Is Falun Gong a Sect or a Religious Movement. A Comparative Approach

In the common opinion, Falun Gong is a form of qigong, an ancient Chinese deep-breathing exercise system, sometimes combined with meditation, that enthusiasts claim promotes physical and spiritual well-being by enhancing the flow of vital energy (qi) through a person’s body: is it only this? We know Falun Gong also includes elements of popular Buddhism and Daoism and offers followers a road to salvation. Is Falun Gong a sect or a religious movement? Falun Gong is without doubt controversial. This paper – through a historical-religious comparison – attempts to find out the reasons for the matter.