Cult News

Falun Gong had something of a public relations meltdown in San Francisco this month. And despite its best efforts at spin control could not right its sinking ship within the Chinese American and gay communities in the Bay Area.

It all started over a popular holiday event. The group, which has been labeled an “evil cult” in China, claimed it was experiencing discrimination because its devotees would not be allowed to march in the Chinese New Year parade.

However, parade officials saw things quite differently.

“We have strict rules: No political statements,” said Wayne Hu, president of San Francisco’s Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which runs the parade.

Falun Gong frequently uses whatever events it can to promote itself and increasingly Chinese American communities have decided to rebuff such efforts.

The group put pressure on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for a statement of support, but that effort seemingly backfired, ending in an empty resolution without mention of its avowed nemesis the Chinese government.

But this should come as no surprise to the followers of “Master Li Hongzhi,” the founder of Falun Gong, who has been repeatedly described as both “homophobic” and a “racist.”

The exiled leader of Falun Gong who now lives in New York teaches his followers that gays are “disgusting” and somehow a “black substance” accumulates within the bodies of gay men. “Disgusting homosexuality shows the dirty abnormal psychology of the gay who has lost his ability of reasoning at the present time,” says Hongzhi. And one day he claims gays will be ’eliminated’’ by ’the gods.’’

In the liberal and gay friendly city of San Francisco even an empty resolution of support for Falun Gong has angered many.

“What a disappointing vote. I have compassion for the practitioners but I think the supervisors have been duped by the master’s party line.” Thomas Brown told the Bay Area Reporter.

“I challenge any gay person in this city to get any Falun Gong practitioner to state they do not agree with their master’s belief. I have never heard them refute what he has said. There is deception here,” Brown said. “I think it is a vote that will come back to haunt some of the supervisors.”

Brown’s roommate, Samuel Luo, called the resolution “a huge disappointment” and warned that the group will use it “to recruit members. It makes it hard for people like me to get family members out of the cult.” Luo’s parents are involved with Falun Gong and he has expressed concern for how the group has affected their lives.

“I think it is great that the leadership in the Chinese community recognizes the homophobia of this group and I would support their efforts not to let them march,” said Thom Lynch, executive director of the LGBT Community Center

Interestingly, in a letter published by the San Francisco Sentinel Samuel Luo noted an apparent contradiction in Falun Gong’s battle for human rights. “Last year when the International Cultic Studies Association organized a program on the Falun Gong in which I was one of the presenters, the Falun Gong threatened the organization with a lawsuit and successfully suppressed our freedom of speech” he said.

It seems that Hongzhi’s followers have become adept at an old Scientology strategy. That is, filing what can be seen as harassment lawsuits against their perceived enemies. Lately this also included suing an Australian official for restricting their use of loudspeakers and banners outside a Chinese embassy reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

Apparently Falun Gong wants everyone to recognize its right to speak out loudly and boldly, but not the right of its critics like Luo to tell what they know in an organized public forum.

Falun Gong reportedly will be crashing the Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco, even though its members remain unwanted there reports Bloomberg News.

“They crashed the parade…[last year], and I am prepared for them to do this again this year,” Wayne Hu told the press.

Hongzhi’s followers don’t seem to care how much they upset Chinese Americans, gays or anyone else, as they pursue their master’s agenda.

Meanwhile North American Chinese communities just want to celebrate the coming New Year without political statements or “cult” entanglements.

L.A. Chung writing for the San Jose Mercury News said that Falun Gong “could espouse a doctrine based on loving fluffy kittens or for kicking Tibetan monks. I don’t think the group’s philosophies really matter to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.”

Li Hongzhi’s followers have now filed a legal action to stop San Francisco from using $77,000 in city money to support the parade, which has left local Chinese leaders fuming and the public perception that they are spoilers.

The San Francisco parade in Chinatown is the largest such celebration in North America and the Chinese community there is the second-largest in the U.S. followed by New York. Fallen Gong has caused similar problems in New York surrounding community events there.

The narrow focus of Falun Gong devotees upon their own self-serving agenda continues to alienate many Chinese Americans. And after this most recent fiasco it appears doubtful that the controversial group will regain any ground or goodwill it has lost in the Bay Area.

