摘要：宗教是一種悠久的社會歷史現(xiàn)象，是一種特殊的社會意識形態(tài)。目前，我國主要有佛教、道教、天主教、基督教、伊斯蘭教等五大宗教，大約有l(wèi)億多的信教群眾。宗教崇拜的對象是神，有最高信仰、經(jīng)典、教理、教義，教人向善，關注人們的現(xiàn)世生活、尊重生命、以人為本。法輪功的主要特征是教主崇拜，缺乏系統(tǒng)的教理、教義，散布末世論，對信徒進行精神控制，不尊重生命，秘密結社。法輪功不具備宗教的基本特點，不是宗教。
關鍵詞：宗教 法輪功 區(qū)別
宗教是一種悠久的社會歷史現(xiàn)象，是一種特殊的社會意識形態(tài)。宗教崇拜的對象是神，有最高信仰、經(jīng)典、教理、教義，教人向善，關注人們的現(xiàn)世生活、尊重生命、以人為本。但是，法輪功與宗教截然不同，不具備宗教的基本特點，不是宗教。本文就宗教與法輪功的不同展開論述。
一、宗教的特點
宗教的主導方面與社會發(fā)展潮流相吻合，有益于社會的和諧、穩(wěn)定。
?。ㄒ唬﹤鹘y(tǒng)宗教崇拜的對象是神
宗教以佛祖、上帝、真主等“最高存在”為信仰體系的核心，崇拜的對象是神。宗教的神職人員如主教、神父、牧師、阿訇、僧人、道士等不是信徒信仰或崇拜的對象，也不許信徒對他們進行崇拜。宗教相信有神，信仰的根本要求是“愛神愛人”，崇拜對象都是超人間的神和去世的古人，如佛教的彌勒佛和釋加牟尼、道教的太上老君和張?zhí)鞄?、基督教的耶和華和耶穌、伊斯蘭教的安拉和穆罕默德等。宗教的神職人員并不是神本身或神的化身，因此，不被人們作為神來崇拜。而且，宗教的創(chuàng)始人沒有一個稱自己為神，宗教不以活人為教主，宗教崇拜的神不是某一個現(xiàn)實的、具體的人，而是最高的精神實體和絕對存在物，是抽象的、彼岸的神，宗教崇拜超人間的“神”，宗教的神職人員只是神的仆人。在宗教中，神與人不能混為一談，即使是德高望重的神職人員也不能自稱為神。
?。ǘ┯凶罡咝叛觥⒔?jīng)典、教理、教義
各種宗教都有自己的最高信仰、經(jīng)典、教理、教義，構成了其理論學說體系。信徒通過佛教的《大藏經(jīng)》、道教的《道德經(jīng)》、基督教的《圣經(jīng)》、伊斯蘭教的《古蘭經(jīng)》等宗教經(jīng)典的熏陶，可以提高自身的文化素質(zhì)和道德素養(yǎng)。宗教都具有精深的文化思想和規(guī)范的戒律，信仰有神但強調(diào)理性教化，宗教信仰反映了信教群眾的精神寄托和追求，宗教都有自己的世界觀、社會觀、人生觀、價值觀，是支配人們?nèi)粘Ｉ畹耐獠苛α吭谌藗冾^腦以超人間的形式作出的虛幻反映，同時又將其人格化；表現(xiàn)為宗教教徒對這種外部力量的崇拜、敬畏以及精神上的寄托和追求。
在長期的歷史發(fā)展中，各宗教都形成了一套特有的宗教信仰、宗教感情和與之相適應的系統(tǒng)的、完整的宗教理論、教義、教規(guī)，教義，以其教義的博大、精致、深邃來吸引信眾。在長期的宗教實踐中，宗教形成了一整套崇拜儀式和其他宗教活動的儀軌，是公開的、開放的。作為監(jiān)督和指導，這些儀軌為信眾所信守。
宗教有嚴格的宗教組織和宗教制度，宗教組織是經(jīng)過政府正式注冊登記的合法社會團體，宗教組織按照其教規(guī)章程在國家憲法和法律范圍內(nèi)從事正常宗教活動和有益于社會的公益活動，是受法律保護的合法社會團體。宗教力求與國家政權相協(xié)調(diào)，在社會生活中發(fā)揮民間團體的輔助作用。
?。ㄈ┙倘讼蛏?br>
各種宗教都具有教人向善的特性，引導信徒棄惡從善，凈化社會，凈化人倫。宗教的教義、教規(guī)都提倡圓融、勸人為善、講和睦相處、主張和平、仁愛、公正、謙讓、寬容、理性、注重道德、樂于兼容、善于互補，教義、教規(guī)中具有真、善、美方面的和諧因素。如：佛教要求信徒信仰經(jīng)、律、論三藏，講“五戒十善”、“慈悲救世，提倡“諸惡莫作 ,眾善奉行”, “不為自己求安樂 ,但愿眾生得離苦”； 道教提倡“憐恤孤兒 ,救濟貧民”；基督教教義的核心是愛，上愛天主，下愛世人；伊斯蘭教稱“信道而且行善者是樂園的居民”等。
