Falun Gong is a cult that claims following its tenets can cure any disease, so you don't need doctors (and that high level Falun Gong members are so perfectly healthy that they are hunted by CCP members for their perfect organs). The founder claims to have magical powers, like clairvoyance, levitation, walking through walls, omnipresence, the ability to cure diseases - at least some of which anyone who follows his teachings could reach. Extraterrestrials, higher dimensions, and other such are also part of it. Also, on the evil cult front, Falun Gong is a supporter of right wing extremists in both the USA and Europe.
So no, I don't agree there is much fundamental difference from Scientology.
I don't like most religions, personally. But there is a significant difference between a regular religious community, that has its own shared beliefs but doesn't completely exclude those who don't share them (e.g. by forbidding members to even become friends with people outside the community), or demand the community members completely dedicate a majority of their time to the religion; and a cult, which does do all of these things.
Note that there exist cults within many major religions. There exist for example extremist Catholic groups that would fit the definition of a cult. But that doesn't mean that all Catholics are a cult.
Religious people, not cultists. How many Scientologists, Falun Gong members, etc are there in Congress?
Scientology is an evil cult, while Falun Gong is more like Buddhism. You can't really compare them.
Falun Gong is a cult that claims following its tenets can cure any disease, so you don't need doctors (and that high level Falun Gong members are so perfectly healthy that they are hunted by CCP members for their perfect organs). The founder claims to have magical powers, like clairvoyance, levitation, walking through walls, omnipresence, the ability to cure diseases - at least some of which anyone who follows his teachings could reach. Extraterrestrials, higher dimensions, and other such are also part of it. Also, on the evil cult front, Falun Gong is a supporter of right wing extremists in both the USA and Europe.
So no, I don't agree there is much fundamental difference from Scientology.
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What defines a cult then in your opinion if not "a cult that i like"?
I don't like most religions, personally. But there is a significant difference between a regular religious community, that has its own shared beliefs but doesn't completely exclude those who don't share them (e.g. by forbidding members to even become friends with people outside the community), or demand the community members completely dedicate a majority of their time to the religion; and a cult, which does do all of these things.
Note that there exist cults within many major religions. There exist for example extremist Catholic groups that would fit the definition of a cult. But that doesn't mean that all Catholics are a cult.
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