For the past ten or so years my parents have been heavily involved with the Falun Gong/Dafa sect which gained massive popularity both in and out of China. Since that time I have seen my parents spend thousands of dollars on airline tickets going to conferences, a rejection of modern medicine in accordance with their beliefs, an anti-atheistic belief and a retreat into dogma on various occasions. Because their holy (I hate that word) book was written within the last twenty or so years (possibly even more recent) the author has been able to warp aspects of quantum physics so to make the book appear as though it has depth. Also because the author is still alive he can counter any arguments brought against the book. Some of these beliefs are for lack of a better word just plain wacky
Here is what they believe
*Belief that alien technology is used in computers and can warp people stopping them from taking up the faith. Falun Gong believers are of course protected from alien brainwashing
* Illness is caused by karma and if you use modern medicine it pushes the illnesses into another dimension and it will come back in another form. Only by following their book and doing their meditative exercises can you live an illness free life. If you do get sick that is just small amounts of karma coming to the surface. If you are seriously ill you should not take up the faith because your reason for joining will be to be cured and that is not a genuine reason.
*attachments are evil
*Films and video games featuring demonic themes ie Buffy TVS and Anne Rice novels are evil and warp people
*Inter-racial marriages
*Anti-homosexuality
*A rejection of inter-racial marriages (In my case this was very difficult for me to accept because their marriage is an inter-racial one)
If anyone has anything else to add or advice on how best to deprogram please let me know. I certainly don't condone China's approach to Falun Gong but that doesn't mean this sect isn't harmful.
You cannot de-program the vast majority of cultists without physically removing them from their cult and cult influence because cultists will not hear you, will block out anything you have to say. Even if you can remove them, your chances are low of convincing them to use logic and reason to reject the cult. I regret that I cannot suggest anything to do short of kidnapping them.
The repression of the Falun Gong by the Chinese government is acceptable to me compared to the alternative, which would certainly be an increase in Falun Gong cult membership, followed by an increase in infiltration by foreign governments to gather information about China and to advance their own political agendas under the guise of a religious organization.
For me it really depends on whether or not the claims of organ harvesting and torture can be independently verified. I'm all for deprogramming but not if it comes with the aforementioned price tag.
I like your point of view, Amer, in general, but I think anyone has the right and ability to express an opinion, and mine is: Go, Chinese government! Smack down the Falun Gong.
"Rule of law" in the PRC may have slightly different meaning from your own.
EG No trail by jury,no presumption of innocence, Conviction rate;in excess of 90%. The role of defence is to plead mitigation and remorse.
If an accused pleads guilty,the penalty will usually be prison instead of death, If you plead not guilty and are found guilty,no mercy is shown. The PRC has DOZENS of capital crimes. When I was last there a man was executed for running a ring of bicycle thieves.
From what I've read,Falun Gong is an especially nasty cult,whose behaviour is stereotypical. Should it be banned? IF it can be shown to be harming the body civil,as opposed to being seen only as a political threat. In the PRC it seems to be both. I feel the same about Scientology,which I think IS banned in The PRC..
Li Hongzhi also encourages hatred of homosexuals. He has said, "The disgusting homosexuality shows the dirty abnormal psychology of the gay who has lost his ability of reasoning at the present time," Li Hongzhi wrote in Volume II of "Zhuan Falun," or "Turning the Law Wheel," which was translated into English in 1996.
In his talk in Switzerland, Li Hongzhi also stated that gay people would be "eliminated" by "the gods." Asked in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1998 whether gays could practice Falun Gong, Mr. Li answered, "You can cultivate, but you must give up the bad conduct."
Just pointing out the *obvious* ... chinese sites are most likely controlled(censored) by their government, so they are not a really good source of unbiased information. (.cn)
Also as for the rick ross institute, it can't be said that is't also realiable, look it up in google.
Just one I found ... http://www.cesnur.org/2001/CAN.htm (not only about rick ross)
"self-proclaimed Bible-based "cult expert" Rick Ross" ...
Cheers
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