Rating:
Summary: The Evil One Koresh!!!
Review: It is always amusing for me to come across yet another attempt at "Revisionist Koresh History". In this book the author tries to portray David Koresh as a misunderstood religious leader instead of being the evil sociopath that he truly was.The author attempts to give the reader the "Human side" of Koresh's followers.What he fails to describe that it was all a case of "David , please take my wife and daughter, kindly plunder my Bank Account and that way we won't have to think for ourselves anymore".The author glosses over the numerous Charges of Child Abuse while ignoring the fact that Koresh kept the children for 51 days in a hostile environment where there was no running water, electricy, heat or even decent food. As a negotiator with David Koresh the author failed miserably in respect to not getting the innocent children out of harm's way into the care of the proper authorities where they could be given a hot meal, a warm bed and a safe place to live far away from conflict and gunfire.The author tries to show the real humanity of those involved and fails because there was no Humanity in that Compound only a thug who hide behind women and innocent hildren and interpreted the Bible through the barrel of a gun.

Rating:
Summary: a worthy read!
Review: This book shows the human side of the Branch Davidians that was certainly missing in the sensationalistic portrayal presented by the media. Rather than seeing the Branch Davidians as mindless followers of a madman, Tabor and Gallagher show the reader the history, theology and genuine fervency of the movement, as well as David Koresh.
This book does well to show the other side to the Waco tragedy. One that is often missing when discussing "cults" or new religious movements. One realizes that the true tragedy perhaps is the unnecessary loss of lives in Waco due to government fumbling, media sensationalism and anti-cult misdoings.
It is informative and easy-to-read and gives much food for thought on the saliency of the media in forming our opinions.