Editing Falun Gong (section)

=== Extraterrestrials ===
Li in the 1990s repeated claims that [[Extraterrestrial life|aliens]] were responsible for scientific inventions through the manipulation of scientists.<ref>Graeme Lang and Lu Yunfeng, "Assimilation of 'New Age' Beliefs into Cults and New Religions in East and Southest Asia", in ''New Age'', edited by Michaela Moravčíková, 306–22. Bratislava: Ústav pre vzťahy štátu a cirkví, 2005. P. 317.</ref> For example, in a 1999 interview with ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', Li attributed the invention of computers and airplanes to extraterrestrials, as well as war and violence.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=DOWELL |first=WILLIAM |date=1999-05-10 |title=Interview with Li Hongzhi |language=en-US |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053761,00.html |access-date=2023-12-12 |issn=0040-781X |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529183738/https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053761,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, his position on aliens seemed fairly inconsistent to observers Graeme Lang and Lu Yunfeng.<ref>Graeme Lang and Lu Yunfeng, "Assimilation of 'New Age' Beliefs into Cults and New Religions in East and Southest Asia", in ''New Age'', edited by Michaela Moravčíková, 306–22. Bratislava: Ústav pre vzťahy štátu a cirkví, 2005. P. 319.</ref> In the ''Time'' interview, Li believed that aliens were attempting to replace humans through a [[cloning]] process, in which human bodies would be cloned with no soul, so that the aliens can replace the soul and inhabit human bodies (which to him are perfect).<ref name=":1" />

Li Hongzhi alleged that extraterrestrials disguise themselves as humans to corrupt and manipulate humanity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farley |first=Helen |title=Controversial New Religions |title-link=Controversial New Religions |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-19-515682-9 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |edition=2nd |location=New York |language=en |chapter=Falun Gong: A Narrative of Pending Apocalypse, Shape-Shifting Aliens, and Relentless Persecution |editor-last2=Petersen |editor-first2=Jesper Aa. |pages=248–249}}</ref> According to an ABC investigation, while some practitioners stated that this was metaphorical, a former member said she was taught it as literal truth.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Eric |last2=Cohen |first2=Hagar |date=2020-07-30 |title=When Anna was 14, her mother set up a 'special appointment' with The Master |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/inside-falun-gong-master-li-hongzhi-the-mountain-dragon-springs/12442518 |access-date=2023-12-12 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908073144/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-21/inside-falun-gong-master-li-hongzhi-the-mountain-dragon-springs/12442518 |url-status=live }}</ref>