Nova Religio 3 (2000): 303319. Franklin, Tenn., 1995. Retrieved April 28, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/branch-davidians-0. Hint: They hold off on talking about their alien god until much later. In the minds of many, and despite more nuanced analyses, the Branch Davidians have been indelibly identified as a "cult" and Koresh stands as the paradigm of the manipulative "cult" leader who exploited his followers for his own gain. Building primarily on the example of the 1978 murder/suicide of 914 people at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Mission in Jonestown, Guyana, a loose confederation of aggrieved parents, moral entrepreneurs, concerned mental health professionals, and other sympathizers had aggressively marketed the notion that all new religious movements or "cults" were led by dangerously unstable con men who destroyed the mental freedom of their members and could easily lead them to their death. One of the things about being a Branch-Davidian was youre supposed to separate yourself from the world, Bunds said. Thibodeau, David, and Leon Whiteson. World Encyclopedia. By the time he had his followers converting semi-automatic guns to be automatic, he was already violating countless laws. Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America. Ill call it a cult, thats what it was its people doing things they wouldnt normally do, like giving up their wives and letting their children have sex with adults, which is crazy, but thats what you do when youre in a cult, he said. On the 30th anniversary of the devastating fire which claimed the lives of 76 Branch Davidiansmembers of a religious sect headquartered in Waco, Texasthe hosts of House Beautifuls podcast, .css-1qproo8{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#40699f;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;background-image:linear-gradient( to bottom, rgba(156,181,215,.2), rgba(156,181,215,.2));-webkit-background-position:0 100%;background-position:0 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;-webkit-background-size:0 0;background-size:0 0;padding-top:0.05rem;padding-bottom:0.05rem;}.css-1qproo8:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;}Dark House, investigate the conflict-ridden history of the 77-acre property at the center of the tragedy. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). ." Examines the writings of Livingstone Fagan and the Chosen Vessel. He took the name David from the Bible, and Koresh is a version of Sirius, the lamb from the Book of Revelation. Boston, 1997. The validity of the legal charges and the jurisdiction of the government agencies involved in the confrontation with the Davidians remain contested, and this episode has been linked to increased militancy among Christian militia groups and specifically to the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building. Here are the four steps to getting sucked into a cult. In April 1993, some 75 members of the millennial sect known as the Branch Davidiansincluding their messianic leader, David Koreshperished in the blaze that destroyed their compound near Waco,. The adults at Mount Carmel admitted to spanking the children, though they denied the punishments ever reached a level of severity where children were physically hurt or bruised. World Encyclopedia. The siege left dozens of survivors. Reavis, Dick J. When Koresh and his armed followers tried to secure evidence of George Roden's grotesque practices, a gun battle erupted between the two groups. As relations between his group and the main body of Adventists worsened, Houteff excoriated the denomination as a heathen, apostate group; in 1935 he moved the Davidians to an isolated 189-acre parcel of land outside Waco and named their settlement Mount Carmel. However, documents later filed with the McLennan County Clerks office state that New Mount Carmel Center was sold on February 26, 1973, in a private sale executed by Tom Street to Benjamin Roden, Lois Roden, and George B. Roden, Trustees for the General Association of Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, for $30,000. From the orographic point of view, the Mount of O, telome theory The theory that the leaves (megaphylls) of ferns and seed plants evolved by the modification of terminal branches (telomes) of stems. Includes an analysis of Koresh's Bible studies and his unfinished manuscript. As for New Mount Carmel Center, the fire marked the beginning of a new chapter in its complicated history which, records show, had been plagued by controversy, public scrutiny, and criminal activity since long before the tragic events of 1993. An exhaustive electronic archive of writings from Branch Davidians. As viewers settle down to watch Netflix's new docuseries, did the Branch Davidian leader David Koresh die in the infamous Waco Siege? Encyclopedia.com. On April 19, the siege ended in a second tragedy when FBI agents carried out a . Extremist groups have since cited the assaults as evidence for anti-government conspiracy theories. ." //]]>. It's remembered as. But in the meantime, in the daily life of the Mount Carmel community, Koresh's authority depended less on his claim to the extraordinary experience of ascent into the heavens than it did on his repeated ability to make sense of the message of Revelation in his Bible studies. peterson afb recruiting office; medical courier jobs independent contractor; navy billet descriptions; what makes a man unhappy in a relationship; rochdale observer deaths; section 8 homes for rent in volusia county. This appears to be the first time Mrs. Roden was reported to authorities since she first arrived at the compound around August of 1993, but it would not be the last. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. As the weeks wore on, agents stationed outside the building began using a massive PA system to broadcast a symphony of dissonant sound effectsincluding babies crying and a dentist's drill whirringnight after night, depriving the Branch Davidians of sleep. Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America. Contemporary American Religion. Koresh claimed to be the Messiah and exercised absolute authority over his hundred or so followers, based at Mount Carmel Ranch near Waco, Texas. 2023 . She taught that the Holy Spirit was a feminine figure and that the coming messiah would fully embody the female aspects of the divinity. Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America. Continu, WACO In addition, people who were neglected or abused as children may be easily recruited because they crave the validation denied them in their childhood. Scientologists believe that human beings are vessels for the ghosts of brainwashed aliens. Both the Branch Davidians and New Mount Carmel Center date back to the 1930s. Waco Never Again! Waco Siege. The newlyweds, who were 35 years apart in age, would eventually move into an apartment on the buildings second floor. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Chicago, 1995. After a few years of personal turmoil, Vernon Wayne Howell (who would legally change his name to David Koresh in 1990) turned to God for answers. Milk is what you drink when youre a baby and were adults now., Sheila Martin, who moved to the compound with her husband and their five children in 1988, said, It was fun as long as we were being obedient., If we werent being obedient in the sense of like, [I] went to the store and bought something that, you know, it was being selfish, she continued. A growing disconnect between the FBIs tactical and negotiation teams only exacerbated the situation. In response, Roden allegedly exhumed the body of former Davidian Anna Hughes from a makeshift cemetery on the property and challenged Howell to a contestwhoever could raise her soul from the dead should be the groups true leader. But the it did not include indoor plumbing or running water, except for the kitchen sink, and most rooms were without electricity. Vernon Wayne Howell, his wife Rachel, and their son Cyrus pose together in 1986. Though George Roden made a habit of violating the restraining order that barred him from Mount Carmel property, Lois Roden was able to settle comfortably into her new leadership role there. He recruited people from all of the over world to come to about 10 miles outside of Waco in Mount Carmel, a compound where he pretty much had iron control over his flock. . Police were called to the site when Mrs. Roden sat near the propertys chain-link gate, refusing to let cars pass in or out of the fenced area. The desolate patch of dusty gravel that was left behind became a macabre tourist attraction, drawing a reported 2,500 visitors over the July 4th holiday. The report also showed that the old swimming pool, which survived the 1993 fire, was being used for aquaponics. And they will fake mutual interests in order to give the impression that they share many things in common. He also described how one cult trained its members to wait outside counseling centers to poach troubled students and offer them the comfort they would otherwise get from a trained professional. But the accusations of child abuse have gained increasing support as the extent of Koresh's sexual involvement with young girls has come to light. To understand how a . Koresh also ordered the stockpiling of guns. After nearly 20 prosperous years developing Mount Carmel Center, Houteff shifted gears to start downsizing when the expansion of Waco city limits began encroaching on Davidian property. After a few years under her mentorship, Howell was clearly poised to eventually succeed Lois as leader of the Branch Davidians. ( NewsNation) On the 30th anniversary of a fiery standoff between ATF and FBI agents and religious cult Branch Davidians outside Waco, Texas, a survivor is speaking out. For more than five hours armored vehicles, some of which punched holes into walls, deposited 400 tear-gas canisters inside the compound; at 11:40 am the assault ended. "Branch Davidians Authorities suspected the Branch Davidians possessed illegal firearms, and on February 28, 1993, the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms raided the compound, beginning the fifty-one day Branch Davidian Siege. Though the . On Think,. Contains Koresh's unfinished commentary on the seven seals, and a thorough presentation of Branch Davidian theology. Fagan remains convinced of Koresh's messianic mission and limits his own contribution to re-presentation and clarification of Koresh's message. ." Houteff believed that his divinely appointed task was to purify the church from within and to gather the 144,000 "servants of God" mentioned in Revelation 7 to wait for the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ. Roden actively spread her new version of the Branch Davidian message through extensive missionary travels and the publication of a magazine named SHEkinah, after the feminine Hebrew word for the spirit or presence of God. The FBI agents in command, however, did not take the offer seriously; the final assault was quickly authorized, and early on the morning of April 19, 1993, the sequence of events that initiated the catastrophic fire commenced. Koresh's leadership of the Branch Davidians was founded on his ability to interpret the Bible. He had a car that he was driving and he said the Lord gave it to him., He was a very disheveled kind of guy, he continued. The Waco Siege began in early 1993, when a government raid on a compound in Axtell, Texas, led to a 51-day standoff between federal agents and members of a millennial Christian sect . churches and tech faith cults the future of religion? Around 80 Branch Davidians died, including at least 20 children. It was important for David Koresh to isolate the group from the world because the world is an influence