長期以來，宗教的教義、戒律成為維護社會生活秩序的共同道德規(guī)范。釋迦牟尼在創(chuàng)立佛教時，就提出了“眾生平等”的道德思想，主張對人乃至一切生靈施以“慈悲”，用“無邊無限的愛的光芒照亮萬物”。穆罕默德早在創(chuàng)立伊斯蘭教的初期就以反對部落之間殘殺，主張穆斯林皆兄弟的仁慈和平等的道德思想，受到廣大群眾的支持和擁護。宗教信徒的“善行”，是對真善美的追求，對人的心理起到調(diào)適作用，幫助遭受挫折的人消除心理壓力，平衡心理需求，給予人們生活的勇氣和力量，有利于調(diào)節(jié)人與人之間的關系，有利于家庭和睦和社會穩(wěn)定。宗教之所以源遠流長、經(jīng)久不衰，就是源于其勸善為仁的倫理感召。宗教以積極的態(tài)度、超凡脫俗的精神致力服務于社會，使人的精神境界得到升華。宗教教人行善積德，濟世助人，謙恭寬容，和平仁愛，與現(xiàn)代社會所崇尚的美德是相同的。宗教都有樂善好施、扶危濟困的優(yōu)良傳統(tǒng)。宗教在一定程度上，起著規(guī)范人們思想行為的作用。一些教義、教規(guī)、宗教道德中要求的不兇殺、不偷盜、不奸淫、不貪財、不搶劫、不妄語等戒律；平等愛人，救苦救難等慈悲濟世等精神，勸人為善，要為在今世多做好事，今世積德，來世好報的美德；“兩世吉慶”，服務人類的生活態(tài)度等都對人們的思想產(chǎn)生積極影響。佛教界倡導的“莊嚴國土，利樂有情”的人間佛教；道教界倡導的“慈愛和同，濟世度人”的生活道教；天主教的“愛國愛教、敬主愛人”，基督教的“愛國守法、榮神益人”，伊斯蘭教的“命人行善，止人作惡”等。雖然說法不盡相同，但都是引導信徒與社會相適應，教人向善，睦鄰和親，奉獻社會。
宗教提出的忍耐平等、博愛，有利于和順，消除不滿情緒。使人達到內(nèi)心平和。我國的宗教都具有愛國愛教的優(yōu)良傳統(tǒng)，都有維護社會穩(wěn)定的教義主張，都倡導信徒融于社會，服務社會，造福人群，維護社會和諧，擁護中國共產(chǎn)黨的領導，擁護社會主義制度。
?。ㄋ模╆P注人們的現(xiàn)世生活
宗教的教義除強調(diào)世界末日、神的救贖和追求天國幸福之外，還關注人們的現(xiàn)世生活，給人們以安慰、勸勉和鼓勵，如基督教教人博愛、忍耐、寬容，佛教教人慈悲、救人、寬大，伊斯蘭教要求人們團結、友愛、文明禮貌等。宗教力求與社會相適應，隨著社會的發(fā)展，不斷改革自身，積極倡導服務社會，造福人類。佛教講慈悲，“無緣大慈，同體大悲”，憐憫一切有情眾生。道教受老子“尊道貴德”和“報怨以德”的思想影響，十分重視道德善行在修道中的關鍵作用。南北朝時期有儒、佛、道三教之爭，最后達成共識，便是三教雖異，同歸于勸善。所謂“三教”，實質(zhì)是指三種道德教化之道。所以，中國傳統(tǒng)宗教的本質(zhì)特征是“道德宗教”，所謂“神道設教”，目的在于淳厚社會道德風氣。這種道德宗教傳統(tǒng)也影響到中國的佛教、基督教和伊斯蘭教，使其教義中的道德內(nèi)涵逐漸得到充實和凸現(xiàn)，強化了它們的社會道德教化功能。
?。ㄎ澹┳鹬厣?，以人為本
所有的宗教都是以尊重生命為根本，提倡以人為本、強調(diào)熱愛生命。佛教認為人身難得，要珍惜生命，人身寶貴，生命寶貴，要利用有限的生命，廣行善事，廣結善緣，輕生自殘，從根本上破犯了佛教的根本大戒——不殺生戒。宗教雖然認為祈禱與修煉對于人的身心有所幫助，但不主張忌醫(yī)拒藥。道教對中國的醫(yī)藥方面還作出過巨大貢獻。道教中確有以強身健體、祛病延年為目的的內(nèi)修功法，這些內(nèi)修的功法都是在對人體經(jīng)脈、精氣神具有非常深刻的認識并同時繼承前人經(jīng)驗的基礎上，通過數(shù)十代高道的體驗不斷總結而逐漸形成的，在修煉時必須是由名師口授心傳，循序漸進以達到長生。為此，道教在醫(yī)藥學、養(yǎng)生保健及個體生命的修煉方面進行了不懈的理論探索和實踐，出現(xiàn)了如葛洪、陶弘景、孫思邈等一大批卓有成就的大道士、醫(yī)學家、思想家。佛教“五明”（五種學問）中的“醫(yī)方明”指醫(yī)學和藥學，不少高僧都精通醫(yī)藥止血，為病人治病。各種宗教都以“不殺生”為首戒。戒律中以殺生為根本重罪。道教認為，尊生貴德才是正道。伊斯蘭教認為，生命是“真主”的恩賜，應該珍愛生命，尊重生命，積極進取，奮斗人生。反對輕生和自殺行為，認為自殺是犯罪，自殺者將在火獄中受難。
二、法輪功的主要特征
“法輪功”與佛教、道教等宗教有明顯的區(qū)別，是典型的邪教組織。
?。ㄒ唬┙讨鞒绨?br>
與宗教截然相反的是法輪功崇拜的對象是教主李洪志，是人。信奉的神是具體的、至今還活著的教主，把教主直接神化為神，甚至最高神加以崇拜。李洪志自封為神，說自己具有超凡入圣的大神通，甚至有驅(qū)神役鬼的法力，信徒們對教主無條件崇拜。李洪志吹噓自己是“出世千年不遇，萬年不遇”，“四歲時接受佛家獨傳大法第十代傳人全覺法師親自傳功”，具有隱身、搬運、定物、思維控制等各種各樣的特異功能，法身無數(shù)，能決定地球爆炸與否及其時間，能度人去天國，是唯一能把整個人類超度到光明世界中的救世主，全世界只有他一個人在公開傳正法，在末劫時期最后一個把它弘傳出來，自稱佛祖轉世。不惜篡改出生年月，稱是釋迦牟尼佛祖轉世，自稱擁有神功。李洪志自稱是超越于凡人的“神”，借以神化自己，吸引信眾。聲稱自己高于釋迦牟尼、老子、耶穌，能主宰宇宙，是降臨在當今地球上的唯一救世主，只有他能把“不可救藥”的人類度到另外的“美好世界”去等等。稱自己高于釋迦牟尼、老子、耶穌，能主宰宇宙，是降臨在當今地球上的唯一救世主。
