Falun Gong: A Narrative of Pending Apocalypse, Shape-Shifting Aliens and Relentless Persecution

Type of content
Chapters
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2014
Authors
Farley, Helen
Abstract

Few people outside of China fully understand the full scope of Falun Gong. Practitioners adhere to a complex theology replete with shape-shifting aliens, multiple planes of existence and warnings of an impending apocalypse brought about by extreme moral degradation which only a lucky few will survive. In this worldview karma plays a pivotal role, but not the abstract karma of Buddhism, but rather a tangible sticky black substance which can be at least partially removed by practising five physically demanding yet meditative exercises. This alone would warrant Falun Gong’s inclusion in this volume, yet another controversy exists that equally qualifies the movement. Since 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have been brutally persecuted by the Chinese Government, both parties making claims and counterclaims about evildoing, clever conspiracies and other such injustices. Amid a torrid propaganda war of considerable vehemence from both sides, the truth can be difficult to discern. This chapter will briefly examine both sources of controversy within Falun Gong while providing an overview of the beliefs, practices and history of the movement.

Description
Citation
Farley H (2014). Falun Gong: A Narrative of Pending Apocalypse, Shape-Shifting Aliens and Relentless Persecution. In Lewis J, Petersen J (Ed.), Controversial New Religions.: 241-256. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Keywords
Falun Gong, Falun Dafa, Apocalypticism, Qigong, Chinese religion, Karma
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
50 - Philosophy and religious studies::5004 - Religious studies::500406 - Studies in eastern religious traditions
50 - Philosophy and religious studies::5004 - Religious studies::500405 - Religion, society and culture
44 - Human society::4408 - Political science::440807 - Government and politics of Asia and the Pacific
43 - History, heritage and archaeology::4303 - Historical studies::430314 - History of religion
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