Taiwan

9 profiled groups with documented operations in Taiwan — 0 Extreme-band, 5 High-band, 4 Moderate or below. Presence here describes documented operations, not a judgement about Taiwan or its communities; many listed groups also operate elsewhere.

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New Religious Movement

Chen Tao (God's Salvation Church)

Taiwanese-derived UFO religion led by Hon-Ming Chen, briefly notorious for the failed 1998 prophecies that God would appear in Garland, Texas. The group dispersed after the failure.

Christian

Local Church (Witness Lee / Living Stream Ministry)

Christian movement growing out of Watchman Nee's 'Little Flock' and developed by Witness Lee in the USA. Distinctive 'pray-reading' practice, hierarchical structure tied to Living Stream Ministry, and one-recognised-church-per-locality theology.

New Religious Movement

Quan Yin Method (Suma Ching Hai)

Taiwanese-Vietnamese-led international meditation movement (~250,000+ historical adherents, smaller active core today) teaching the 'Quan Yin Method' of inner-light-and-sound meditation. Founder Suma Ching Hai (Hue Dang Trinh) operates a global Loving Hut vegan-restaurant chain and Supreme Master TV broadcast network. 1996 US FEC straw-donor settlement.

Buddhist

True Buddha School (Lu Sheng-yen)

Taiwanese-American Vajrayana-derived Buddhist movement founded by Lu Sheng-yen (1982). Lu claims to be 'the Living Buddha Lian-sheng' and a 25th-degree initiate. Heavily disputed by mainstream Tibetan Buddhists.

New Religious Movement

Various Falun Gong-adjacent qigong sects (umbrella)

Umbrella entry for the dozens of Chinese qigong sects of the 1990s 'qigong fever' (氣功熱) period beyond Falun Gong (separately documented). Notable cases include Zhong Gong (Zhang Hongbao, founded 1987, suppressed 1999+), Xiang Gong (Tian Ruisheng), Yan Xin Qigong (Yan Xin, US-based since 1990s), Wan Fa Gui Yi (Hongzhi-Tian Daoism), and many smaller groups. Chinese state suppression from 1999 onward drove most underground or into international diaspora operation.

Buddhist

Tzu Chi Foundation (Cheng Yen)

Major Taiwanese Buddhist humanitarian organisation founded by Master Cheng Yen (1966). Substantial global disaster-relief operations. Mostly low-control with strong volunteer-commitment culture.

Buddhist

Fo Guang Shan (Humanistic Buddhism)

Taiwanese-origin Humanistic Buddhist organisation founded by Hsing Yun (1967). Substantial global temple network and Buddha's Light International Association. Mainstream low-control.

Taoist

Zhengyi Taoism (mainstream)

Mainstream Taoist tradition (Celestial Masters lineage) with married priesthood. Concentrated in southern China and Taiwan.

Taoist

Mainstream Taoism

Mainstream Taoism — encompassing folk religion, monastic Quanzhen and Zhengyi orders, and the philosophical legacy of the Tao Te Ching — is a low-CLCI reference point.

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Complete list of 9 group profiles