Chen Tao

Chen Tao (, or "True Way"), also known as the God's Salvation Church, was a UFO religion that originated in Taiwan in 1996. It was founded by Hon-Ming Chen, who split it from the Soul Light Resurgence Association that he and several others had previously founded. Members later moved to Texas in 1997, where they became notorious for a highly publicized failed millennial prophecy.

Beliefs and practices They were a UFO religion. They mainly called themselves God's Salvation Church, but also called themselves God Saves the Earth Flying Saucer Foundation, True Way Church, or Chen Tao. Members wore white clothes and cowboy hats, and wore cowboy boots. Members of the group called Chen "Teacher Chen".

History Hon-Ming Chen was born 22 April 1955 in Chiayi, Taiwan. His mother died when he was young; Chen described his upbringing as not religiously devoted, with Buddhist parents and some observation of Chinese folk religion. He acquired a bachelors degree in political science and became an associate professor of sociology at Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, where he taught until 1993. He had two daughters.

Throughout most of his life, Chen described himself as an atheist, but in 1992 he believed he received a revelation from God to live a devoted, religious life; he read a variety of religious texts, including the Christian Old and New Testaments, Buddhist sutras, and Tao Te Ching. He ultimately joined another UFO religion; he paid immense amounts of money to the leader of this group, before he declared that someone making money in God's name was sinful, and those that do so are actually devils in disguise. He then left the group and criticized its leader as demonic; many other members defected with him, and together they founded the Soul Light Resurgence Association (SLRA). Chen founded a church for the group, and encouraged a friend, Mao Tao Hung, to found his own. They grew from there throughout Taiwan, Chen being one of four teachers of the SLRA at four practice sites.

Chen began to conceive of North America as a "Pureland of God", and in 1996 self-published a book declaring his worldview, advising people who agreed with him to move to the United States to surviving an impending apocalypse. He attempted to convince members at all locations of the SLRA to move with him to America. Most did not follow him, but a few did, forming Chen Tao in 1996. 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. The group moved to Garland because the name sounded like "God Land", with Chen claiming they had moved because the East was full of "devils and devil religions". Despite moving to the United States, he did not speak English and spoke to the public through an interpreter, Richard Liu. In 1997 they had 140–160 members. 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.

Failed prophecy The group is best known for a highly publicized, and failed, millennial prophecy. Shortly after moving to Garland in August 1997, Chen declared in a press conference on 22 December 1997, that on March 31, 1998, God would manifest in physical form on his front lawn.

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. They originally stated that this would occur in 1999 but later revised the date.

Religious studies scholars Stuart A. Wright and Arthur L. Greil traveled to Lockport to interview Master Chen and observe the group post-prophecy.