Page 18 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper March/April 2018 Edition

18 John of God: Healing by Entities?

‘John of God’: Healings

by Entities?

Continued from Page 17

At my instigation, National Geographic filmed a
performance of such an act at the Washington,
D.C., showbar Palace of Wonders, operated by
carny impresario (and friend) James Taylor. Our
blockhead was “Swami Yomahmi,” a.k.a.
Stephon Walker, whom I introduced with my
best carny-sideshow spiel. Walker even cranked
a rotating drill bit into his nose. He also used a
blunt knife to scrape the white part of his eyeball
and acknowledged that such stunts look more
risky than they are.
A surgeon who commented on John of
God’s incisions stated that they were superficial
(little more than skin deep, apparently) and own healing power, and other effects (Nickell • Bragdon, Emma. 2002. Spiritual Alliances:
would not be expected either to bleed very much 1998, 133—137). Discovering the Roots of Health at the Casa
or even to cause much initial pain. The same is Consider, for example, the case of de Dom Inácio. Woodstock, Vermont:
true of scraping the white of the eye or inserting Matthew Ireland, a pilgrim from Guilford, Lightening Up Press.
something into the nasal cavity (“Controversial” Vermont, whose doctor told him he had a type of • Controversial faith-healer schedules Atlanta
2006). Physicians affiliated with the Skeptical brain tumor that was fast-growing and visit. 2006. Available at
Inquirer voiced similar opinions. The brief nasal inoperable. After two years of radiation wsbtv.com/print/7257434/detail.html;
procedure occasionally leaves someone’s nose treatments and chemotherapy, Ireland made accessed April 4, 2006.
bleeding, but his or her body’s own healing three visits to John of God. Subsequent MRI • Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. 2000. The
mechanisms will no doubt repair the minor testing did show that the tumor mass had shrunk Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits, 2nd ed.
injury. The bottom line regarding the procedures by fifty percent, but it was not gone as the entity New York: Checkmark Books.
is that they are pseudosurgeries that have no had claimed. Ireland’s former oncologist • Is “John of God” a healer or charlatan? 2005.
objective medical benefit other than the well- attributes the partial success to the aggressive ABC News, February 8. (Available at
known placebo effect. radiation treatment and concedes it is possible religionnewsblog.com/print.php?p=10253;
Furthermore, the “holy water” that that the specific type of tumor may have been accessed April 4, 2006. (The ABC
“João-in-Entity” blesses and that supposedly misdiagnosed (“Miracle” 2006; “Is” 2005). Primetime Live broadcast on which this
helps effect cures is ordinary water. I provided a Often, at healing services like those of article is based aired February 10, 2005.)
specially labeled bottle I had purchased in John of God in Brazil, pilgrims’ emotions may • John of God in Atlanta. 2006a. Available at
Atlanta, and National Geographic had it tested at trigger the release of endorphins, brain- johnofgodinatlanta.com; accessed March 15.
a major D.C.-area facility, the Washington produced substances that reduce sensitivity to • 2006b. Personal communication from
Suburban Sanitation Commission. It was found pain. They may thus believe and act as if they donjenna@johnofgodinatlanta.com. March
to have no unusual properties and to be entirely have been miraculously healed—even throwing 8.
unremarkable (“Miracle” 2006).1 away their crutches—whereas later • Lucas, Richard. 1972. The Magic of Herbs
As to João-in-Entity’s herbal remedies, investigation reveals their situation to be as bad, in Daily Living. West Nyack, N.Y.: Parker
actually only a single herb is prescribed, but or worse, than before (Nickell 1998, 136). Publishing Co.
those seeking aid are told that the entities are However, I did note that, at the Atlanta John of • Miracle Cures. 2006. Is It Real? TV series,
able to use it to help cure a wide variety of God event, those who came with walkers, National Geographic Channel. October 9.
ailments (“Miracle Cures” 2006). The herb is crutches, and wheelchairs left with them. Sadly, Nickell, Joe. 1998. Looking for a Miracle:
one of the many varieties of passionflower, a the entities had not taken away their afflictions, Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions &
mystical plant associated with Jesus’ only their money. Healing Cures. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus
crucifixion, and it has been used since ancient Books.
times as a “sedative, nervine and Acknowledgements • 2005. Secrets of the Sideshows. Lexington,
antispasmodic.” Herbalists say it soothes the Ky.: University Press of Kentucky.
nervous system and produces restful sleep that • Pellegrino-Estrich, Robert. 1995. John of
I am grateful to my wife, Diana Harris, not only
brightens one’s outlook (Lucas 1972, 128— God. Available at
for her forbearance but also her direct assistance
129). Small wonder it would be the drug of johnofgod.com/article.htm; accessed
in this project. I am also grateful to Isham
choice for a “healing” center to distribute February 21, 2006.
Randolph and others from National Geographic
widely.
Television and Film for their professional work,
Many people offer testimonials as to the
as well as to Timothy Binga, the director of CFI About Dr. Joe Nickell:
beneficial effects they have supposedly received
Libraries, and Lauren Becker, then CFI’s
at the hands of John of God. In fact, however, assistant director of communications, for Joe Nickell, Ph.D., is Senior Research
the successes attributed to the entities may be
research assistance. Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
nothing more than what occurs at other alleged
(CSI) and "Investigative Files" Columnist for
miracle sites, like Lourdes, where the vast
Note Skeptical Inquirer. A former stage magician,
majority of supplicants remain uncured. Since
private investigator, and teacher, he is author of
such “healings” are typically held to be
At the event I attended in Atlanta on April 4, numerous books, including Inquest on the
miraculous because they are “medically
2006, at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, a Shroud of Turin (1998), Pen, Ink and Evidence
inexplicable,” claimants are engaging in the
staffer told me the water could be replenished by (2003), Unsolved History (2005) and
logical fallacy of “arguing from ignorance”—
refilling the bottle when the level gets low, using Adventures in Paranormal Investigation (2007).
that is, drawing a conclusion from a lack of
ordinary tap water—the original water He has appeared in many television
knowledge. Touted healings may actually be
energizing the newly added. documentaries and has been profiled in The
attributable to such factors as misdiagnosis,
New Yorker and on NBC's Today Show. His
spontaneous remission, psychosomatic
References personal website is at joenickell.com. []
conditions, prior medical treatment, the body’s