?。ǘ┤狈ο到y(tǒng)的教理、教義
法輪功缺乏深厚的歷史文化積淀，冒充、盜用、貶低宗教，充分利用佛教、道教在老百姓心中的影響，從中摘取片言只語，揉合而成。法輪功盜用象征佛法的“法輪”作為其功法的名稱，竊取佛教核心概念，標榜自己是高于佛祖釋迦牟尼的最高的佛，是救世主。還盜用了佛教的“法身”、“三界”、“不二法門”、“業(yè)力”、 “白業(yè)黑業(yè)”、“末法”、“去執(zhí)著心”、“護法”等概念。
“法輪”是佛教的專用名詞，作為對佛法約定俗成的喻稱，作為佛教徒對所奉佛法和教理的贊譽詞，寄托著信眾深厚的宗教感情。法輪功與佛教沒有內(nèi)在聯(lián)系；李洪志雖然借用了佛教的一些概念，但這些概念都被他改頭換面，不再是原來的意義。佛教并不講“宇宙大法”，但李洪志稱“法輪是宇宙的智慧”，這種說法佛教中是沒有的。法輪功雖然打著宗教的旗號，但它既非傳統(tǒng)上的佛教，也非道教。李洪志竭力貶低其他宗教的神祗，只有他才是宇宙最高層次的神，傳出的才是最完整的佛法。在修煉者眼中，李洪志就是宇宙中至高至圣的主佛，對他五體投地無限崇拜。李洪志盜用宗教卻竭力貶損宗教，一方面聲稱是釋迦牟尼的轉世，用“佛法無邊”欺世，另一方面又侮辱和褻瀆宗教，稱他是比釋迦牟尼、老子、耶穌還高的救世主。李洪志對各宗教進行貶低和褻瀆，私改自己的出生年月，表明自己是“如來佛”再世，自吹“比釋迦牟尼的功力還要大幾十萬倍”，是“最高的佛”、“救世主”等等。 李洪志宣稱自己是佛家的修煉法門，但又不是佛教等宗教。
法輪功缺乏系統(tǒng)的教理、教義，宣揚神秘主義，制造恐怖心理和緊張氣氛，達到蠱惑人心、控制成員的目的。李洪志稱所著《轉法輪》是指導修煉的“天書”，內(nèi)涵至深至廣，百看不厭，萬讀有益，上面的每個字都是他的“法身”形象，都是“法輪”的形象，是給修煉者登天的一部“天梯”。李洪志稱修煉者會得到他的“法身”保護，得到“法輪”保護，只要是真修，就不會出現(xiàn)任何危險，并且修的結果是“功成圓滿佛道神”。
?。ㄈ┥⒉寄┦勒?br>
“世界末日論”是所有邪教的基礎，法輪功宣揚人類已進入“末法時期”，“社會道德敗壞”，“要有魔出現(xiàn)禍亂我們常人社會”，唯有“法輪大法”是拯救全人類的“超常大法”，引起社會不穩(wěn)定，企圖達到其不可告人的政治目的。法輪功蒙騙世人以自殺求得“圓滿”，這根本就是制造罪孽。法輪功讓人們放棄正常的生產(chǎn)生活，破壞社會秩序。李洪志的世界末日毀滅之說，整個地球都要爆炸了，整個世界都要毀滅了，唯有跟著我教主才能升天，才能脫離這些災難，把信徒置于一種極端恐懼和瘋狂的精神狀態(tài)下，以進一步加強對信徒的絕對精神控制。法輪功宣揚“末世論”、“地球爆炸論”，大談人類毀滅，制造社會恐慌。鼓吹世界末日即將來臨、修煉法輪功是避免世界末日的唯一方法等，與偽宗教理論一脈相承。
?。ㄋ模π磐竭M行精神控制
李洪志曲解宗教教義，對練習者實施精神控制，通過謊言、騙術、心理暗示等誘導方法，對信徒進行“洗腦”，使他們喪失正常理智，實現(xiàn)精神控制。信徒必須遵循“精神領袖”的旨意而行動。不僅控制人的行動，而且也控制人的精神，這種控制突出地表現(xiàn)為法輪功的絕對排他性。一些練習者在“圓滿”成佛的蠱惑下，深陷法輪功難以自拔。
法輪功內(nèi)部法則高于正常的社會法規(guī)，使信徒脫離正常的社會，失去家庭和朋友的幫助。法輪功要求練習者向家人和社會隱瞞真相，拋棄家人，遠離社會進行秘密的非法聚會。利用引誘、洗腦、恐嚇等手段對法輪功練習者進行精神控制，李洪志要求法輪功練習者只能修煉法輪功，修煉要專一，說只有修煉法輪功才能提高“心性”，才能上層次。要求法輪功練習者放下“名、利、情”，“放下生死”，才能“最后圓滿”。李洪志在《悉尼講法》中講修煉要專一的問題時說：“我認為修煉要專一！……在佛教中叫不二法門?！崩詈橹菊f的不二法門就是只能修他的法輪功，看他的書，信他的話，學他的“法”，不能涉及其它的內(nèi)容。而佛教中的不二法門是指萬法都有其共同的本質(zhì)，是“不二”的，甚至一切對立的法在本質(zhì)上也有同一不二的法性，因此才有佛法中的“萬法歸一”之說。透悟法性就是入“不二法門”。[1]用狂熱的宗教情緒，使信徒處于高度興奮狀態(tài)，以便進行精神控制。
