opuntia
Religion is Law
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/world/asia/28china.html?th&emc=th
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/world/asia/28china.html?th&emc=th
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.Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
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.
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Last week, Jiang Yu, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, reiterated the governments 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 peoples minds, he said in response to a reporters query.
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.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.
China's Suppression of Falun Gong
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/world/asia/28china.html?th&emc=th
Is China a good representative of atheism run amok?
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.
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.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.
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.
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.
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.