Chen Tao (真道, or "True Way"), also known as the God's Salvation Church, was a UFO religion that originated in Taiwan. It was founded by Hon-Ming Chen, who first associated it with UFOs but later claimed that the group had been misrepresented as a New Age UFO cult. Members later moved to Texas in 1997, where they became notorious for a highly publicized failed millennial prophecy.
| Chen Tao | |
|---|---|
| 真道 | |
| Type | UFO religion |
| Founder | Hon-Ming Chen (陳恆明) |
| Origin | 1993 Taiwan |
| Other name(s) | God's Salvation Church |
| Official website | trueway-chentao.homepage.com (defunct) |
History
editIt was founded by Hon-Ming Chen (陳恆明 born 1955) in Taiwan, who first associated it with UFOs but later claimed that the group had been misrepresented as a New Age UFO cult. It was later known as God's Salvation Church.[1][2]
Chen was a former professor who claimed to be an atheist until he joined a religious cultivation group that dated back for two generations to the original female founder, Teacher Yu-Hsia Chen. But he broke with the group, headed by the third-generation teacher, in 1993 and created, with another fellow-cultivator, Tao-hung Ma, their own groups. It was later, when he broke with Ma and decided to move to the United States, that new elements, such as the pseudo-scientific information of cosmology and flying saucers, as well as Christian motifs of the prophecy of the end and the great tribulation, etc., were introduced into the group.[citation needed]
In Taiwan, the group was originally officially registered as the Chinese Soul Light Research Association. When the group moved to the United States from Asia, it was registered in the US as God's Salvation Church and first relocated to San Dimas, California.[3] Adherents moved to Garland, Texas, in 1997.[4]
Failed prophecy
editThe group is best known for a highly publicized, and failed, millennial prophecy. Shortly after moving to Garland in August 1997, Chen predicted that at on March 31, 1998, God would be seen on Channel 18 all across North America.[2][4]
The group reportedly moved to Garland because the name sounded like "God Land".[3] At the time the group had roughly 140–160 members.[5] Members purchased more than 20 homes in an upper-middle-class south Garland neighborhood. Like their neighbors, these followers were white-collar professionals, some of whom were reportedly wealthy. "They dressed in white, wore cowboy hats and drove luxury cars," according to The Dallas Morning News.[6]
The Garland Police Department, understanding the potential gravity of the situation, coordinated resources, including religious studies professor Lonnie Kliever, and were on stand-by when the international media began arriving in what had previously been an upper-middle-class section of the Dallas suburb. "Its presence unsettled many Garland residents," wrote Adam Szubin in a law enforcement case study.[7][8]
When the predicted appearance did not occur, the group became confused. "The Chen Tao leader announced that he obviously had misunderstood God's plans, and members quietly returned to their homes," wrote Szubin.[7][8] Chen offered to be stoned or crucified for the event, but no one took him up on this offer.[2]
Aftermath
editUnlike other millennial religious groups, such as Millerites, Chen Tao seems to have effectively fallen apart after its leader's prophecies went unfulfilled.[5] Immediately after the failed prediction, some of the members had to return to Taiwan owing to visa problems; in total, roughly two-thirds abandoned the group. Later the remaining members moved to Lockport, New York. They continued to wear cowboy hats but began stating that a war between China and Taiwan would lead to a nuclear holocaust that would result in much death, but also God's arrival in a "God plane" to save the members.[9] They originally stated that this would occur in 1999 but later revised the date.[10]
Religious studies scholars Stuart A. Wright and Arthur L. Greil traveled to Lockport to interview Master Chen and observe the group post-prophecy.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Prather, Charles Houston (July 1999). "God's Salvation Church: Past, Present and Future". Marburg Journal of Religion. 4 (1): 1–18. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Kliever, Lonnie D. (1999). "Meeting God in Garland: A Model of Religious Tolerance". Nova Religio. 3 (1): 45–53. doi:10.1525/nr.1999.3.1.45. ISSN 1092-6690.
- ^ a b Verhovek, Sam Howe (4 March 1998). "Taiwanese Group Prepares to Meet God -- in Texas". The New York Times. p. 12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ a b Chen Tao at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ a b c Wright, Stuart A.; Greil, Arthur L. (2011). "Failed Prophecy and Group Demise: The Case of Chen Tao". In Tumminia, Diana; Swatos, William H. (eds.). How Prophecy Fails. Boston: Brill Publishers. pp. 153–171. ISBN 978-90-04-21560-3.
- ^ Abshire, Richard; Smith, Andrew D. (18 June 2006). "Ministry says Armageddon is near". The Dallas Morning News. ISSN 1553-846X. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ a b Szubin, Adam; Jensen, Carl J.; Gregg, Rod (2000). "Interacting with "Cults': A Policing Model". FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Vol. 69, no. 9. ISSN 0014-5688.
- ^ a b Davis, Derek H.; Hankins, Barry (2003). New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America (2nd ed.). Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-918954-92-3.
- ^ Heard, Alex; Klebnikov, Peter (27 December 1998). "Apocalypse Now. No, Really. Now!". The New York Times. p. 41. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ Ostling, Richard N. (26 December 1999). "Some religious believers waiting for end of the world". The Daily Courier. Vol. 112, no. 309. Associated Press. pp. 8A. Retrieved 3 May 2010 – via Google News Archive.