The World Evangelical Fellowship recently brought to the attention of
International Christian Concern that a little known meeting was held in
Beijing on November 10, 2000. The
meeting was called The International Symposium on Evil Cults and was
reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The BBC report was
based on a news report released by the Chinese news agency Xenhua. It was
reported that approximately 60 "experts and scholars" addressed the
problem of "evil cults" which apparently are a growing concern to
many world governments.
While “experts and scholars” appeared to be more concerned about groups
like China’s Falun Gong, the symposium clearly was targeted at any group
determined by the “experts” to be “evil” and “harmful to society.”
The symposium opened the door for further discussion that could
possibly lead to the drafting of internationally recognized treaties that
would arbitrarily persecute any religious group that is deemed an "evil
cult."
It is becoming more and more clear that deceptive measures are used by
governments like that of China to distort traditional interpretations of human
rights. The fact that western countries, including the Untied States, are
participating in such discussions is alarming.
The following the summary from BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, dated November
13, 2000.
"Resolute measures must be adopted to solve the problem of evil
cults" was the conclusion of an International Symposium on Evil Cults in
Beijing, China's official news agency has said. It added that religious
freedom and
human rights should not get in the way of combating these organizations. It
said that although differences in historical and cultural backgrounds lead to
differences in understanding of the cults, the common characteristics of
evil cults are that they are "anti-humane, anti-society, in violation of
human rights, and hazardous to individuals' legitimate rights and
interests." The news agency added that dealing "with evil cults
according to law is an important measure to respect the international norm of
human rights, protect human rights, and protect people from the harms of evil
cults," and that those who are under the influence of these cults should
be educated and cared for and not discriminated against.
The following is the text of the report
by Ni Siyi and Wu Liming, carried by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New
China News Agency):
Beijing, 10th November: In view of internationalization of the evil cults and
their exploitation of legal loopholes in some countries to carry out
trans-national propaganda and commit trans-national crimes, Chinese and
foreign experts on evil cults appeal here:
The strength of one country alone is not enough to stop the rampancy of evil
cults. In combating them, it is imperative to strengthen international
cooperation. [Editor’s
interpretation: A global plan must be put into place to control religion].
A two-day International Symposium on Evil Cults ended here today [10th
November].
More than 60 experts [Editor’s
interpretation: experts = manipulators] and scholars [Editor’s interpretation: scholars = secular humanist] from
France, the United States, Canada, Russia, Uganda, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, and China's Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and
mainland proposed that relevant
countries should increase exchange of information and cult control experience
and cooperate in action to prevent and combat the evil cult activities.
The experts and scholars discussed such topics as "evil cults and the
society", "an introduction to evil cults", "the evil cults
in various countries", "the history, tradition and current situation
of evil cults", "the harms of evil cults", and "control
measures", and expressed their views without any inhibitions. They
comprehensively and thoroughly
discussed all angles and aspects of the evil cult problems and put forward
some creative and enlightening views.
They generally believe: Although the evil cults in various countries are
disguised in various forms, their essence is invariably anti-humane,
anti-society, in violation of human rights, and hazardous to individuals'
legitimate rights and interests and to the overall interests of the general
public. The most notorious ones of them are China's "Falun Gong",
the "Davidians" of the West, and Japan's Aum Supreme Truth sect. To
deal with such evil organizations, we must adopt resolute measures to solve
the problem once for all; and we must not sit by idly letting them become
rampant in hurting people in the name of "religious freedom" and
"human rights." [Editor’s
interpretation: Begin with a “cult” that is generally accepted by the
public as “evil” and then begin stretching the definition to fit other
traditionally accepted religious groups.]
