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Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa). Has gone from "1" to 100,000,000 (100 million) in 19 years.

Falun Gong ("Law-Wheel Practice") was founded by Li Hzong, a Chinese man, in 1992 in China. Li claims to be a "Buddha" and "Arhat" (liberated soul who have reached Nirvana but returns to this planet to teach others the Cosmic Way) and he has been sent to Earth to save mankind from the Wheel of Rebirth via Falun Gong.

Fa (Mystic Law) Lun (Wheel) Gong (Activity) or Da (Big) Fa (Mystic Law) is a combination of Buddhism and Qiqong ("Qi" mystical energy activity) which is an ancient Daoist practice whereby the "cultivator" (practitioner) seeks via body movements and breathing techniques, to develope their "qi" ("khee") for earthly and heavenly benefits. The earthly benefits of increased "qi" is health and well-being in mind and body. The heavenly benefits of increased "qi" is "liberation" from the Wheel of Rebirth (i.e. to go to Paradise and not have to return to this planet).

Falun Gong is thus a daily "practice" as well as a belief-system. The practice is to make certain "gestures" in motion with one's body. Each gesture represents a cosmic principle. The gestures are like slow-motion "kung fu" postures, usually done in unison with others. About 1 in 13 Chinese people have practiced Falun Gong at least for some period of time.

Li is referred to as "The Master" by "cultivators". They see him as the latest Buddha, the equal to the last Buddha if not greater. Li says that Jesus was also a Buddha or Arhat.

Falun Gong is undoutedly the "fastest growing religion" of all time. According to "folk Mormonism"....success equals God-inspiration. The richer one is, the more "blessed" one has been from God, the more "worthy" (righteous) one is, the faster growing the "Church" only PROVES that God is behind that Church! If this "principle" is true....Falun Gong MUST BE the TRUE Religion!

The LDS Church was NEVER "the fastest growing religion on Earth". It was NEVER "the fastest growing American-based religion". There were dozens, hundreds of American-based churches that grew much faster than the LDS Church, and using much less money and much fewer missionaries to do so. Mormon leaders who believed, and preached, that the Church was the "fastest growing" were DECEIVED by New York City p.r. firms who wanted the Church's money....and they got it...in the millions! The Brethren were DECEIVED...yet again.

In the United States the growth of the LDS Church is keeping up with population growth. Many churches are not doing that well. The world is becoming secular at best and atheism is growing. Maybe you are looking at this with worldly eyes. I see the spirits of all those who have ever lived as potential members of the Church. I don't think that death separates us from our beliefs. But death can bring enlightenment and one can go to truth which is God.

Any church of men will have men saying the dumbest things. We are surrounded by a fallen world and fallen people. To seek purity is fine but don't expect it on the earth.

Franktalk wrote:Any church of men will have men saying the dumbest things.

Franktalk,

Now this is something on which you and I can agree. And Mormon men not only say some of the dumbest things that have ever been said by religionists, they stick by these dumb sayings even when the dumb things are proven wrong.

Franktalk wrote:In the United States the growth of the LDS Church is keeping up with population growth.

It's good to see this point acknowledged.

Think of it: with early marriage and larger than average family sizes encouraged by social pressures and direct advice from the leadership, and an intense missionary program that takes two years out of the lives of many young LDS men, the CoJCoLDS has, for most of the last decade, barely maintained its share of the US population.

Those figures are of course based on the Pew survey, and include as LDS only those who, when asked, declared themselves to be 'LDS/Mormon', as opposed to the CoJCoLDS's unrealistic 'in there from baptism till 110 unless they resign, even if they never go near a meeting house' figures.

It looks as though a fair proportion of those born in the US into the CoJCoLDS end up leaving it.

What was said about church growth in the US at the recent General Conference? Anything?

The largest church in the world is the Church of Equality, founded by me a few years ago. All living humans on the face of the earth are automatically members of the Church of Equality, just by virtue of being born. Members can resign from the Church of Equality simply by sending me a notarized letter stating their reasons for wanting to resign, along with a small processing fee of $29.95. So far, I have never had anyone resign from my Church. As with the Monsonite branch of the LDS church headquartered in Salt Lake City, it doesn't matter whether individuals consider themselves members of my Church or not; they are members of record until they send me the letter with the processing fee. Since it is my Church, I decide who gets to be a member and who does not and the conditions upon which I will terminate their membership.