?。ㄎ澹┎蛔鹬厣?br>
法輪功鼓吹練功習法不用看病，宣稱人有病、有難是前世業(yè)債造成的，是在“還業(yè)”，不要去醫(yī)院，修煉“法輪大法”才能“消業(yè)”，吃藥不能治病。法輪功癡迷者置親人、家庭于不顧，只求自身的所謂“升天圓滿”，甚至發(fā)展到引火自焚的可悲地步。
法輪功蠱惑練習者為了升入天堂或者追求圓滿而舍棄生命，甚至殘害生命。不顧家庭，不顧親情。法輪功癡迷者把與自己意見不一致的人看成“魔”。為了求得自己所謂的“圓滿”和進“天國”，有病不讓醫(yī)，有藥不能吃，甚至拋妻棄子。殺親弒父，使千萬個家庭失去了和睦和幸福。說一個人生病時不應采取醫(yī)療措施，而是忍受疾病。因為忍受了疾病之后，人們才能贖罪，這樣才能達到最高境界，最終重返最高層宇宙，再次享受天堂生活。蠱惑成員為了升入天堂或者追求圓滿而舍棄生命，甚至殘害生命。一些練習者在“圓滿”成佛的蠱惑下難以自拔。
李洪志自己在生病時卻堅持接受治療。1982到1992年，在長春糧油供應公司工作期間，共有73筆醫(yī)療費報銷記錄，其中的48筆是他自己接受治療的記錄。1984年7月8日，李洪志因急性闌尾炎在吉林市人民醫(yī)院進行了手術。[2]
生老病死是人生的自然規(guī)律，誰也無法逃脫。從古至今多少人進行修煉沒有一個人能夠長生不老。
?。┟孛芙Y社
法輪功自稱是一種松散的練功群體，但實際上采取了秘密結社的方式，組織嚴密、行動詭秘。1992年李洪志自封法輪大法研究會會長，設立了39個法輪功輔導總站，1900多個分站和28000多個練功點，控制著210萬名法輪功練習者，形成了完整的組織系統(tǒng)，遍及全國各大城市。制定了一系列規(guī)章制度。是一個規(guī)模龐大，體系嚴密的組織，成員對教主李洪志頂禮膜拜、絕對服從。李洪志強制練習者以練功的名義，與世隔絕，甚至與親人、家庭隔絕，形成一個“法輪功”社會。只認大法弟子，不認家人、親人。李洪志在國外利用現(xiàn)代化通信手段發(fā)布“經(jīng)文”，遙控下屬機構，通過這些組織層層下發(fā)到每個練習者。體系嚴密、組織完備，未經(jīng)登記注冊。
三、綜述
綜上所述，法輪功與宗教沒有共同之處，它不是宗教，而是盜用宗教的名義，歪曲宗教經(jīng)典，違反宗教教義，危害宗教、社會的非法組織。應進行宗教基礎知識宣傳，弄清宗教與法輪功的根本區(qū)別，認識法輪功的實質(zhì)和特征，以提高人們辨認、抵制法輪功的能力。
On the Difference Between Religion and Falun Gong
Xu Yongli Yang Jingjun
Abstract: Religion is a social and historical phenomenon with a long history as well as a special social ideology. At present, there are about one hundred million peoplewho believe in one of the five major religions in China, including Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity, and Islam. Religion is characterized by god-worship, highest faith, sutras, and doctrines. In addition, religion calls on people to perform good deeds and to respect life and be morally good people. By contrast, the main features of Falun Gong are founder-worship, the lacking of systematic doctrines, spreading eschatology, spiritual control of the followers, disrespect for human life, and secret association. Falun Gong does not possess the basic characteristics of religion, so it is not religion.
