Boshko

The only thing about them that's really worth worry about is their distain for modern medicine that could get some innocent kids killed (ala Christian Science etc.).

J.M

turtonm

You should never go to the U.S. dept on info about china, for the same reason you shouldn't go to the chinese govt for info on the U.S.

People like to think optimistic and claim that everyone or most people in china believe in buddah or other religions, the fact is that a small percent aren't athiests, they either don't know or don't care.

Just because followers of a religion are being eliminated, doesn't make it any less stupid than any other religion. In every country there are religious or extremist groups that do try to overthrow their govts, just because you don't like the chinese govt doesn't mean that they are wrong every time when they say that a certain cult is dangerous or attempting to disrupt society, groups like that exist in every country, and they must be dealt with just like the U.S. did with Waco.

Vorkosigan

Originally posted by J.M:
turtonm

You should never go to the U.S. dept on info about china, for the same reason you shouldn't go to the chinese govt for info on the U.S.


JM, if you go to the State Department site, you'll find that the numbers they use are Chinese gov't numbers. Now, I know -- much better than you -- that the numbers are not really that trustworthy, for a variety of reasons. However, they are the only numbers we have.

People like to think optimistic and claim that everyone or most people in china believe in buddah or other religions, the fact is that a small percent aren't athiests, they either don't know or don't care.


If you had read the Shroud of Turin thread, particular the posts from about #75 on, you would find a pocket analysis of the complexities of religion in a Chinese society. There's a lot I left out, of course.


In summary, depending on what you mean by "atheist," everyone or no one in China is an atheist.


Just because followers of a religion are being eliminated, doesn't make it any less stupid than any other religion.


You obviously are not up on the latest news from New York. The FLG leader has been exhorting his followers to go and get themselves killed. Li believes this will increase his following in this country. Call up any of the recent news articles on it. Several US localities that had been critical of China over the FLG issue have since apologized, based on the new info from Li. The fact is that FLG is a cult that is dangerous to its followers.


In every country there are religious or extremist groups that do try to overthrow their govts, just because you don't like the chinese govt doesn't mean that they are wrong


Never did I make any claim like this. FLG is wrong because it is exhorting its followers to get themselves killed.


...every time when they say that a certain cult is dangerous or attempting to disrupt society, groups like that exist in every country, and they must be dealt with just like the U.S. did with Waco.


"...just like the US did with Waco"


You mean by killing the cultists? I don't advocate killing anyone, especially misguided dupes.


Michael

[ July 13, 2001: Message edited by: turtonm ]

Sakpo

We have them in my town. They are very judgemental of other people(because their cult has all the right answers to everything ) and are extremely homophobic!