Falun Gong: a narrative of pending apocalypse, shape-shifting aliens and relentless persecution

Falun Gong: a narrative of pending apocalypse, shape-shifting aliens and relentless persecution

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.

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