Keywords: religion Falun Gong difference
Religion is a social and historical phenomenon with long history as well as a special social ideology. Religion is characterized by god-worship, highest faith, sutras, doctrines, and creeds. In addition, religion calls on people to perform good deeds and to respect life and to be morally good. But Falun Gong is totally different from religion. It does not possess the basic characteristics of religion and is not religion.This paper will highlight the difference between religion and Falun Gong.
First, the characteristics of religion
The dominant trend of religion is consistent with social development, and is a benefit for social harmony and stability.
(a) The object of worship of traditional religion is god
Religious figures and prophets have many names Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses and ask people to pray to them or through them to reach God. Religious clergies, such as bishops, priests, pastors, imams, monks, and priests, are not the objects of worship by other believers, and also the other believers are not allowed to worship these clergies.
The ultimate goal of religion is to worship the almighty and in every religion the founder may be regarded as a holy person but is not worshipped as god but merely as the facilitating link to god. Furthermore the objects of worship are unearthly gods and departed ancients, such as the Maitreya Buddha and Sakyamuni from Buddhism, Lord Lao Zi and Zhang Tianshi from Taoism, Jehovah and Jesus from Christianity, and Allah and Muhammad from Islam. The clergies are not the god itself or the incarnation of god, therefore, they are not worshipped by people as god. Moreover, none of the founders of religion call themselves god. Religion does not take living people as the founder of religion and the god being worshipped is not a real, specific person, but the highest spiritual entity and absolute existence. It is the abstract god on the other side of the world. What religion worships is an unearthly “god”, and religious clergies are just the servants of god. In religion, god and man can not be confused or be regarded as one, and even the highly respected clergy can not claim to be god.
(b) Religion contains highest faith, scriptures, doctrines, and creeds
All religions have their own beliefs, scriptures, doctrines, and creeds, which constitute the theory system of the religion. Under the influence of religious scriptures, such as the Tripitaka in sutra, the Tao Te Ching in Taoism, the Bible in Christianity, and the Koran in Islam, believers can improve their own cultural and moral qualities. All religions have profound cultural thoughts and normative precepts. They believe the existence of god but emphasize rational enlightenment. Religion reflects the spiritual sustenance and pursuit of the believers. All religions have their own world view, view of society, view of life and values. They are unreal reflections of the external forces dominating people’s daily life in the form of supra-mundane and are personified at the same time. They are reflected as the believers’ worship and fear to such external forces, and the spiritual sustenance and pursuit of the believers.
Throughout history, various religions have all formed unique religious faith, religious feelings, and corresponding systematic and complete theory of religion, creed, and religious rules. They attract believers with their profound creeds. During the long-term religious practice, a complete set of observances for worship rituals and other religious activities have been formed, which are publicized and open. As supervision and guidance, these observances are kept by the believers.
There are strict religious organizations and religious systems for each religion. Religious organizations are legitimate social institutions officially registered through the government. Religious organizations hold religious activities and public service activities which are beneficial to society in accordance with the state Constitution and laws. They are legitimate social institutions subject to legal protection. Religion seeks to coordinate with state power, and plays a supporting role in social life.
(c) Call on people to perform good deeds
Various religions all have the characteristics of calling on people to perform good deeds. They guide the followers to renounce evil and turn to virtue, to purify the society and human relations. Religious doctrines and religious rules advocate harmony, exhort people to do good, and uphold living in harmony. They also advocate peace, love, justice, humility, tolerance, reason, moral excellence, compatibility, and complementarily. There are harmonious elements of truth, goodness and beauty in the doctrines and rules. For example, Buddhism believers are required to believe in Sanzo, including scriptures, laws and theories. In addition, Buddhism advocates “Five Precepts and Ten Virtuous Deeds” , “be merciful to save the world”, “refrain from all evil and do all good” and “do not seek comfort for oneself but only wish sentient beings would be away from suffering”; furthermore Taoism advocates “show mercy to orphans and the very poor”; the core of Christianity is to love and one of the decrees is to “Love God, love common people”; Islam says, “those who believe and do good deeds are the inhabitants of Paradise”.
