In Search of a Theory of Cult and Freedom of Religion in China: The Case of Falun Gong

Cult and anti-cult movements have been high drama ever since the close of the twentieth century. The tragedies caused by some minority religious groups and the corresponding government responses force us to question the meaning of freedom of religion and to confront our societal conviction to upholding our acclaimed constitutional values. This Article examines the fundamental concept of freedom of religion and the tights that it entails in the case of the People's Republic of China. China's recent crackdown on Falun Gong, a seemingly benign breathing exercise group, has been bitterly controversial.

The case of Falun Gong illustrates that the tension between cults and states reflects not only the aspirations and frustrations of minority religious groups, but also the limitations and inadequacies of international human rights jurisprudence.