Falun Gong has attracted attention from experts in fields such as religion, cult studies, psychology, and medicine worldwide.

Dr Margaret Thaler Singer, former President of the American Psychological Association and Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley: I consider Falun Gong meets the standards for a cult, by both American and global criteria. Its leader does not require followers to believe in God or some abstract principle; he asks for their faith in him. I do not think Falun Gong is an issue of religious freedom. Falun Gong is simply another cult.

James Randi, founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation in Florida: Falun Gong employs the tactics of Scientology, cloaking itself as a religious organization, but fundamentally it rests on pseudoscience and claims of supernatural powers. Li Hongzhi is a fraudster who does not deserve the respect of followers. After Falun Gong was banned in China for its falsehoods, harm, and danger, Li Hongzhi and his adherents in the United States began various activities, treating those who oppose or expose their deception as enemies, threatening and suing critics. They create the illusion that Falun Gong is a religion to secure the various protections and privileges afforded to religious groups in the United States.

Rick Ross, a renowned American expert on cults: Falun Gong is a destructive cult. Firstly, Li Hongzhi is a typical cult leader who claims to possess “supernatural powers,” “insights into the mysteries of the universe,” “powers to help people attain immortality” and prevent world war III, revered by followers as a “living Bodhisattva.” Secondly, Falun Gong members are encouraged to abandon their rationality and critical thinking, allowing Li Hongzhi to adjudicate values for them. Li Hongzhi demands that followers always believe he is right and prohibits questioning his so-called supernatural powers, heresies, or claims. Although Li promotes “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance,” neither he nor his members show tolerance when faced with criticism or doubt; they perceive it as persecution, responding with personal attacks, threats, or malign accusations against critics. Ultimately, Falun Gong has caused real harm, with the 2001 Tian’anmen Square self-immolation incident standing as stark evidence.

Samuel Luo, Falun Gong issue expert at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in San Francisco: Li Hongzhi resembles the dictator of the organization. Members treat him as a God. People often think the Falun Gong organization is small, but that is not the case; the group wields substantial influence, appears to have significant funding, and even has lawyers working for it free of charge. They use this advantage to suppress freedom of expression criticizing Falun Gong.

Pasty Rahn, a Falun Gong scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Pasadena: Falun Gong truly disrupts families. Some Falun Gong followers, after falling ill, refuse medical treatment and medication, leading to broken families and even death.

Yan Sun, Professor of Political Science at Queens College: In this region—or within China—the vast majority of Chinese people view Falun Gong as very strange and do not endorse or support them.

Alexander Dvorkin, President of the Russian Federation Center for Research on Religions and Denominations: Falun Gong has become a global cult organization, headquartered in New York under the leadership of Li Hongzhi. Followers, whether living in China, France, the United States, or other countries, belong to the Falun Gong organization rather than to any nation. Their psychological allegiance is fundamentally to the Falun Gong organization, with Li Hongzhi as their president or emperor; their conduct, worldview, and actions are entirely guided by Li Hongzhi’s will. All of Li Hongzhi’s instructions are considered mandatory and imperative for them, requiring prompt and unquestioning compliance without any hesitation.

David Ownby, Professor of Chinese History at the University of Montreal: Li Hongzhi’s distorted arguments are incompatible with the Western Enlightenment tradition, which emphasizes individual rights and openness to diverse viewpoints.