International forum in Wuhan, China reaches consensus on nature and definition of religious cults.

What is a cult? What is the difference between a pseudo religious group such as a cult and a "real" religion? Which of these groups should people be vigilant against and how can the international community best tackle this problem?

From December the 2nd to 3rd, an in-depth discussion on these issues was held in Wuhan, China. Chinese and foreign experts and scholars took part in an international seminar on the study of cults and pseudo religious groups and gave presentations on the nature of pseudo religions from the perspectives of different disciplines, including religion, psychology, philosophy, journalism and communication, medicine, etc.

Professor Huang Chao from the Wuhan University School of Philosophy said that cults were not religious groups and could not be defined by their doctrines alone.

"When we try to identify cults, we don't use theology or religion. The cults actual behaviour is mainly used. In administering cults in countries around the world, therefore, we adopt a legal approach. Some countries have existing laws, others use special legislation to crack down on cults."

Huang Chao said it was necessary to define pseudo religious groups from the perspective of their actions and criminal behaviour, rather than from their doctrines and ideologies. Falun Gong and its founder Li Hongzhi are accused of self deification, spreading fallacies and causing injury and death. This is a typical cult. For example at the international forum, experts from many countries said that Falun Gong practitioners have spread rumours of the Chinese government harvesting human organs. Campbell Fraser of Griffith University, Australia recounted his experience working in China.

"The reason that Falungong, are making all these claims about so called "organ harvesting" is because they are using that as a general attack on China and the Chinese people and the Chinese government. Another reason that they have done this is because they thought no one would check out the story because it's very difficult to prove for or against. However, I've been here in China and I've worked with a number of Chinese doctors, we visited many hospitals and we have found that there's no evidence whatsover of any forced organ harvesting from China. So the reason that we're here today is to try and make sure that the whole community understands that these claims are false. What we're trying to do is communicate the truth about the Falungong claims. And that's why we're here today - to get the real truth out. Not the Falungong truth but the real truth."

Cults and pseudo religions have long been a problem around the world. Besides Falun Gong, The Order of the Solar Temple headquartered in Switzerland, The People's Temple founded in America and the Aum Shinrikyo doomstay cult from Japan have caused serious harm to society. Experts said that cults and pseudo religious groups did not promote the harmonious development of society and it was important to distinguish cults from "real" religions and show vigilance against all types of pseudo religious organizations that appear under the banner of religion in the world and not be subject to deception.

About 30 scholars who are influential in the study of cults and new religious movements took part in the forum, from countries including the US, Canada, Italy, Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka.