I don't know any more about the Falun Gong than you do, Bryan, except that they occasionally put up posters with rather morbid pictures in the Square. Additionally, I think they deny being a religion or a cult, but instead, call themselves "a network for transmitting information and practices, in which people may dip on an incidental basis or more regularly." As for the difference between religion and cult, the only difference I can provide is the distinction on "what degree" an individual has to be associated with the movement/idea/following. While the definition of a religion is more formalized than that of a cult, the boundaries at which religion and cult define their members seem to be the other way around. For example, if I believe in God, pray occasionally, but never attend church services, I could be considered Christian because there are no definite boundaries. In contrast, someone could have done all the TASP readings, talked to the professors, and written all the papers, but they would still never be considered TASPers, right? (I'm not trying to imply anything...)

Having said this, Olga's friend just introduced me to the Wittgenstein's Family Resemblance, which renders the distinction I've made inconsequential.

posted by Eunice   [5:22 PM]

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