that is constantly pulling and distracting you from the message.. Even before Lois's death in 1986, relations between George Roden and Koresh were hostile; by 1987 they flared into violence over George's bizarre challenge to Koresh that he could resurrect a long-dead member of the community. Florence Houteff predicted apocalyptic events for 1959; following the failure of her prophecy and her admission of error, membership plummeted to a few dozen. Houteff established the Mount Carmel Center near Waco, Texas, in 1935, and millennial expectations gradually receded. This triggered another protracted power struggle, including one violent confrontation between George Roden and Koresh; ultimately Koresh prevailed in the late 1980s. But this was hardly the end; it would be years before the resulting trials and investigations revolving around the siege were finished. The group was organized as a network of patriarchal families ordered hierarchically. Wright, Stuart. The ATF has been severely criticized for both its planning and execution of the initial raid and for its failure to attempt to take Koresh into custody during his frequent trips off the property. Upon his death in 1978, his wife, Lois, succeeded him; along with his son, George, the Rodens were challenged by a rival faction, led by Vernon Howell (19591993). At about 9:30 a.m. agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempt to execute arrest and search warrants against David KORESH and the Branch Davidian compound. Even if they were, the violation is typically punishable by a simple fine. Upon his death in 1978, his wife, Lois, assumed leadership, but she became locked in a power struggle with her son George for group control. It was also around this time that Child Protective Services began investigating allegations of ongoing child abuse at Mount Carmel, where, per Koreshs instructions, children as young as six months were disciplined with a public spanking on the rear end using a wooden spoon referred to as "the helper." They believed that God's will is revealed progressively and that each new generation could expect to receive its "present truth" or "new light." Once theyve enticed a recruit with approval or the promise of some fulfilling understanding of the universe, cultists then work to isolate the recruit. He was using music to reach a lot of people. McVeigh explicitly characterized his actions as revenge for what the government had done at Waco. From his new location in Palestine, Texas, Vernon Howell filed a deed with the McLennan County Clerks office removing George Roden as trustee of The Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists and naming himself as President. An important collection of essays on the history, context, and interactions of the Branch Davidians with law enforcement, the media, and the courts. For the next few years, he lived on the property in contention with Amo Bishop Roden, she in a small wooden shack built near the entrance to Mount Carmel, and he in an air-conditioned camper parked less than 100 yards away. Research has shown that the people who are the most susceptible to recruitment are stressed, emotionally vulnerable, have tenuous or no family connections, or are living in adverse socioeconomic conditions. It wasnt your parent was your parent. Branch Davidians (Waco, Texas, United States) The Branch Davidians were an eccentric religious group in Waco, Texas, whose leader, David Koresh, had multiple wives and slept with under-age girls. The long, rectangular pit was connected to the building by an old yellow school bus that had been buried to serve as a makeshift underground tunnel. He taught that we should not eat any dairy products, Bunds said. Her appointment was immediately contested by her son, George Roden, who in 1979 called for an official vote on the matter. The property also had 18 small frame homes where families lived. Officials quickly learned that the Branch Davidians, who adhered only to the commands of Godas written in the Bible or spoken through Koreshhad no regard for secular laws or the agents who enforced them. In January 1997, a mysterious fire drew local authorities back to New Mount Carmel Center. Koresh ascended to leadership at a moment when the group's financial and membership bases had collapsed. This decision was controversial, as some remaining Davidians were not in support of selling the property; several filed civil suits that would keep the property rights tied up in litigation for several years to come. June 12, 2020. how did the branch davidians make money-Related Posts. This strategy, and other efforts put forth by the tactical team in an attempt to force the group out of their compound, did little to bring about their surrender. One such faction was led by Benjamin Roden, a Davidian from Odessa, Texas, who attempted to purchase the remaining Mount Carmel property in April of 1965, but was blocked by the civil suits still pending in court. Beginning in 1954, sections of Mount Carmel were subdivided and sold off. They purchased a 941-acre farm and named it New Mount Carmel Center. Lyons spoke about his role in helping secure legal representation for David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidian religious group that was besieged by federal agents for 51 days. 28 Apr. On February 28, 1993, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) staged a raid on the home and church of a millennialist, sectarian group outside of Waco, Texas. Cult members target likely candidates and use proven techniques to recruit new members into the cult. