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Birth of Founder of Chen Tao, Hon-Ming Chen
The founder, a former professor of sociology at Chianan College of Pharmacology and Science who developed the theology of Chen Tao was born in 1955. -
Formation of Chen Tao Religious Groups
In 1993, Chen created, with another cultivator, Tao-hung Ma, their own groups of this religion in Taiwan which was a mixture of Buddhism, Taosim, and Christianity. -
Migration to the U.S.
Chen persuaded followers of the religion to move to San Dimas, California, U.S., to await God’s coming in 1995. This was to be closer to the place where he believed God would come. This is also when more Christian motifs of the end times, UFOlogy, and other new-age western ideas became incorporated into the religion. -
Migration to Garland, Texas
Chen had become convinced that the true place of God's coming would be Garland, Texas because to his ears “Garland” sounded like “Godland.” He and his followers moved to Texas in 1997. -
Failed Prophecy
Chen predicted that God would announce his second coming to the world and materialize on Earth by coming on to channel 18 television all over the world on March 31, 1998 at 12:01 am. The followers of Chen Tao also believed that two young boys in their group were the reincarnations of Jesus and Buddha. The followers had come to watch God come to Earth at the home of Mr. Chen. When the prophecy did not come true, The Chen Tao leader announced that he had misunderstood God's plans. -
The Fall of Chen Tao
The group basically fell apart after failed prophecies of Chen. 2/3 of the members left the group and some returned back to Taiwan. There were still some remaining members who moved to Lockport, New York, and claimed 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 in 1999. They also later revised the date. -
The Disappearance of Chen
After more failed prophecies, more people left the religion and nothing much has been heard of from the religious group or the whereabouts of Hon-Ming Chen since 2001. In 2002, on Chen Tao’s website, it was announced that Hon-ming Chen had been ousted as group leader. The new leadership was now a cooperative of members including Chen’s former translator Richard Liu. It is believed that they rebranded the religion as the Grand True Way and joined another religious cultivation group in Taiwan.