re: Religion: on Religious Persecution (John Heelan, UK)

Istvan Simon wrote on 6 November:

No spiritual movement was ever successfully suppressed by savage persecution, and so the Chinese government is being extremely short sighted in believing that their persecution of the Falun Gong will succeed in suppressing this movement. I believe for many reasons that it will fail, just like the persecution of early Christianity failed, and the even more savage and persistent persecution of Jews throughout history failed too.

John Heelan comments:

What about the 12th and 13th century Albigensian Crusade and Inquisition that entirely eradicated the Cathars in Languedoc?

(The faith could be transmitted only by a ceremony conducted by a “perfectus” or “bon homme.” The last bon homme was burnt at the stake in 1321. This subject was discussed a few years ago in WAIS by Christopher Jones, who is very knowledgeable on the subject.)