Equality wrote: All living humans on the face of the earth are automatically members of the Church of Equality, just by virtue of being born.

That sounds pretty damn' unfair to the dead human beings!

Since I am apparently a member of your church, can you tell me how to go about the necessary necrodunking? Or do you have a way round that?

Franktalk wrote:Any church of men will have men saying the dumbest things.

The human race began with 2 people in Missouri in 6,000 B.C...........

A fleet of Bronze Age wooden submarines with no propulsion or steerage, and lit inside by radioactive rocks, was set adrift in a year-long typhoon, yet managed to stay together and make it from Asia to the Americas.........

The entire planet turned into an ocean during the time of Noah's ark, and every single living human being and animal on Earth descended from the refugees on Noah's ark.........

American Indian kids raised by Mormons turn into Caucasians......

Bigfoot is Cain.......

Etc.

Darth J wrote:

Franktalk wrote:Any church of men will have men saying the dumbest things.

The human race began with 2 people in Missouri in 6,000 B.C...........

A fleet of Bronze Age wooden submarines with no propulsion or steerage, and lit inside by radioactive rocks, was set adrift in a year-long typhoon, yet managed to stay together and make it from Asia to the Americas.........

The entire planet turned into an ocean during the time of Noah's ark, and every single living human being and animal on Earth descended from the refugees on Noah's ark.........

American Indian kids raised by Mormons turn into Caucasians......

Bigfoot is Cain.......

Etc.

Wow. Mormonism seems more like a cartoon to me these days. It's a wonder how people actually believe it. It's even more wonderful how I did! Jesus. :-(

Will someone please tell me the name of the king that is written in the writing of Facsimile No. 3? I honestly don't even think God knows the name!

Help!

Paul O

You are missing my point completely.

My point is this....for decades the Church declared "we are the fastest growing religion in the world...our Church must be the true Church!" I saw Hinckley say this on two occassions. I saw Elder Faust of the 12 say this in a meeting. As a missionary I heard our mission presidents say this. I saw others claim this. IT IS A ____LIE____. The LDS Church was NEVER the fastest growing religion in the world. Not even in the U.S.! Never. Not even "close".

Take Chile for example. The Church baptized 100,000 people in the 80s and 90s, and the vast great majority of these people have fallen away. Why? Because, they were "pressured". Hinckley was the "king" of "pressure". I still remember a film he had ordered made. Forgot the name, but it was basically "How to pressure your friends and neighbors into joining the Church". I saw it on my mission. Made me SICK. I had to walk outside to get some air. I felt like throwing up. I KNEW it was NOT OF GOD. And, it wasn't. People "pressured" into the Church are not true converts.

LDS Church growth in the U.S. is very low! The Church is only really experience great growth in black Africa, where the black AFricans ARE NEVER TOLD about the Curse of Cain Doctrine or priesthood-ban. If they knew, most of them would not join the Church.

Franktalk wrote:In the United States the growth of the LDS Church is keeping up with population growth. Many churches are not doing that well. The world is becoming secular at best and atheism is growing. Maybe you are looking at this with worldly eyes. I see the spirits of all those who have ever lived as potential members of the Church. I don't think that death separates us from our beliefs. But death can bring enlightenment and one can go to truth which is God.

Any church of men will have men saying the dumbest things. We are surrounded by a fallen world and fallen people. To seek purity is fine but don't expect it on the earth.

New York Times Magazine
August 08, 1999

QUESTIONS FOR LI HONGZHI

Eye of the Storm

As the Chinese Government calls for his arrest, the exiled leader of the massive Falun Gong movement talks about living in New York and watching politics and belief collide back home. By JONATHAN S. LANDRETH & J.S. GREENBERG
li hongzhi said:
It is a practice that can remove illnesses, keep people fit and make one live longer. Like tai chi, it's a morning exercise. People practicing Falun Gong are expected to follow the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. And they must speak truthfully, have compassion, be benevolent, be tolerant. But whether people have other faiths or not, they can all practice Falun Gong. We do not get involved in faiths. We respect all of them.

So he denies that it is a faith but a practice of physical and moral fitness. Nothing about faith.
So it is NOT a religion and can only be the fastest growing fad.

Pity that he cannot use faith as he fails at supernatural cures frequently. Everybody gets about 30 percent. That's enough success for every quack on the planet to do well.