For a long time, religious doctrines and disciplines have been the common code of ethics in maintaining social order. Sakyamuni proposed the moral thought of “all beings are equal” when he founded Buddhism, claiming to impose “mercy” on all creatures and “illuminate all things with the light of boundless infinite love.” Mohammed was supported by the masses when he founded Islam, because he was against the slaughter among tribes and advocated the benevolent and equal moral thought that “ all Muslims are brothers”. The “good deeds” of religious believers is the pursuit for truth, goodness and beauty. It plays a very important role in adjusting people’s psychology, helping those who suffered setbacks eliminate psychological stress and balance psychological needs, and giving people courage and strength in their lives. Therefore, “good deeds” is helpful for the adjustment of personal relationship, family harmony and social stability. The reason why religion has a long enduring history is a result of its “charitable and benevolence” ethical calling. Religion is committed to serving the society with a positive attitude and the spirit of vulgarity, which sublimated people’s spiritual realm. Religion calls on people to do good and accumulate merit, to save the world and help others, to be respectful and tolerant, and to advocate peace and love. All of these are the same as virtues advocated by the modern society. With its fine tradition of charity and “help those in danger and relieve those in distress”, religion, to a certain extent, plays a role in regulating people’s thinking and behavior. Some doctrines, canons, and religious precepts require no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no greed, no robbery, and no lying. Some other attitudes have positive impacts on people’s thought, such as “equal love”, “help people in distress”, “exhort people to do good”, “to do good and accumulate merit”, “praying to Allah to give great reward in this world and hereafter”, “serve the human”. In addition, the Buddhism circle advocates ??a terrestrial Buddhism of “a solemn country and benefiting sentient beings”; Taoists advocate a life Taoism of “being benevolent, peaceful harmonious, saving the world and benifiting the people”; Christianity maintains “patriotic and law-abiding, glorify God and benefit man”; Islam upholds the idea of “encouraging people to do good and stop people from doing evil”, and so on. Although the statements are different, but they are all committed to guide believers to adapt to society, and to teach people to perform good deeds, maintain good relationship with neighbors, and to contribute to society.
The principles of “tolerance, equality, and universal fraternity” proposed by religion are conducive to eliminate dissatisfaction, so that inner peace can be achieved. Religions in China all have an excellent tradition of patriotism and the doctrine of maintaining social stability. They advocate believers to integrate with the society, to serve the society, to bring benefit to people, to maintain social harmony and to support the leadership of Communist Party of China and the socialist system.
(d) Concern about people’s this life
In addition to the emphasis on doomsday, salvation and the pursuit of happiness of heaven, religion also concerns about people’s this life by giving people comfort, exhortation and encouragement. For example, Christianity teaches people to be philanthropic, patient and tolerant; Buddhism teaches people to be merciful, helpful and lenient; Islam requires people to be solidary, fraternal and courteous. Religion seeks to adapt to society, reform itself with social development, actively promote service to the society as well as bring benefit to the mankind. Buddhism stresses mercy, “be infinitely merciful” to all sentient beings. Influenced by Lao Tzu’s thoughts of “respect Tao and value De” and “recompense injury with kindness”, Taoism attaches great importance to the key role of moral goodness in practice. Disputes among Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism existed during Northern and Southern Dynasties, but finally consensus was reached despite the differences of these three religions, because they share the same goal of exhortation. The so-called “three religions” actually refers to three methods of moral education in essence. Therefore, the essential characteristic of traditional Chinese religions is “moral religion”. The purpose of the so-called “ instructing according to the sacred way” is to form simple yet profound moral atmosphere in the society. China’s Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are also influenced by this tradition of moral religion, which makes the moral content of their doctrine gradually enriched and highlighted, and strengthens their function on social moral education.
(e) Respect for life and people-oriented
All religions are based on the respect for life, advocate the people-oriented concept, and emphasize the love for life. Buddhism believes that it is indeed difficult to be born as a human being, so we must cherish life and devote our finite life to performing good deeds and developing kind affinity with people. On the contrary, suicide and self-mutilation fundamentally violate the “no killing” precept of Buddhism. Although religion believes that prayer and practice are beneficial for people’s physical and psychological health, it does not advocate refusal to medical treatment. Taoism has even made ??great contributions to Chinese medicine. There are indeed exercises to benefit internal organs in Taoism. These exercises take shape after several generations, based on the eminent taoists’ experiences and studies about body meridians and “essence, energy and spirit” of the human body. In practice, methods must be dictated by the teacher from the heart and practitioners gradually achieve longevity. With this goal, Taoism has made unremitting exploration in theory and practice in medicine, health care and the practice of individual lives. There has been large number of accomplished eminent taoist priests, physicians and thinkers among the taoists, such as Ge Hong, Tao Hongjing, Sun Simiao. The “YiFang Ming” in the “Five Sciences” (five kinds of knowledge)of Buddhism refers to medicine and pharmacy, and many monks are proficient in medicine and treatment. All religions regard “no killing” as the leading precept and killing is a fundamental felony in the precepts. Taoism believes that “respect life and value De” is the right way. Islam believes that life is the gift from “Allah”, and should be treasured and respected by being aggressive and struggling a wonderful life. By contrast, Islam is against suicide and suicidal behavior, which are regarded as a crime. Those who committed such behaviors will suffer in the hell-fire.
Second, the main features of Falun Gong
There are clear distinctions between “Falun Gong” and Buddhism, Taoism and other religions. Falun Gong is a typical cult.