This month a 60-page criminal indictment came down on Hollywood PI Anthony Pellicano. The alleged wiretapper “was trying to gain a tactical advantage for his clients by uncovering embarrassing information on their courtroom opponents” reports the Los Angeles Times.

More interesting is that LA lawyer Bert Fields, well known for his hardball legal maneuvers, is apparently implicated.

“The names cited in an indictment of private eye Anthony Pellicano read like a road map leading to Bertram Fields and his famous clients” reported the Times.

Among the famous that Fields has represented are stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta. He also took up the cause of Madonna’s Kabbalah Centre, when the controversial group was exposed through a Radar Magazine series.

Digging up dirt to embarrass its enemies is a long-standing strategy of the Church of Scientology, which includes amongst its list of long-time true believers Cruise and Travolta. The church, which has often been called a “cult,” frequently dumps its collected dirt about critics into what it calls “dead agent” files.

It looks like Fields and Pellicano may have followed in Scientology’s footsteps, reportedly practicing the same tactics to win battles or an advantage for their “cult” connected clients.

What might prove potentially devastating if this indictment eventually unwinds Pellicano’s wiretapping tapes, is the substance of what the PI has recorded.

This might include telling and candid conversations of someone such as Nicole Kidman, once embroiled in a contentious divorce with her ex Cruise, or say a revelation or two about the private life of John Travolta.

Both Cruise and Travolta were recently lampooned by the comedy show South Park as being “Trapped in the Closet.”

Does Pellicano have tapes regarding what goes on behind closed closet doors?

There must be a few Hollywood stars sweating out this one.

Meanwhile Bert Fields has put on his best face. “I try to keep practicing law and not pay a lot of attention to it,” he said.

Jehovah’s Witnesses historically have predicted the end of the world four times. Needless to say nothing happened and they now insist that no such specific prophecies were ever really made. Now the organization claims the “end is fluid,” whatever that means.

But for a group that seemed so sure that the end was near the Witnesses made some pretty savvy long-term investments.

For example, they bought up real estate in Brooklyn right on the East River opposite Manhattan, which has paid off quite handsomely.

Recently a huge windfall came to the controversial religion through the redevelopment of an old distribution center located in Brooklyn at 360 Furman Street. This building will be replaced by new luxury condos.

The Furman property will become 450 “swanky condominiums” called “One Brooklyn Bridge Park” reports the New York Daily News.

The developer says that it will have “exquisite waterfront views,” with a  “lush 85-acre park setting, meditation room,” “refrigerated storage for grocery delivery” and that “residents may purchase their own … private riverfront cabanas.”

Most Witnesses probably couldn’t afford a cabana, let alone a condo.

And these luxury digs will be a far cry from the humble dormitory-like existence Witness full-time workers known as “Bethelites” endure. These “volunteer ministers” survive on a small monthly stipend and work for little more than room and board.

However, that low-cost labor force combined with the income from the publications they produce and of course donations, enabled Jehovah’s Witnesses to amass a real estate empire. The Brooklyn development deal is just one example of how the organization has cashed in on its member’s hard work.

Did the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses ever really believe the end of the world was so imminent?

If this was so, why didn’t they just lease?

It seems they did believe that the “end was near” for the hot real estate market, so they sold short. 

Note: CultNews previously reported that Jehovah’s Witnesses “see Jesus as an angel rather than the Son of God.” For further clarification they specifically don’t acknowledge Jesus as the “only begotten Son of God.” At times Jehovah’s Witnesses may parse their language to obscure or avoid this point.

Postscript: CultNews correctly should have said that unlike Christians who believe that “Jesus is also God” included through the trinity, Jehovah’s Witnesses deny this historical Christian doctrine (see comments below).

Scientology’s top star Tom Cruise is jetting “down under” with his pregnant fiancée Katie Homes to attend the memorial service in Sydney of Australian tycoon Kerry Packer reports The Australian.

During filming of The Last Samurai in New Zealand Cruise “struck up a friendship” with James Packer, heir to the Packer fortune, estimated at more than $4 billion dollars.

