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Friday, October 29, 2010

Decade Long Censorship in China of Falun Gong

Suite 101.com - Falun Gong members are not allowed to practice in China. Viewed as an 'evil cult', the movement was banned in 1999. Not only has this spiritual group been censored online and in print, but practitioners have been heavily persecuted. There are even claims of thousands being tortured and even murdered according to Michael Bristow's BBC News article (July 22, 2009), "China says Falun Gong ban 'works'." This form of religious censorship, enforced by the Chinese government, is an extreme example of censored ideas and beliefs. Why has the persecution of Falun Gong been so intense? What is China trying to protect or preserve by banning this movement? Why should censorship in China matter to the rest of the world?

The History of Falun Gong in China

Falun Gong is a set of principles that are both Buddhist and Taoist in origin, as well as the integration of qigong exercises. Combining spiritual and philosophical ideas and mind-body medicine, Falun Gong is essentially a way of life, a path to follow for physical and spiritual well-being. Founder Li Hongzhi opened this method of living and spiritual practice to the public in 1992. More...

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