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? (April 28, 2023). The soil had also been soaked with 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which was spilled when agents ruptured 500-gallon tanks to deprive the Branch Davidians of their generators. After painstaking study of the scriptures, William Miller (17821849) had come to the conclusion that the second coming of Jesus Christ would occur sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. One of these dogmas was the belief that David Koresh, whose real name was Vernon Wayne . Charles Pace appears to still reside here, selling t-shirts out of the chapel (operating hours seem to vary) and promoting conspiracy theories regarding the 1993 siege. . Below each tree was a small granite marker with the name of one of the victims. Armageddon in Waco. Haus, Cari Hoyt, and Madlyn Lewis Hamblin. The only air conditioning inside of Mount Carmel came from a small window unit in David Koreshs second-floor bedroom. Many of those who lived with him at the Mount Carmel Center explicitly cited his unparalleled exegetical ability as the reason why they had taken up residence. His message changed over the years because he was always looking for the next big thing to teach that would shock people into listening to him, Bunds said. Lois won the majority vote and was eventually forced to file a restraining order against her sonwho continued to argue that the position was rightfully hisbanning him from Mount Carmel and forbidding him to return. Hagerstown, Md., 1993. A journalist's vivid account. a lateral extension or subdivision extending from the, clade Term derived from the Greek klados, a twig or branch. Hamm, Mark S. Apocalypse in Oklahoma: Waco and Ruby Ridge Revenged. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/culture-magazines/branch-davidians, "Branch Davidians . An aerial photo taken on April 21, 1993 shows the burnt remains of New Mount Carmel Center following the tragic fire. The Davidian Massacre: Disturbing Questions about Waco Which Must Be Answered. So yeah, being a member of the House of David was a privilege, he said. An anthropologist's self-reflective study of Amo Paul Bishop Roden's relationship to the Mount Carmel site and the Branch Davidian movement. New York, 1995. He always would let us know it wasnt right and we shouldve done [it] differently, and many times it was in front of everyone., Former followers said discipline was constantly administered. . How Did Lois Roden Die? In 1993, federal agents engaged in an armed standoff against the cult that lasted for months, ultimately ending with the compound going up in flames. In the meantime, a small handful of Davidians remained living on the property, where several splinter groups soon emerged. The former Mrs. Roden had recently remarried and was now living on the property with her new husband, Thomas Drake, and his brother. Collectively, the property was estimated to have sold for about $600,000. Supporters and sympathizers from more than 43 states, as well as Canada and Australia, donated over $93,000 in funds and materials for the project. Convinced that the end would come in 1959, she urged Davidians and Adventists all over the world to assemble at the new Mount Carmel Center near Elk, Texas, which the group had recently purchased. The leader of the Branch Davidians said he was the messiah. When George continued to make threats, Howell and a group of his supporters moved away from Mount Carmel. The next year, New Mount Carmel Center made headlines again, on more than one occasion. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for FRANK BEASCOECHEA - In The Line Of Duty: Ambush In Waco - DVD - Color Mint at the best online prices at eBay! By August, health officials concerned about rotting food and human waste had quarantined the site, fencing off the entire area, which was also said to be contaminated with lead from ammunition that had melted during the fire. She led daily prayer and bible study sessions each morning, and she also implemented the consumption of grape juice and unleavened crackers, symbolizing the blood and body of Christ, into the residents daily routine. Howell took control in 1987 and later changed his name to David Koresh. They named it Mount Carmel Center, after the mountain range frequently referenced throughout the Bible, and immediately got to work building out their new settlement. Doyle told reporters that he made the decision to finally leave due to conflicts with Pace. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. . Davidians drifted to Roden's side and called themselves Branch Davidians. Kiri Jewell, who told ABC News in a 2003 interview that her mother Sherri was one of Koreshs wives, said she herself became Koresh's youngest "bride" when she was just 10 years old, and later testified before Congress that Koresh molested her at a motel. As a city with deep religious roots, Branch Davidians were generally accepted and allowed to practice their religious beliefs without interference. Gunfire erupts.. 2023 . The Branch Davidians (Students of the Seven Seals) trace their history to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, one of several successors to the nineteenth-century Millerite movement. Not only are recruits physically isolated from friends and family members who might otherwise provide a reality check, but cults often isolate recruits from outside information. Having gained total control over New Mount Carmel Center once and for all, Charles Pace, now living in a house behind the new chapel built in 2000, spoke with reporters about his renovation plans for the property. On February 28, 1993 at approximately 9:30 a.m., 100 lawmen from the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division of the United States Treasury Department descended on a religious compound owned and operated by the Branch Davidian cult 10 miles east of Waco, Texas. Here are some other debates around and other little-known facts about the Waco siege and Koresh: 1. It hence came as no surprise the three men were furious when the FBI launched their siege against the Branch Davidians at Waco in 1993, only for two to quickly begin planning their revenge. Michael was ostensibly