Scientology’s “Top Gun” managed to get Packer involved in the controversial church, often called a “cult.”

James Packer reportedly became involved with Scientology courses and/or training.

However, since taking over his father’s financial empire Packer has distanced himself from Scientology and specifically said he is not a member.

Is Tom Cruise simply showing respect for the father of his “friend,” or swooping in on his jet hoping to make another pitch for Scientology?

But this is no doubt a difficult time for James Packer, which may make him somewhat more vulnerable to the suggestions of a “friend” offering to help him.

Does the “world’s biggest movie star” think this is a good time to suggest some more Scientology?

This might prove to be a “mission impossible” for the man many regard as a missionary for the controversial church.

Cruise is likely to end up just another famous face at the Sydney Opera House memorial service that will include a eulogy by Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

Perhaps James Packer should look up and consult with another Oscar-winning Aussie and Sydney resident Nicole Kidman and ask her about Scientology if he has any lingering questions.

Ms. Kidman doesn’t appear to be attending the memorial service, but she was quite involved with Scientology courses while married to Tom Cruise.

If Mr. Packer still has any doubts he might ask Kidman why she dumped her ex-husband’s church so quickly after their divorce.

Hot cross buns have become a hot topic at an elementary school in England.

The traditional Easter bun that bears a cross is apparently too much for Jehovah’s Witnesses to bear.

“Hot cross buns are a pagan symbol of fertility no different [then] bunnies, eggs and Easter…The bible states we should not worship things of a pagan origin,” a local spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses told the Evening Star.

The headteacher of Oaks Primary School in Ipswich has asked suppliers to get the cross off its buns.

Interestingly, the Witnesses insist that they are “Christians,” but actually reject the trinity and see Jesus as an angel rather than the Son of God.

Doesn’t seem very “Christian” does it?

No Christian denomination has historically ever accepted Jehovah’s Witnesses as Christian.

It seems Witness children at the Ipswich school who are already forbidden to participate in its holiday programs such as Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day and are also routinely barred from celebrating birthdays, must now forswear hot cross buns too.

A seemingly startled local told the newspaper, “I have never heard of anything so ridiculous.” 

However, hot cross buns appear to be serious business for the Witnesses.

Former sitcom queen Roseanne wants everyone to know that the Kabbalah Centre is just like other religions when it comes to its attitude towards gays reported Contact Muisc.com.

“They’re heavy on pushing the reproduction thing, as are all religions,” she said.

Madonna must be relieved to know that she has nothing to worry about regarding offending her large gay following due to the diva’s passion for the Kabbalah Centre.

Boy George walked away from a documentary about the group, which is often called a “cult,  with the impression that they believe “gay people are diseased and can be cured.” 

But don’t worry about that Roseanne observes, “You can find homophobia anywhere you want to look.”

Should Boy George take solace in the consolation that others feel that way too?

Is this an example of Roseanne’s supposed “religious enlightenment”?

All this from the same star that once shocked America with her controversial lesbian kiss?

Maybe that’s the difference a “cult” makes?

It’s official; Katie Holmes has started “shilling for Scientology.”

At Fox News Roger Friedman reports that he got a gift pack from the couple known as “TomKat.”

His latest “Scientology package [came] as a brightly-colored cardboard box with many inserts, including a CD and a DVD. The DVD contains a weird music video called ‘United.'”

The music video includes shots of Scientology celebs Jenna Elfman, Erika Christensen, Isaac Hayes and Catherine Bell “all sort of nodding in a trance and clapping along.”

Along with this updated version of Tom Cruise’s old gift pack sent out last year comes the same note advising journalists that a donations have been made to Scientology in their name.

But this year the note comes from both Cruise and Katie Holmes with both their signatures.

Sorry no sonogram.

Nevertheless isn’t that note something to frame and hang over a desk with pride?

Hardly.

But maybe good enough for a few laughs in a column as Friedman has done.

It seems Scientology has found a fresh new face to add to its aging lineup of middle aged Hollywood stars.

Maybe recruitment efforts are getting desperate for Scientology?

