Recently on its 8th Volume, the monthly journal "Church and Heresy" run by Korean Christianity published an article "Recognizing Falun Gong (Its Hierarch Li Hongzhi) as a Pseudo Religion of Occultism", it defines Falun Gong "completely" as an evil cult.
What is religion?
It refers to rectifying falsity and errors in the human society; guiding individuals, families, society, nations and even the world with misfortune to the right way; bringing people with hopes of rightness, truthfulness, benevolence, trust, love and eternal happiness; giving support to people and spreading true dogmas.
What is pseudo-religion?
In general, it refers to the falsity that appears to be true and reflect relationship among things in the universe.
What is pseudo?
It semantically means fake and trickery. Strictly speaking it should be fake religion.
What is modern pseudo-religion?
Pseudo-religion is semantically varied, which is close to burgeoning religion, superficial religion and cult but with certain difference.
In view of theology, however, pseudo-religion defined in Christian world refers to fake or pseudo religious actions with non-religious purposes but cannot be determined as religion in view of science, theory, system, traditional religious dogmata, theology and Christian gospel (Bible) ,as it doesn't meet basic requirement of religion, while in religious coat, it arbitrarily creates non-religious dogmata that are plagiarized from traditional religious dogmata.
In this sense, Li Hongzhi's Falun Gong embraces features of pseudo-religion of occultism. Just as Li Hongzhi said that he combined theory of Buddhism and Taoism with Qigong, and mixed with his fabricated theory as well. Falun Gong has the nature of mixed pseudo-religion.
"Falun Dafa" is the highest Law of Buddha. It is founded on the base of the most universal features-truthfulness, compassion and forbearance with an aim of cultivating people's spirit. Therefore, they also term Falun Gong as "Falun Practice Dafa". They advocate that Falun Gong is on the one hand methods of Buddhists practicing, while on the other hand is not a religion school. Besides cultivating spirit, they also advocate anneal life of people, taking Falun Gong as an intelligential organism.
In addition, Falun Gong believes that Qi, formed and cumulated through certain means of aspiration, will become Gong, and power of Gong will turn into Falun (Wheel of Law) that sustains inner power. Once reaching to such a stage, one can have such fantastic powers such as cure disease with special competence and even clearly see the organs inside the body.
Such allegation not only reflects nature of religion, but also embraces elements apotheosizing its founder.
"Supernormal science" allegation (Falun Gong followers regard the Falun Gong system as supernormal science) discloses Li Hongzhi's self-apotheosizing. Therefore it is said that they believe that the Mortal Master, King or Bodhisattva followed by Falun Gong practitioners are greater and higher than Jesus Christ and Sakyamuni.
When Li Hongzhi demonstrates Qigong practicing, he wears cassock of the Buddhism and has za-zen of lotus flower foundation; he preaches that the doomsday is to come and that practicing Falun Gong is the only way out. All these are similar to theories of burgeoning religion or pseudo-religion.
Li Hongzhi claims in his doomsday theory that 1999 is the doomsday but he could either advance it to 1997 or postpone it; and there are as many as 81 times when Falun Gong books talk about doomsday. Such allegations cannot be found in non-pseudo-religious theories and cannot be recognized in view of theology. As such disordered and irresponsible allegations bring panic to the society, how is it possible not to take it as pseudo-religion?
In order to support his allegation of supernormal science, Li Hongzhi apotheosizes himself as Bodhisattva and quotes the unconfirmed hearsay of a foreign polygraphs expert to prove that plants also have a spiritual world. Li also claims in his Falun Gong books that it is his law body that adjusts bodies of his devoted disciples.
The focal point that the Divine Performing Arts Troupe's public performances spread is the doomsday theory; Li Hongzhi says that people who hinder Falun Gong are all devils; He says that through practicing, "Falun" can absorb energy in the universe to strengthen human body, and that people whose spirits do not die out and could reach the heavenly kingdom or paradise. As such allegations are not only unintelligible but also very absurd, how is it possible not to take it as pseudo-religion?
Whereas, by comparing Falun Gong with traditional religious digamata, especially Christian digamata in view of the reformist theology, we, the special research council, unanimously, after careful quotation, investigation and discussion, agree that Falun Gong shall be publicly defined as a burgeoning pseudo-religion.
By publicly defining Falun Gong as a burgeoning pseudo-religion, it is intended to maintain the benevolence of Christian and to prevent Christians as well as various religions, individuals, families, society, states and the world from being harmed or disturbed.
