True Way Cult, Circa 1997
Forensic psychologist Dr. Shiloh of the podcast L.A. Not So Confidential joins me as we uncover the story of God's Salvation Church, also known as Chen Tao or the True Way Cult, which called San Dimas home for a short time in the mid-1990's. The cult originated in Taiwan, and congregants believed they would be saved by God aboard a spaceship. As we explore this interesting bit of San Dimas history, Dr. Shiloh and I discuss what makes a cult, explore how cults work, and touch on some modern-day cults and conspiracy theories. Related media recommended by Dr. Shiloh: L.A. Not So Confidential: QAnon and the Psychology of Conspiracy Theories L.A. Not So Confidential: California Cults Die-Alogue: Rick Alan Ross | Cult Expert, Part 1 Die-Alogue: Rick Alan Ross | Cult Expert, Part 2 Die-Alogue: Janja Lalich, Cult Expert, Sociologist, Author Die-Alogue: Frank Lyford, Heaven's Gate Cult Survivor Die-Alogue: Female Persuasion: Women and Cults HBO's The Vow Links + resources for this episode Congregants Wait for Spaceship, Associated Press 12/23/1997 Chen Tao (True Way Cult), Wikipedia Taiwanese Group Prepares to Meet God--In Texas, The New York Times 3/4/1998 San Dimas City Council Study Session: February 9, 2021 | 5:30pm | Watch here San Dimas City Council Meeting: February 9, 2021 | 7pm | Watch here