Falun Gong or Falun Dafa is a Chinese cult based on traditional qi gong practices that was founded in 1992. The Chinese government's attempts to suppress the movement have resulted in the group becoming something of a cause célèbre amongst the anti-China crowd. Its support for social conservatism and anti-communist stance has helped popularize the movement in the west.
Political movement or harmless religious group?
Attitudes towards Falun Gong are sharply divided.[1] Opponents claim that the organization is in fact a political group that seeks to overthrow the Chinese government,[2] while supporters argue that they are being oppressed because of the evil government philosophy. Public perceptions in the English-speaking world are skewed by the highly successful public relations campaigns operated by Falun Gong practitioners, and, in the United States, knee-jerk paranoia about the Chinese government.[3] While initially supportive of the movement, the Chinese communist party began a crackdown on the movement after a 1999 incident when ten thousand practitioners surrounded the CCP compound in Beijing.[4]
Teachings
Essentially a less violent Chinese version of Aum Shinrikyo, Falun Gong combines Chinese folk religion with modern-day eschatology. The organization is vehemently opposed to homosexuality and premarital sex, and generally holds the same social views as the Catholic Church. As part of the larger qi gong movement, Falun Gong also endorses traditional Chinese medicine, its adherents claiming that the techniques they teach are a replacement for evidence-based medicine.[5] Falun Gong takes a Christian science approach to illness, claiming that sickness is the result of past-life transgressions.
Despite being general troublemakers, Falun Gong is aggressively nonviolent.[6] The groups teachings go so far as to eschew most forms of political involvement.[7] Of course, given the beliefs of the group, "political involvement" is rather creatively defined - protests and advocating against same-sex marriage or the Chinese government is acceptable, while actually becoming a politician[8] is looked down on.
Cult of personality
The founder of Falun Gong, Li Hongzhi, claims to have miraculous powers. He claims that he is the savior of humanity, who has come to the earth to "rectify" the way and prevent "true" spiritual teachings from being lost. He claims that ancient Chinese knowledge is far superior to current teachings.[9]
Teachings on race
The movements teaching on race-related issues are somewhat questionable. Li Hongzhi maintains that interracial relationships are a sign of the Dharma ending period and that race divisions continue to exist in the afterlife, that people of different skin colors go to different heavens, and that as a result interracial children cannot go to heaven without the personal intervention of Li Hongzhi.[4]
Complete moonbattery
Falun Dafa's teachings get even more bizarre: they teach that there is a 2-billion year old nuclear reactor in Africa,[4] left by an ancient race of Falun Gong practitioners. While the reactor in question definitely exists,[10] all available evidence suggests that it has formed naturally, without any intervention from ancient intelligence.
Organ harvesting
As much as Falun Gong may be an unpleasant movement, the reaction by the Chinese government has been highly questionable. In 2006, the Kilgour-Matas report was released by a Canadian MP which suggested that Falun Gong members have been subject to involuntary organ harvesting.[11]The U.S. Department of Safety later released an analysis of the report arguing that there was insufficient evidence that this was actually the case.[12] As with other information on the group, there is a great deal of obfuscation as to what is actually going on, as most media outlets that feature reports on the group are either drawn directly from Falun Gong supporters[13] or sources within the Chinese government.
Footnotes
1.↑ [1]
2.↑ One example
3.↑ The group's Wikipedia article, which completely whitewashes the organization, is currently under discretionary sanctions imposed after a 2007 arbitration
4.↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 New York Times: Rooting Out Falun Gong; China Makes War on Mysticism
5.↑ [2]
6.↑ Just go with it.
7.↑ Aside from self-immolation, apparently.
8.↑ You know, somebody who might actually be able to change the law
9.↑ "Modern equipment is pretty advanced, but I'd say it's still not as good as ancient Chinese medical science."
10.↑ About.com Geology: The Oklo Natural Nuclear Reactor
11.↑ [3]
12.↑ [4]
13.↑ For example, [5]
Original text from: http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Falun_Gong
