Voting Station

Li Hongzhi

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (circa July 7, 1952- )
    Born in Gongzhuling, China
    Birth name (probably) was Li Lai
    Founded Falun Gong (1992), based on elements from qigong (meditation and breathing exercises), Buddhism, and Taoism
    Left China to spread his teachings abroad (1995)
    Became a permanent US resident (1998)
    Charged with 'disturbing public order' by the Chinese government (1999)

Why he might be annoying:

    It is difficult to get accurate information about his early life, as biographies of him are either hagiography by his followers or efforts at discrediting him by the Chinese government.
    He claimed that by age eight he had acquired the powers of invisibility and levitation.
    He claims that extraterrestrials were responsible for introducing technology, war, and immorality to Earth.
    He teaches that interracial relationships produce 'pitiable' children who are 'physically and intellectually crippled.'
    He instructs followers to lie to outsiders about Falun Gong: 'You must not talk with ordinary people about the higher level things I have taught you.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was praised by the Ministry of Public Safety after providing treatment for a hundred police officers who had been injured on the job (1993).
    Interpol rejected the Chinese government's demand for his arrest, on the grounds that the charges against him were 'of a political or religious character.' (1999)
    'Asiaweek' named him the most powerful communicator in Asia (2001).
    He and Falun Gong received the International Religious Freedom Award from Freedom House (2001).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 100% Annoying