Anonymous wrote:I noticed you chose not to highlight - twice - the most important part “Falun Dafa”. Researching them probably would have helped you decide to not go to the performance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Leave. No one made you watch it.

You found the perfect solution to my problem. Now what can I do about the monetary support that I provided without being aware about the message they are spreading?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So I take it you're a man, and not bothered about the heavily misogynist musical offerings from western Europe that are also presented at the Kennedy Center?

Who do you choose to be offended by this particularly, and not other things? It's not like Carmen comes with a warning either!

This is whataboutism. Someone tried it in a previous post as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Maybe you need to put more critical thinking into why that bothers you. If you’re an atheist the devil doesn’t exist and neither does God. Why are you bothered to be called something that doesn’t exist to you?

I was not concerned about the devil part as much as you may think. Let me emphasize a different set of words, so you don't have to question my critical thinking:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

I ended up supporting a group of people spread a message that I don't agree with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Leave. No one made you watch it.

Anonymous wrote:
So I take it you're a man, and not bothered about the heavily misogynist musical offerings from western Europe that are also presented at the Kennedy Center?

Who do you choose to be offended by this particularly, and not other things? It's not like Carmen comes with a warning either!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you are in the audience, they don't hide the religious side. But they advertise the show as a Chinese cultural experience, not as a fundamental religious experience.

It’s not hidden on their website either.

I am not sure I agree with you. Having a Spirituality section on their website is not equivalent to revealing their true colors. Here is their "Spiritual Inspiration" section:

Anonymous wrote:In the past, artists looked to the divine for inspiration. They would meditate and seek virtue. They believed that to create art that uplifts, they must first cultivate goodness.

Today, Shen Yun’s artists follow this noble tradition. Their source of inspiration is the spiritual discipline known as Falun Dafa. Rooted in traditional Chinese culture, Falun Dafa incorporates meditation exercises and teachings of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Alongside their rigorous training, the artists meditate together, and require of themselves self-discipline and selflessness.

I wonder which part of the traditional Chinese culture trashes evolution and atheism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Maybe you need to put more critical thinking into why that bothers you. If you’re an atheist the devil doesn’t exist and neither does God. Why are you bothered to be called something that doesn’t exist to you?

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows they're a cult OP. How did you not know, or not google beforehand?

And this isn't "religious discussion" - it's bigoted propaganda (they are vehemently against gay rights). I agree, the Kennedy Center shouldn't associate with Shen Yun.

And to pp: this is VASTLY different than opera. Carmen and other big operas are old stories told in art form. They're not preaching a message.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once you are in the audience, they don't hide the religious side. But they advertise the show as a Chinese cultural experience, not as a fundamental religious experience.

It’s not hidden on their website either.

Anonymous wrote:In the past, artists looked to the divine for inspiration. They would meditate and seek virtue. They believed that to create art that uplifts, they must first cultivate goodness.

Today, Shen Yun’s artists follow this noble tradition. Their source of inspiration is the spiritual discipline known as Falun Dafa. Rooted in traditional Chinese culture, Falun Dafa incorporates meditation exercises and teachings of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Alongside their rigorous training, the artists meditate together, and require of themselves self-discipline and selflessness.

Anonymous wrote:They don’t lie, OP. It’s true the dances are culturally Chinese. They are being sneaky for sure, but I believe the real reason you’re seeing this group is due to the West supporting a lot of subversive anti-CCP groups, for obvious reasons. So blame your government

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you don’t think the Kennedy Center should allow performances with a religious theme or you think that all shows that have a religious element should have a warning like - Atheists beware. Religious discussion contained in performance.

I never thought that I will ever hear on a Kennedy Center stage that atheism and evolution are devil's deceit. I have nothing against religious shows as long as they are advertised as such. I don't want to pay them to sit in the audience as they tell me that I am the tool of the devil.