Lewis & Chao/Enlightened Martyrdom, 5. Devil Killing and the Essence of Falun Gong

Falun Gong practitioners claim that their most important task is to return human beings to their real (spiritual) home. As such, they consider Falun Gong’s opponents to be devils, who are challenging the laws of the universe. In Falun Gong, it is believed that devils reside amongst the common people, posing a threat to Dafa (Dharma). As Fang Yong argues in “Devil Killing and the Essence of Falun Gong,” some practitioners conclude that it is necessary to eliminate these devils, an interpretation which has led to the deaths of ordinary people. A clear distinction is made by Falun Gong practitioners between themselves and ordinary people. Part of the Falun Gong doctrine includes the idea that the common people should be thankful to Falun Gong for seeking to eliminate devils. The idea that devils reside in society leads to the real-life practice of “devil killing.” This practice tells us not only that Falun Gong is intolerant of those who oppose its views; in essence, the organization is also operating in a way that threatens human safety.