On how to prevent and deal with the evil cult problem, an American scholar pointed
out that if the people know what a genuine religion is, it will be easy for
them to distinguish any evil cults under the cloak of religion. A scholar from
Japan held that if we do not solve the problem of perplexedness caused by
secularization and modernization, we will be unable to stop the spread of the
evil cults. A scholar from
France made some suggestions on how to stop the infiltration of evil cults
into enterprises [Editor’s Interpretation: enterprises = youth evangelism or Bible
study groups] and eliminate their influence on children. A scholar from
Canada made some comments on the activities of opposing evil cults in the
United States.
Some Chinese scholars pointed out that it is necessary to establish and
improve community organizations [Editor’s Interpretation: community organizations = secular humanist
propaganda clubs] that are beneficial to the public, and give full play to
their role of providing the necessary service to meet the need of the people's
cultural life and to weaken and prevent the influence of evil cults. [Editor’s
interpretation: Create watchdog groups to slander any religious group deemed
to be “evil”] Both Chinese and foreign scholars generally believe that
individual, family, community, mass organization, and government should all do
what they can do and cooperate closely with one another to deal with the evil
cult problem in an all-round way, and the government should step up
organization and coordination of the efforts.
Some scholars said it is necessary to increase academic studies and
international academic exchange, bring into full play the strength of the
academic circles, and carry out a multi-discipline systematic research on the
evil cult problem, so as to produce more useful enlightenment for the human
society and some constructive opinions and suggestions for all circles of the
society to jointly deal with the evil cult problem.
It is reported that after two days of discussion and exchange of experience,
Chinese and foreign scholars have basically reached the following consensus on
the evil cult problem:
- Because of different historical and cultural background, different
countries have different understanding of the cults. For this reason, in
defining whether a cult is evil or not, we should not excessively debate
whether it is a genuine religion or not. We should mainly view it from the
angle of whether it is harmful to the society.
Editor’s Interpretation: A globally
accepted understanding of human
rights should determine that which is “evil” and is “harmful to
society,” and such “evil” should not be given the benefit of the doubt
that is has any right to religious freedom.
- The harms of evil cults are
many-sided and evil cults are harmful to various groups, various regions and
various trades and professions.
Editor’s Interpretation: The “evil cults” (religions) are represented
in different forms that meet many different needs,
are not subject to government control, are wide spread, and can be a
detriment to the economic interests of the elite.
- In view of the serious threat and great danger caused by evil cults to the
human society, we must not ignore the evil cult problem and let it spread. We
should take an attitude of being responsible to mankind and actively adopt
measures to prevent and deal with the evil cult problem, and we must not let
evil cults harm the society.
Editor’s Interpretation: Every effort must be made to eliminate the
“great danger” caused by the “evil” religions (the disease in society)
that government defines as being a cancer to society.
- Evil cults should be dealt with according to law. To deal with evil cults
according to law is an important measure to respect the international norm of
human rights, protect human rights, and protect people from the harms of evil
cults. For this reason, we should act according to our law and our actual
situation and also learn from the good practices of other countries in doing a
good job of solving the evil cult problem, so as to protect the citizen's
legitimate rights and interests and the overall interests of the general
public. Whoever commits crime in violation of the law must be punished
according to law.
Editor’s Interpretation: Every country should adopt laws of the
“international norm” which are successfully eliminating religious
practices deemed by the respective government has criminal and in violation of
the “legitimate rights” of the general public.
- To deal with the large number of victims who have joined the evil cults by
mistake, we should educate and guide them, care for them, and help them
restore their normal mentality, learn necessary job skills, completely free
themselves from the influence and fetters of evil cults, and return to the
society. We must not discriminate against, reject, or attack them. Otherwise,
they will sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire of error, become the
sacrificial objects of evil cults, and become anti-social.
Editor’s Interpretation: It can be concluded therefore that the focus of
law enforcement is to be on apprehending and permanently silencing the leaders
of such “cult” practices in order to protect others from being victimized.
Also, “victims” should receive re-education
in order to “guide them” as is the case in China’s
“re-education through labor” practice.
International Christian Concern is
a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that serves as a watchdog and
advocate for religious freedom worldwide.
