When David Koresh perished in the compound of the Branch Davidians at Waco, Texas, along with over seventy others, the event made headline news around the world. How did one man persuade these people to give up everything to follow him; to give up their daughters to be his 'wives' and, ultimately, to give their lives to try to protect him? Was Koresh a con man exploiting his followers, or a man who truly believed he was the Messiah, leading his chosen people to the Promised Land?
Colin Wilson looks at the troubled history of charlatan messiahs, taking as a starting point the most famous 'prophet' of recent times. But Koresh was neither the most excessive of cult leaders, nor was he the most misguided. Others trod the path before him, and Colin Wilson looks at the lives of cult leaders from the earliest days of Christianity, through the stories of, among many others, the 'Rev' Jim Jones - some 900 of his followers died 'committing suicide' - and Jeffrey Lundgren, who tried to back his claim to be a Mormon prophet by brutally killing an entire family.
Colin Wilson goes on to consider what it is that makes these messiahs believe they are who they claim to be; and why there are those prepared to follow them - a messiah is nothing without someone to believe in him. What starts out as a study of self-delusion and power mania, leads Colin Wilson into an exploration of the human psyche, as he untangles the history of the charlatan messiahs and explores their world view.
About the Author
Colin Wilson published his first book, The Outsider, in 1956, at the age of 25. His remarkable career has led him to write on subjects as diverse as archaeology, astronomy, cosmology, Egyptology, crime and the paranormal. His most recent books include Alien Dawn and From Atlantis To The Sphinx. His books have been translated into many languages and Colin travels the world, lecturing and holding workshops. He lives in Cornwall with his wife.
