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João Teixeira de Faria

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João Teixeira de Faria.

João Teixeira de Faria (born June 24 1942), better known by his alias João de Deus ("John of God"), is perhaps the most famous medium and so-called "psychic surgeon" in Brazil today, although no reliable testimonies have been published. He is based in Abadiânia, a small town in the state of Goiás, southwest of Brasília.

Biography

Early life

João de Deus was born João Teixeira de Faria in Cachoeira da Fumaça, Goiás (now Cachoeira de Goiás [1]), in humble surroundings. Not much is known about João's early life. There are no records save those in the memories of his associates, and they differ widely. Even João himself is a poor source of precise details.[1] His most widely known biography is The Miracle Man, written by, Robert Pellegrino-Estrich, who runs tours to Abadiânia and cannot be considered an unbiased source.[2]

João has no medical training and describes himself as a "simple farmer." [3] João completed only two years of education and spent many years travelling from village to village in the states of Goias and Minas Gerais healing people and administering the local herbs to whomever turned up wherever he stopped.

The Casa

Eventually, João claims, he was told by his spirit guides that he must expand his work to reach more people, so he left the protected life at the army base. The late Chico Xavier, who was João's friend and one of Brazil's most celebrated healers, told him he should go to the small Goiás town of Abadiânia to fulfill his healing mission. Around 1978, when João first performed his healing work there, he just sat outdoors in a chair near the main road where people soon began to arrive seeking cures for their various illnesses and conditions. Gradually the numbers increased to thousands a day and slowly he developed his centre, Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola.

Faith Healings

What is alleged

João on stage after performing a surgery.

João and 30 of his "spirit doctors" claim to heal "cancers, AIDS, blindness, asthma, drug addiction, alcohol abuse, tumors, physical problems of any kind, debilitating psychological problems and/or spiritual desperation."[4] He attracts thousands to the Casa de Dom Inacio, where many undergo what is claimed to be a "psychic operation." Many travel through an organized tour run in connection with João's group.[5] Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday hundreds of people line up outside to pass before the medium, who prescribes a course of treatment or offers advice and answers to questions. The courses of treatment may include a prescription of pills or, in some cases, surgery.

When called for a surgical operation by João, patients are offered the choice of visible or invisible operations. If they select an invisible operation (or are younger than 18 or older than 45) they are directed to sit in a room in the Casa and meditate. João enters the room and pronounces "In the name of Jesus Christ you are all cured. Let what needs to be done be done in the name of God."[1] Surgeries are performed on a surrogate patient when the actual patient is unable to make the trip.

When João performs consultations and surgeries, he says that he is in a state of sleep, trance and that he doesn't remember what has happened. The volunteers, staff and patients claim that while he is "in entity" he is taken over by the spirits of deceased famous doctors, psychiatrists and philosophers. According to sources from partisan websites, celebrities, politicians, doctors and others have come for healing at the Casa de Dom Inácio.

The ABC News report

On July 14, 2005 the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) ran a news report about João on Primetime live.[6] Dismissed as an infomercial by skeptics, it has also been criticised by believers.[7] The programme featured five people with various medical conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, Lou Gehrig's disease and an inoperable brain tumor. Each patient saw João and ABC claimed that in three of the cases there had been an improvement. Skeptics claim that any improvements are the result of natural spontaneous remission, a placebo effect, possibly caused by conventional medicine, or wishful thinking on the part of the patient. James Randi, in particular, criticises ABC for not approaching the situation in a more scientific way.

ABC's update on the five people involved lacks detail: [6] one is not mentioned, two are making either slow progress or none at all, one is worse, and one is much better. According to other sources, Matthew Ireland is now free of his brain tumor[8] and Annabel has much improved.[9]

The Skeptical viewpoint

James Randi is convinced that João is a fraud of the worst kind, making money from other people's suffering.[7] He argues that no scientific evidence exists to back up claims of healing and that João performs sleight of hand and carnival tricks to convince people that they have been healed.[7] He also claims that João makes money from selling herbal remedies, 'merchandise' and donations.[7]

João tells people not to stop taking their medicine and says not everyone he serves will be cured.[3]

Money

Followers insist that João will take no money, but a concoction of herbs is always prescribed. Persons unable to pay can see the casa staff who will make special arrangements for them.[10] Herbs prescribed by the entity cost 10 Brazilian Reais per container. The usual prescription is 1-5 bottles.[11]. This equals approximately US $25.

References

  1. ^ a b Pellegrino-Estrich, Robert (February - March 1998). "The Amazing Cures of a Brazilian Miracle Man". Nexus magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Pellegrino-Estrich, Robert (July 14, 2005). "Assistance". www.johnofgod.com. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  3. ^ a b "John of God: Investigating a Brazilian faith healer". Beliefnet.com. 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  4. ^ Pellegrino-Estrich, Robert (2006). "Information on the Healing Powers of John of God". www.johnofgodhealing.com. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  5. ^ Pellegrino-Estrich, Robert (2006). "Application Form Instructions". www.johnofgodhealing.com. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  6. ^ a b "Is John of God a Healer or a Charlatan". ABC News. July 14, 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-18. Cite error: The named reference "ABC" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d Randi, James (February 18, 2005). "The ABC-TV Infomercial for John of God". James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  8. ^ "Matthew's recovery". Men's Health (magazine).
  9. ^ "Mission (Not!) Impossible".
  10. ^ "Why must I pay for supplements?" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Casa Prices".

Main

Criticism

Media

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