Lecture 1 - 1.5 I-Assignment: How has the internet been used to resist or counteract religious persecution and human rights abuse?

Maria Hsia Chang claims in an ABC Radio interview (Kohn, 2005), that Falun Gong (Law Wheel Cultivation)or Falun Dafa (Great Law of the Wheel) actually started as a Chi Gong group. Chi Gong has roots in pre-historic Chinese times.

Before the crackdown on Falun Gong in July 2000, the movement was even joined by members of the communist party. Some of them, like Jennifer Zeng, were sentenced to re-education camps to put them back on track with traditional beliefs, the way the Chinese communist party saw the world.

What really started the problem was that communist beliefs have survived after the death of Mao in the Chinese communist party, which still rules the country today. While the movement first attracted Chinese government as it would help increase health in China’s society, religious beliefs took influence and inflated Falun Gong with the addition of quite an eclectic mix of beliefs, among them the existence of UFOs.

Anyway, the fundamental belief is about a wheel that is placed in your abdomen by a Falun Gong leader from a different dimension. Obviously, this belief and the practice of Falun Gong seems to help people cure severe illnesses without medical treatment as we know it (doctors, pills and potions).

Although Falun Gong claims to be a peaceful movement they openly critisise the Chinese communist party and actively support Chinese in resigning from it (Yuxin, 2005). Interestingly the movement has a great following although it doesn’t seem to be organized like traditional churches., There is no membership and all activities are conducted by volunteers.

The movement has spread into several countries around the world and is seen there as a peaceful meditative movement. The numbers of people settled in Western Culture, attracted by Falun Gong seems to increase too. These people openly support the fight of Falun Gong to be accepted in China. This also increases the international popularity of Falun Gong on the Internet, where people openly discuss Falun Gong and related topics in several blogs. For further information look at: http://www.blogtoplist.com/rss/falun-dafa.html.

References

Kohn, R. (2005, May 8^th). What’s Wrong with Falun Gong? The Spirit of Things, Radio National. Retrieved September 22^nd, 2010, from: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/spirit/stories/s1358518.htm

Yuxin, W. (2005, April 29). Quitting the CCP: Ten Thousand People Gather to Support One Million Resignations from the Party. The Epoch Times. Retrieved September 22th, 2010, From: http://en.epochtimes.com/news/5-4-29/28302.html

Man, J. (2003). The Gutenberg Revolution: The Story of a Genius and an Invention That Changed the World. Headline Review. London, UK.