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China's Suppression of Falun Gong

Tristesse

Well-Known Member

No. From what I read, that has nothing to do with atheism. A lack of belief doesn't cause you to do, or make atrocities. It's what you believe that causes you to. So, while some of them may be atheists, it's not there atheism that's making them do this, it's their belief in some other ideology. Beliefs inform your actions, not lack of beliefs.
 

science_is_my_god

Philosophical Monist
We wouldn't be having this conversation if religion didn't exist in the first place...
How many times do I have to tell people that we were all born atheists? :rolleyes:
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
This has more to do with authoritarian dictatorship, and its aversion to anything that might threaten its control, rather than religion or the lack there of.

Repressing freedom of religion isn't something unique to an atheistic government. I would think that you would find more religious intolerance in countries that have a national religion, and support that one religion over any other.
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
No more or less than the Crusades or Inquisition were examples of Christianity run amok. To those who defend atheism in this instance, while condemning Chrstianity in those, you can't have your cake and eat it, too.

It is a prime example of religious intolerance run amok.
 

science_is_my_god

Philosophical Monist
Everyone likes to use the term "run amok." That is only an opinion. Technically, Hitler was acting on his interprataion of what was "right," and even though many of us don't like genocides, it still becomes, on a fundamental level, opinion VS. opinion. Our concept of morals and ethics are individually subjective to our own personal interprataion of our beliefs.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
From the article:
The continued crackdown highlights the difficulty of eradicating a movement whose adherents stubbornly cling to their beliefs, but it also provides a window into the psyche of an authoritarian government that, despite its far-reaching power, remains deeply insecure.

...
Last week, Jiang Yu, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, reiterated the government’s long-held stance that Falun Gong warrants suppression because it emphasizes meditation and the paranormal over modern medicine. “The Falun Gong cult violates human rights by controlling people’s minds,” he said in response to a reporter’s query.

It does sounds to me as if their lack of understanding of the religion motivates their "crackdown" actions, but whether you could attribute that as a consequence or a cause of atheism is debatable.
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
It has not been shown, either in this article or thread, that athiesm is the cause of the oppression of the Falun Gong. From the article, I got the distinct impression that it was the authoritarian style of government that was to blame. Religion happens to fall on the "undesirable" list of such a government because it has the ability to gain a large number of devoted followers, that could potentially challenge the government's absolute authority.

I know that China, since communism took over, has been very intolerant of religious beliefs, and that athiesm might have played a larger part. It's just that I don't see athiesm playing a role in this particular case.
 

Riverwolf

Amateur Rambler / Proud Ergi
Premium Member
They're actions are no different than that of the Medieval Christian Church.

I've heard that the Prime Minister of China say of their oppression of Tibetan Buddhism: "We're saving them from religion!"

To me, that's just another form of: "We're trying to save them from damnation!"

EDIT: I'd also like to stress that atheism is not the cause of this oppression. I agree that it is the government's desire to remain powerful.
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
It has not been shown, either in this article or thread, that athiesm is the cause of the oppression of the Falun Gong. From the article, I got the distinct impression that it was the authoritarian style of government that was to blame. Religion happens to fall on the "undesirable" list of such a government because it has the ability to gain a large number of devoted followers, that could potentially challenge the government's absolute authority.

I know that China, since communism took over, has been very intolerant of religious beliefs, and that athiesm might have played a larger part. It's just that I don't see athiesm playing a role in this particular case.
Just to make sure I'm absolutely clear, I don't think atheism is the cause of this oppression, I was just peeved at what I saw as a double standard.
 

dogsgod

Well-Known Member
What the Falun Gong are up against is a political controlling power that views Falun Gong as a threat and is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain control. Atheism doesn't enter into this.


In April 1999 over ten thousand Falun Gong practitioners gathered at Communist Party of China headquarters, Zhongnanhai, in a silent protest against beatings and arrests in Tianjin.[8][9][10] Two months later the People's Republic of China government, led by Jiang Zemin, banned the practice, began a crackdown, and started what Amnesty International described as a "massive propaganda campaign."
wiki
 

zenzero

Its only a Label
Friend opuntia,

China's Suppression of Falun Gong
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?

Perception of the govt. is different.
The root of all human problems lies with that MIND that perceives and meditation is the way to still that mind.
Love & rgds
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Where are you folks getting the info that the Falun Gong are atheists? I've only skimmed the Wiki, but it made no mention of atheism. :confused:
 

Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
Just to make sure I'm absolutely clear, I don't think atheism is the cause of this oppression, I was just peeved at what I saw as a double standard.

Hm. It would depend whether we are comparing apples with apples or not.

The Crusades and Inquisition, though they did have political reasons, seemed to be primarly motivated by a religion's need for power.

This Falun Gong example shows a government's need for power, that just happens to be atheist as well. The atheism plays a lot smaller role than Christianity did in the Crusades/Inquisition.

I don't think the comparison is strong enough.
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Hm. It would depend whether we are comparing apples with apples or not.

The Crusades and Inquisition, though they did have political reasons, seemed to be primarly motivated by a religion's need for power.

This Falun Gong example shows a government's need for power, that just happens to be atheist as well. The atheism plays a lot smaller role than Christianity did in the Crusades/Inquisition.

I don't think the comparison is strong enough.
I don't see why you blame the one on the religion, and the other on the government. In medieval Europe, the line between the two was rather blurry.
 

dogsgod

Well-Known Member
Where are you folks getting the info that the Falun Gong are atheists? I've only skimmed the Wiki, but it made no mention of atheism. :confused:

A theist believes god/s exist. The Falun Gong do not share a common belief in nor worship a god. By definition they are atheists.

I did a word search on the Falun Gong wiki page. The words "God" and "worship" are not found.
 
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Falvlun

Earthbending Lemur
Premium Member
I don't see why you blame the one on the religion, and the other on the government. In medieval Europe, the line between the two was rather blurry.

Precicely because the line was blurry in medieval Europe.

Essentially, religion was the government. Christianity held enormous power, both secularly and spiritually. Policy was made by the Church, and officials only had power because the Church chose to give them power.

As far as I can tell, the government of China is only atheist because religion poses a threat to the government's absolute authority. Its reason for persecuting the religious is not to defend atheism, or even through policies mandated by atheism. It's a policy based upon a governmental principle, not a religious (or lack of religious) belief.
 

Riverwolf

Amateur Rambler / Proud Ergi
Premium Member
I don't see why you blame the one on the religion, and the other on the government. In medieval Europe, the line between the two was rather blurry.

Blurry?

Try non-existent.

It's all about governmental power; the religious reasons for the inquisition and crusades were second-hand.
 
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