Recently the group has taken to the streets and subway tunnels in an effort to proselytize.

In California one of its branch directors was actually giving “stress tests” on the sidewalk.

Katie Holmes might just help the organization often called a “cult” market its wares more effectively to a younger audience, even though college kids and teens don’t typically have enough money to buy into Scientology.

Some interesting responses were posted regarding recent articles about Falun Gong at CultNews.The fiery deaths and mutilations of Falun Gong protesters that set themselves on fire didn’t seem to raise any troubling questions to those still committed to Li Hongzhi and his “evil cult.”

Somehow the horrific spectacle in Tianamen Square was an indictment of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to some Falun Gong devotees it was all a conspiracy and the CCP faked it.

“I have direct experience with communist governments from other parts of the world and this is how they operate. They tell lies upon lies and will double cross their friends and kill them.” And concludes, “I am a scientist in some ways and I believe that anything is possible until proven.”

However, that response directly contradicts a statement made by one of the survivors Chen Guo.

“We decided burning ourselves was the best way,” said Chen, who lost both hands. “It was totally due to our own will. We were not forced by anyone” she told the European news service Reuters.

“We wanted to strengthen the force of Falun Gong,” Chen explained while lying in a hospital bed in her hometown of Kaifeng.

Chen Guo now in her early twenties has a face that is a mass of skin grafts. She has neither a nose nor ears.

Nevertheless Hongzhi’s followers seem to believe whatever they are told through their own propaganda.

“The police in Tianamen Square, that day¦had cameras readied to take videos of the incident.”

It was all part of a conspiracy concocted by the CCP.

One devotee said, “the girl and her mother was reported to have NEVER practice Falun Gong.”

But Wang Jindong, the man that masterminded the self-immolations told Reuters, “As to whether I am a practitioner or not, it’s not for other people to say.”

Wang’s face is badly scarred and his fingers blackened from the fire that claimed two lives.

Falun Gong has distributed CDs that claim to unravel the CCP conspiracy.

Here is an interesting comment.

“I’m not sure why you repeatedly refer to Falun Gong as a cult. According to Margaret Singer [there are] Six Conditions for thought reform” says another citing each in an attempt to disprove anyone that might label the group “cult-like.” “Please do more unbiased research to find out the facts,” concludes this comment.

But this Falun Gong devotee must not have bothered to read the article just below the one he or she was commenting about.

That article “Why all the fuss about Falun Gong?” quoted Margaret Singer.

She said, “If you want a good description of a cult, all you have to do is read what they say they are,” Margaret Singer told the San Francisco Chronicle at a Seattle conference in 2000 explaining her expert opinion about the group.

Those remarks drew some harsh feedback.

“Regarding your quote from Margaret Singer, well, let me just say that this whole experience has made me lose any respect for people who claim to be cult experts,” said another one of Hongzhi’s angry disciples.

Chen agreed with Singer. “I think Falun Gong has developed into a cult with anti-human and anti-society characteristics,” she explained.

“I hope those who still believe in this cult can be awakened and throw it away,” she told Reuters. “I don’t want to see another victim like me,” She told Reuters.

Wang concluded, “I feel humiliated because of my stupidity and fanatical ideas.”

But rather than examine and carefully consider those “fanatical ideas” Falun Gong goes on blaming everyone else, especially the CCP.

“Please explain why you don’t have one single page on the biggest cult in the world today: the Chinese Communist Party?” asks one devotee.

“We are dealing with this CCP and its mass of slanderous propaganda that has been exported globally.”

Hongzhi and his followers are quite adept at slinging their own propaganda, which has been effectively transmitted globally, with the help of Western journalists.

It seems that many Westerners are willing to believe almost anything about the CCP, rather than consider Hongzhi’s influence over his followers and its consequences.

The endless attacks against the CCP by Falun Gong devotees don’t change Hongzhi’s racist rant, or his homophobic statements. And that response won’t put Cheng Guo back together; her life has been shattered forever and it will never be the same again.

Why can’t Falun Gong followers consider these things?

“They actually say Don’t Think.’ Just recite the master’s teaching,” observed Margaret Singer.