not involved in the Oklahoma City Bombing's orchestration or execution, but he did definitely know about it from Timothy months in . On February 28, 1993, a firefight erupted between the Davidians and federal ATF agents serving a warrant, during which ten people died and twenty-four others were injured. By the time their leader married Florence Hermansonthe 17-year-old daughter of two devoted followerstwo years after the move to Waco, construction of Mount Carmels large administration building was almost complete. Then, in 1989, he claimed all of the women at Mount Carmel as his. Encyclopedia.com. Having stockpiled ammunition and MREs in preparation for a fight to the death against Babylon (translation: the government), the faithful had the means to hold out inside Mount Carmel for quite some time. Although many of the people within the Mount Carmel Center simply saw themselves as students of the Bible, particularly the apocalyptic message of the book of Revelation, they became known to the public as Branch Davidians and followers of the self-proclaimed messiah, David Koresh. ." To their observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, Bates and the Whites added another distinctive theological tenet. There were allegations from some of Koreshs former followers that it wasnt just the adult women he wanted, but he also pursued several of their daughters, some of whom were teens or even younger. (April 28, 2023). After Ben died in 1978, power passed briefly between his wife, Lois, and son, George, before landing with a guy named Vernon Howell. The February 28, 1993, assault unsettled the Branch Davidians' expectations. When county officials threatened to seize the 77-acre tract and sell it at auction, George Roden took the tax battle to court. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/branch-davidians, JOHN BOWKER "Branch Davidians A new Smithsonian Channel documentary that airs 7 p.m. Monday revisits how it happened and includes interviews with survivors who once trusted Koresh with their lives and their souls. Following the devastating 1993 siege, weaponry recovered from the compound included 60 M-16 machine guns, 60 AK-47 assault rifles, about 30 AR-15 assault rifles, and other. The intriguing developmental point here is that he recorded an 82.1 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2022. As highlighted in the media coverage of the event and the subsequent trials and inquiries, the alleged failure of the authorities in the way they responded and managed the case was astonishing. Anthony, Dick, and Thomas Robbins. The Bizarre History of the Branch Davidian Headquarters in Waco, Texas, the number of people living on the property had dwindled, arrested again and charged with aggravated assault, threatened the justices reviewing his case, Mrs. Roden sat near the propertys chain-link gate, another monument was added at Mount Carmel, now living in a house behind the new chapel, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Following the April 19, 1993 fire, after authorities had finished canvasing the scene, what little that remained of Mount Carmel was bulldozed. The affidavit's assertions about drug manufacturing have been totally discredited. Members of several other new religious movements have tried to distance themselves and their groups from association with Koresh's abusive leadership in order to insulate themselves from public criticism and potential governmental intervention. .css-d1h32f{color:#000000;display:block;font-family:Visuelt,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-text-stroke:0;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-d1h32f:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-d1h32f{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-d1h32f{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-d1h32f{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}50 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World, Drew and Jonathan Scott Were Surprise Twins, Jenny Marrs Reveals She Has Flight Anxiety, The Property Brothers Want to Save the Planet, The 'Queer Eye' Season 7 Trailer Just Dropped, Fans React to Chip and Jo's White House Visit, The Napiers Celebrate 100th Episode of 'Home Town', Everything You Need to Know About Silobration, Martha Stewart Shares Angry Instagram Rant, Joanna Gaines Dropped Everything for the Eras Tour. Public interest in the Branch Davidian movement reached unprecedented heights during the prolonged and ultimately violent standoff between feder, branch In addition to this institutionalized polygamy, Koresh had ordered a number of Mount Carmel residents, who had been recruited from Seventh-day Adventist churches in the U.K., not to go outside after their visas had expired. On the second anniversary of the fire, a commemorative memorial was unveiled during a ceremony on April 19, 1995. In Millennium, Messiahs, and Mayhem, edited by Thomas Robbins and Susan Palmer. Syracuse, N.Y., 2000. From prison, Livingstone Faganwho left Mount Carmel during the siege and, after a controversial 1994 trial, began serving a forty-year prison sentence (later reduced to fifteen) for his actions on February 28continues to represent Koreshian orthodoxy in his self-published writings, including Mt. Neighbors estimated the number of people living on the property had dwindled from 1,000 Davidians down to approximately 50. Houteff came to see himself as the seventh and final link in a line of reformers including Martin Luther, Miller, and Ellen White. Pace had returned sometime after the fire with a small following of his own and dedicated the monument bearing the name "Living Waters Branch of Righteousness" to his group. One of them, Marc Breault, would later be instrumental in spreading damaging information about Koresh both to media outlets and the United States government.
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