Chen Tao

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Chen Tao ( Chinese  真 道 , Pinyin zhēn dào ), also known as God's Salvation Church , is a new religious movement that became famous in the late 1990s due to apocalyptic predictions .

history

The movement was founded in the early 1990s by Hon-Ming Chen (born April 22, 1955) in Taiwan . In 1995 the 150 or so members moved to San Dimas ( California ). Two years later, another move to found Garland ( Texas ) instead. Hon-Ming justified this with the similarity between the words God's Land and Garland . After the apocalypse that did not take place, the group fell apart. Some went back to Taiwan . Others to Hon-Ming settled in Lockport ( New York to).

Teaching

Chen Tao mixes Buddhist views with Taiwanese popular beliefs and the Christian apocalypse . There are also newer aspects from the science fiction area. The movement's leader is Hon-Ming Chen. At first he was revered as a teacher and healer, later also as a prophet .

According to Chen Tao, the earth has already been populated four times. After each of these settlement periods there was a disaster. Only a few people were rescued by flying saucers after each of these ends of the world and were later returned to earth. The UFOs landed in North America , as this continent was spared from the disasters. Chen Tao's theses were published in the book Gods Descending in Clouds (Flying Saucers) on Earth to Save People by Hon-Ming.

Doomsday 1999

Hon-Ming Chen claimed that in August 1999 Asia was hit by a nuclear disaster . Thereupon UFOs sent by God and hidden in clouds would save people. Also, a sign from God should be on channel 18 on March 25, 1998. God Himself was supposed to enter Hon-Ming's body at 10:00 am on March 31, 1998. That way he could make himself invisible, be in different places at the same time and be able to talk to everyone in their respective national language.

The Chen Tao movement's predictions received widespread media interest. They reported on the group, their beliefs and their way of life. One was amazed that the Chen Tao followers were educated, wealthy Taiwanese. In addition, all members were dressed in white and wore Texas cowboy hats and boots to match their whereabouts .

After God did not appear on Channel 18 or in front of the Hon-Ming Chen's estate, many feared a mass suicide similar to that of Heaven's Gate . However, Hon-Ming condemned such suicides by other UFO groups and apologized for his prophecy that had not come true. Among other things, he admitted his own mistakes in calculating the exact time of the apocalypse. It is also a kind of reprieve for all those people who have not yet been convinced by Chen Tao. However, he added that it was also a miracle of God that so many journalists around the world reported about Chen Tao and her teachings.

present

Despite all of this, most of Chen Tao's followers returned to Taiwan . About 30 members of Chen Tao, including Hon-Ming Chen, settled in Lockport , Niagara County. They performed sporadically in New York City afterwards . There they claimed, among other things, to be able to cure cancer and AIDS .

Others

In the course of media coverage between 1995 and 1999, several beliefs were propagated. For example, a reincarnation of Jesus was found by Chen Tao in Vancouver (Canada) and a new Buddha elsewhere . It has also been claimed that only vegetarians will be saved from the UFOs.

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