(a) Founder-worship
Opposite to religion, the object of worship of Falun Gong is its founder---Li Hongzhi, who is a human being. The god Falun Gong Believes in is a specific and living leader who is still alive. The leader is directly deified as a god, even as the highest god to be worshipped. Li Hongzhi proclaimed himself as god and claimed that he possesses supernatural power, and can even call the gods and use the spirits as servants, so the followers faithfully worship him unconditionally. Li Hongzhi boasted that “his birth” and “he was given personal instruction at the age of four by Master Quan Jue, the tenth-generation teacher of Buddhist Dafa, which is passed on to only a single disciple.” What’s more, he also said that he possesses various ESPs (Extra Sensory Perception), including invisibility, handling, fixing objects, mind control, and so on. Claiming himself as the reincarnation of Buddha, he boasted he can decide the explosion of the earth and he is the sole savior who is able to help the whole human obtain salvation in a bright new world as well as the only one in the world who is spreading the proper Dharma before Doomsday. He even changed his date of birth to make it coincide with the birthday of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, in an attempt to show that he was the “reincarnation of Sakyamuni.” In order to deify himself and attract believers, Li Hongzhi claimed himself as “an incarnation of god in human form” and beyond the human. He also claimed that he is the only savior on earth who is greater than Syakamuni, Lao Tzu, Jesus, and can dominate the universe. Only he can bring “hopeless” human to another “better world”.
(b) Lack of systematic doctrine
Without profound historical and cultural heritage, Falun Gong was fabricated with a word or two from Buddhism and Taoism. It takes full advantage of the influence of Buddhism and Taoism in the hearts of the people, and at the same time imitate, pirate, and belittle religion. By plagiarizing the Buddhist symbol “Falun” as the name of its Gong, Falun Gong stole the core concept of Buddhism and boosted himself as savior and the highest Buddha greater than Sakyamuni. What’s more, some other concepts from Buddhism, such as “Dharma body”, “three realms”, “the one and only way”, “Karma power”, “white kamma and black kamma”, “final Dharma”, “discard attachment”, and “Dharma-pala”, are also plagiarized.
As a conventional metaphor and praise for Dharma, “Falun” is a terminology of Buddhism and entrusted with the deep religious feelings of believers. Although some of the concepts are borrowed from Buddhism, but the original meaning of these concepts have been changed by Li Hongzhi. So Falun Gong has no intrinsic link with Buddhism. There is no “universal law” in Buddhism, but Li Hongzhi said “Falun is the wisdom of the universe”, which is not a concept from Buddhism. Although Falun Gong is under the banner of religion, it is neither traditional Buddhism nor Taoism. Li Hongzhi tried to belittle the gods of other religions and boasted that he is the god at the highest level in the universe and the Dharma he is spreading is the only complete one. In the eyes of practitioners, Li Hongzhi is as high and lofty Lord Buddha of the universe. They worship him with the utmost sincerity. Li Hongzhi plagiarizes the concepts from other religions, yet tries to disparage them at the same time. On the one hand, he claimed himself as the reincarnation of Sakyanuni, and deluded the world with his so-called “boundless Dharma”. On the other hand, he insulted and profaned other religions by saying that he is a savior greater than Sakyamuni, Lao Tzu, and Jesus. He even changed his date of birth to make it coincide with the birthday of Sakyamuni in an attempt to show that he was the “reincarnation of Sakyamuni.” In addition, Li Hongzhi claimed that Falun Dafa is the way of praticing Buddhism yet is not Buddhism itself.
Lacking of systematic doctrines, Falun Gong preaches mysticism, and deliberately fabricates psychological terror and tension with the purpose of confusing people and controlling the practitioners spiritually. Li said his book Zhuan Falun--- with profound connotation and ever-lasting appeal--- is a “Book from heaven” which can guide the practice. Also, every word in the book is the image of his “Law Body” and the “Law Wheel”, which is a “l(fā)adder” to heaven for the practitioners. Li assured that practitioners will be protected by his “Law Body” and the “Law Wheel”. According to his fallacy, there will not be any danger for the practitioners as long as they are pursuing the true cultivation, and a successful end will be achieved.
(c) Spreading Eschatology
“Doomsday theory” is the basis of all cults. Falun Gong preached that mankind has entered the “end of Dharma”, “society is morally corrupt”, “the devil will appear to destroy we ordinary society”, and only “Falun Dafa” can save all Humans as an “extraordinary Dafa”. The intention of all these fallacies is to cause social instability and to achieve its sinister political purpose. Falun Gong deludes some practitioners to commit suicide to seek “consummation”, which basically is murder. Falun Gong asks practitioners to give up a normal life and break social order. Li Hongzhi advocates that the end of the world is coming and the whole planet will explode. And that he is the sole savior who can help save humans send people to heaven. Putting the followers into extreme fear and a crazy state of mind, Li further enhance the absolute spirit control on the believers. Falun Gong advocates “Eschatology”, “earth explosion theory”, and talked about the human destruction in order to cause social panic. Such fallacies as “Doomsday” and “ ‘Falun Gong’ is the only way to avoid the end of the world” concocted by Li Hongzhi can be traced to the same origin as pseudo-religion theory.
