João Teixeira de Faria

Jo%C3%A3o de Deus - John of God - Joao Teixeira de Faria 2006

João Teixeira de Faria (born June 24, 1942), also known as João de Deus (John of God), is a Brazilian faith healer and medium. He gained international fame for his psychic surgeries that he claimed could cure a range of diseases without the use of anesthesia or traditional medical instruments. Faria claims to channel the spirits of over 30 doctors and entities to bring about healing. Despite his fame, his practices have been surrounded by controversy, including allegations of fraud and sexual abuse.

Biography

João Teixeira de Faria was born in Cachoeira de Goiás, Brazil. He became widely known as a healer after claiming to have been chosen by spiritual entities to heal people. Faria has no formal medical training and operates the Casa de Dom Inácio de Loyola in Abadiânia, a spiritual healing center where people from all over the world seek his help.

Career

Faria's method of healing involves "visible" and "invisible" surgeries. He claims that the entities he channels perform surgeries on patients, sometimes using his hands, without the need for anesthesia or traditional surgical procedures. These practices have attracted significant attention but also skepticism and criticism from the medical community.

Controversies

Faria's career has been marred by controversy. Critics argue that his healing practices are unscientific and exploit vulnerable individuals. In December 2018, Faria faced allegations of sexual abuse from over 600 individuals, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction on several counts of rape and statutory rape.

Legal Issues

In 2019, João Teixeira de Faria was convicted of sexual assault and rape, receiving a prison sentence in Brazil. His legal troubles have cast a shadow over his healing practices and raised questions about the legitimacy of faith healing.

Impact

Despite the controversies, Faria has a large following of individuals who claim to have been healed by his practices. His work has sparked debates on the nature of faith healing, the placebo effect, and the ethical responsibilities of spiritual healers.

See Also

• Faith healing
• Mediumship
• Spiritual healing