The Falun Gong: Innocuous or Insidious?

[The Backlash Cometh]

The first time I heard of this organization was at the first (and last) Amnesty International meeting I attended. One of the reasons I never went back again was because of the way the Falun Gong issue was handled at the meeting. There was a Chinese guest speaker who insisted it was just an exercise/meditating organization that grew too fast for the Communist party and is now facing government recriminations.

What bothered me the most was how the Amnesty people were ready to sign a letter of support for the guest speaker & the Falun Gong without asking critical questions. I asked why the Communist Party would feel threatened by an exercise organization? Was there any religious indoctrination going on that might later turn political? I didn't get clear answers, but I also didn't get the impression that the speaker was holding out on anything. When the paper came to me, I signed it to be polite, but pointed out that there was no date on the letter of support. The Amnesty person's response gave me the feeling that this wasn't by accident. I looked the paper over again after I signed it and realized that the form was a general statement of support. It could be used for anyone coming to that particular branch, looking for a letter of support.

Anyway, I know Amnesty International has done wonderful work, but, the way things were handled at that meeting gave me reason to never come back again. I was, however, always left wondering if the Falun Gong were innocuous or insidious?

[KittyWampus]

1. Their meetings are open to public but depend on full time supporters

it is a cult.

I've argued with a friend about his continuing to go to their exercise classes.

I have studied Tai Chi for years (short form, push hands & sword form) and have ALWAYS paid my teachers. And adult ed classes that are free to public PAY the instructor through public financing (taxes).

There is a REASON those exercise groups are free... like Krishnas.

Also, they have groups who demonstrate on sidewalks in NYC.

They'll have someone in a cage with fake blood and horrific photos of torture victims etc. Real in-your-face stuff.

There is a titular head of this group. Look him up. What lifestyle does he lead?

Note- I am not exonerating Communist China in any way for their torture practises or trying to claim they don't do it. As a totalitarian regime... they have every reason to be scared of a cult with dedicated members.

Neither am I saying that people shouldn't join cults if they want to.

[bullimiami]

3. are they a cult or a movement?

i dont know.
either would be a threat to totalitarianism both in china and here in the us.

[KittyWampus]

4. IMO, cult based on ancient, preexisting practices. There's a charismatic

leader to this group.

[NewJeffCT]

2. I think they are mostly harmless

There is a religious aspect to it - the whole movement is called Falun Dafa and Falun Gong is just the exercise portion of it, I believe. I'm not 100% sure, though.