(d) Mind control on the followers
By distorting religious doctrines and adopting measures such as lies, deception, psychological suggestion and other induction methods, Li Hongzhi believers are “brainwashed” which helps them lose their normal consciousness, so that he can realize spiritual control on them. The followers must abide by the will of their “spiritual leader”. Not only the followers actions are under control, but also their spirit. This kind of control is highlighted by the absolute exclusiveness of Falun Gong. Captivated by the idea of “consummation”, some practitioners are deeply lost in Falun Gong and cannot get out of it.
Inside the Falun Gong community, its own rules and regulations are higher than the normal rules of our society. Due to the requirement to conceal the truth to the family and society, Falun Gong practitioners abandoned their family and live away from the community, and hold illegal gatherings secretly. To control the minds of the practitioners of "Falun Gong," Li Hongzhi adopted the measures of enticing, brainwashing and threatening them. Li Hongzhi asked the practitioners to practice Falun Gong only, and said that only Falun Gong can improve the “Xinxing” to a higher level. Falun Gong practitioners are asked to give up “fame, wealth, Love” and “to forget life and death” in order to achieve “final consummation”. In Fa-teaching in Sydney, when talking about attention in practice, Li Hongzhi said: “ I think undivided attention should be maintained in the practice! …... it is called ‘the one and only way’ in Buddhism.” The intrinsic nature of the so-called “the one and only way” advocated by Li Hongzhi is that people can only practice Falun Gong, only read his books, only believe his words, and only study his “Law”, without touching upon other contents. But the real meaning of “the one and only way” in Buddhism is that all Dharmas are the same in essence, even for those against other, and that’s the meaning of “all Dharmas return to One Dharma”. Thorough understanding of Dharmata means entering into “the one and only way”. By using a fanatical religious sentiment, which put the believers under a highly excited state, Li Hongzhi has realized the spiritual control over his followers.
(e) Disrespect for life
Falun Gong preached that people don’t need to go to hospital if they practice the Gongfa. Li Hongzhi said that illness and misfortune are caused by karma, they are forms of karmic retribution and means of "paying karma”. Medicine cannot cure the illness, so don’t go to hospital. The only way to “eliminate karma” is to practice “Falun Dafa”. Many practitioners are so obsessed in Li Hongzhi's fallacies that they neglect kinship and family. The only thing they care about is cultivating and promoting their levels so that they might reach “Buddhahood”, some even committed self-immolation.
“Falun Gong” captivates and encourages practitioners to give up their lives, neglect kinship and family, even commit self-mutilation to help enter heaven or reaching “Buddhahood”. Those who are so obsessed with Falun Gong view people who disagree with them as “devils”. They are also deluded to refuse a doctor and medicine, abandon their wife and children, and even kill their parents. All these behaviors lead to the falling-out and unhappiness of thousands of families. Falun Gong advocates that instead of seeking medical treatment people should tolerate illness. Only by toleration can people pay their debt, reach a higher level, and finally return to the highest level of universe to enjoy life in heaven.
Contradicting with his fallacies, Li Hongzhi has sought medical help for his own illnesses. From 1982 to 1992 when Li worked for the state-owned Changchun grain and oil-supply company, he had 73 medical expense reimbursements from the government. And 48 out of these 73 were treatment he himself received. And on July 8th, 1984, Li had an operation for acute appendicitis in Jilin City People’s hospital.
Sickness and death are the natural order of life, which we can not escape. To achieve immortality, many people practiced hardships since ancient times, but all have failed.
(f) Form association secretly
Falun Gong claimed to be a loose group, but in fact it is an underground organization with a top-down rigorous secret system. Li Hongzhi’s illegal organization, the “Research Society of Falun Dafa”, was the top national organ of the “Falun Gong” organization. Li Hongzhi himself was its chairman. The “Research Society of Falun Dafa” set up 39 general instruction offices, 1,900 ordinary instruction offices and 28,000 practice sites throughout the country. More than two million people joined the “Falun Gong” organization. Thus a large-scale organization with complete system and series of rules and regulations are formed. The practitioners absolutely abide by Li’s directives, which ordered them to seclude themselves from the outside world, from their relatives and the family. As a result, they gathered to form a “Falun Gong” community, in which only practitioners of the “Dafa” can be accepted. Li Hongzhi releases his “scripture” and controls the affiliates from abroad with modern means of communication. His directives were relayed by the “Research Society of Falun Dafa” to the various general instruction offices, which then passed them to the ordinary instruction offices, practice sites and individual practitioners. So, the “Falun Gong” organization is an unregistered organization with complete and strict system.
In summary, Falun Gong has nothing in common with religion. It is not a religion, but just an illegal organization that stole some concepts from religion and distorted religious scriptures by violating religious doctrine as well as endangering religion and society. In order to improve people’s ability to identify and resist Falun Gong, basic knowledge of religion should be propagated, so that fundamental distinctions between religion and Falun Gong can be highlighted and the nature and characteristics of Falun Gong can be revealed.
[1]李安平主編,中國反邪教協(xié)會《法輪功歪理邪說剖析》，內(nèi)部資料，第11—12頁。
[2]《外國人眼中的法輪功》，內(nèi)部資料，第32頁。
【責任編輯：周原】