my response to those two quotes is this:
1) religion doesn't attain validity according to how long it's been around. If that were the case, then the early churches shouldn't have had any validity as religion.
2) it is my belief (and mine only) that religion and politics are two different things. Call it the process of rationalization but to separate religion and cults by the characteristics of politics means that politics is an inherent quality of religion. I don't believe that to be true for a second (although I won't dispute the opinion that politics have become a quality of religion - or vice-versa).

I can't make any comment on the falun gong movement because I don't know anything about it. (although my suitemate from China insists that it's a terrible thing) :P
Perhaps someone does know more about it? Could you let me know more about what it is?
thanks