[lern_too_spel]

Falun Gong is a cult — the Moonies with Chinese characteristics. The fact that the author of this article and its associated book doesn't acknowledge this tells you all you need to know about this analysis.

Hitler planned for conquest of Europe. Xi is seeking to gain the territories disputed with its neighbors due to treaties signed with KMT officials instead of with CCP officials. The threat to liberal democracies is not remotely the same.

[helloworld11]

>Falun Gong is a cult — the Moonies with Chinese characteristics. The fact that the author of this article and its associated book doesn't acknowledge this tells you all you need to know about this analysis.

First, one piece of opinion in a larger body of text doesn't tell you "all you need to know" about the rest of it. Much of the other arguments might be very good even if a few are wrong. What a silly notion to say otherwise.

Secondly, whether Falun Gong was cult-like or not doesn't change the fact that China brutally repressed a religious movement of tens of millions of members that didn't engage in terrorism, violence or forcibly integrate new members. This repression coupled with so many of China's other repressions of different groups and minorities makes it absurd to blame a religious group for being crushed ruthlessly, instead of the obvious giant state and police apparatus doing the crushing.

[lern_too_spel]

> First, one piece of opinion in a larger body of text doesn't tell you "all you need to know" about the rest of it.

It certainly does when Falun Gong and the Moonies are purveyors of far right propaganda, which the author subscribes to.

> Secondly, whether Falun Gong was cult-like or not doesn't change the fact that China brutally repressed a religious movement of tens of millions of members that didn't engage in terrorism, violence or forcibly integrate new members.

As far as China's repression of Falun Gong, I wholeheartedly disagree with its methods, but as Falun Gong was and remains an anti-CCP entity, the repression of that organization is entirely understandable.

[brutusborn]

Out of interest what makes Falun Gong more of a cult than say, Catholicism?

I’m not suggesting it’s not, but all I seem to find is meditation, tai chi and some inconsistent philosophy; very similar to other religions.

[lern_too_spel]

Biden, a Catholic, is allowed to have beliefs different from the Pope's. Members of Falun Gong believe that the leader is a supernatural being who can read their minds.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/inside-falun-gong-mas...

[brutusborn]

That sounds basically equivalent to Papal Infallibility (besides the mind reading).

Seems like typical misguided religion rather than a cult. I’m not saying it’s good, but I would reserve the term ‘cult’ for Scientology and the like.

[oneoff786]

I’m not sure where Biden comes into this. But plenty a preacher will tell you what you must believe in Catholicism.

[lern_too_spel]

Biden comes into this because he is Catholic and clearly does not have to do what the Pope tells him to do, nor does the Pope try to tell him what to do. This is not possible in Falun Gong, the Unification Church, and other cults.

[oneoff786]

But… why bring in a political leader when he is not unique in regards to this aspect of the faith whatsoever? That just seems distracting

[lern_too_spel]

Is there a better example of a Catholic that everybody knows? The only two I can be sure that everyone knows are Biden and the Pope.

[meltyness]

There is clear effort here to complicate things, regardless of the author's stated bias.

More verbs and ajectives don't reduce the significance of "internment."