81–90 of 94 posts
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China has very, very bad experiences with religious nutcases. They haven't forgotten what American missionaries have done either.
> They haven't forgotten what American missionaries have done either. What exactly is that?
My family and I went a couple of years ago. It seemed fairly benign, if a bit corny/garish. The whole "evolution is evil" thing kind of comes out of nowhere. Afterwards I looked up the group behind it and read about Falun Dafa. It won't convince anyone to join their group, but it probably raises a fair amount of funds for it. As entertainment it is moderately interesting, but I wouldn't go again.
I believe evolution is evil, too. Doesn't mean it's not true.
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I disagree with their beliefs, but to me, committing genocide is a few steps above teaching that homosexuality is immoral. But that could just be because I grew up in a country where freedom of speech is stressed in society, maybe in China murdering thousands of people who follow a "weird" ideology is not considered "bad". Mostly I was responding to using "injustice" instead of e.g. "violent persecution" and implying…
> I disagree with their beliefs, but to me, committing genocide is a few steps above teaching that homosexuality is immoral. Don’t mistake lack of opportunity for lack of will. Nutty ideologies are ‘harmless’ till they have an opportunity to act on their nuttiness.
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> you don't know many facts inside China like most English reader in HN who get most misinformation on Western media What are specific things you feel most Westerners are clearly misinformed about China?
Maybe not straight up misinformed, but from my experience, many Westerns know very little about China's history and how it affects their outlook and actions. One reason Chinese rulers crack down hard on religious cults because they have a history of sowing widespread chaos and death if not kept in check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion#Death_toll Led by a guy who claimed to be Jesus Christ's brother.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution#Death_toll
I'm surprised that an article like this does not mention the long history of religious-revolutionary movements in China. Just a few: 0184 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Turban_Rebellion 1351 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Turban_Rebellion 1794 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lotus_Rebellion These rebellions usually have a frame story of an ancient way of life founded on people's harmony with nature and o…
Don't forget the biggest of them all, the Taiping Rebellion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion
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Having grown up with many East Asians, I often times see people confuse East Asian aesthetics with looking 'amateur' to American eyes. I have not seen the show myself, but I wonder how much of this is going on. But, honestly, I'm surprised you were surprised by the political bent. I thought it was common knowledge that the Chinese government's suppression of traditional chinese art led to a diaspora. I guess having a…
Shen Yun is run by Falun Gong, which is a Scientology-like cult. Their followers may be heavily oppressed in China, which is wrong, but it's still a cult. We're not talking about traditional performers who fled during the Cultural Revolution or something.
[0] http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053761,00...
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> you don't know many facts inside China like most English reader in HN who get most misinformation on Western media What are specific things you feel most Westerners are clearly misinformed about China?
Maybe not straight up misinformed, but from my experience, many Westerns know very little about China's history and how it affects their outlook and actions. One reason Chinese rulers crack down hard on religious cults because they have a history of sowing widespread chaos and death if not kept in check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion#Death_toll Led by a guy who claimed to be Jesus Christ's brother.…
> because they have a history of sowing widespread chaos and death if not kept in check
From the article:
>The Taiping Rebellion began in the southern province of Guangxi _when local officials launched a campaign of religious persecution against a millenarian sect_
The Qing was doing pretty badly as a state in the face of exploding population, famines, rise of banditry and a deeply corrupt administration. It was a general time of upheaval with people looking for change, as evidenced by the fact that there were multiple other rebellions going on at the same time. The Taiping was another political movement with religious trappings. Not saying Xiuquan was right but it seems their main crime, as with all failed revolts, was losing.
I’m not religious but it’s popular now to sneer at religion and toss it off as _the cause_ for events like the Taiping. And that’s not supported by the evidence or context.
Cracking down on (religion|information|other parties|opposition|internet) because your old and highly centralized state cannot tolerate competition without falling apart? That’s seems more like it. Not “religion” per se.
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Shen Yun is run by Falun Gong, which is a Scientology-like cult. Their followers may be heavily oppressed in China, which is wrong, but it's still a cult. We're not talking about traditional performers who fled during the Cultural Revolution or something.
The CCP is 10x the cult that FLG could ever dream of being. Stop lapping up/repeating the antiFLG propaganda. Yes they have some weird philosophical beliefs, at least they are pro-love and anti-torture.