33 replies to this topic

[jugoso]

www.news24.com said:

"John of God" says he communicates with spirits when he goes into a trance. He diagnoses diseases, prescribes medication and conducts surgeries, either with his hands, or with kitchen knives, scalpels or scissors.

Read more...

[_Only]

Sounds like Edgar Cayce, but maybe with a bit less humility.

[jugoso]

_Only, on 16 April 2012 - 06:35 PM, said:

Sounds like Edgar Cayce, but maybe with a bit less humility.

I don´t really see the connection as Cayce was primarily a "seer" and gave readings whereas this guy is a "healer".

[Sensible Logic]

Probably along the lines of the psychic surgery in the Philippines which is pretty much a way of scamming the believers

[_Only]

jugoso, on 16 April 2012 - 07:26 PM, said:

I don´t really see the connection as Cayce was primarily a "seer" and gave readings whereas this guy is a "healer".

Not at all! Casey used his seeing to diagnose patients, when doctors had no answers. He might not have done the actual procedure, but told those who did what to do. Or told the patient what to do for themselves to heal.

[jugoso]

_Only, on 16 April 2012 - 09:32 PM, said:

Not at all! Casey used his seeing to diagnose patients, when doctors had no answers. He might not have done the actual procedure, but told those who did what to do. Or told the patient what to do for themselves to heal.

Understood. However, I still see a very, very loose connection at best.

[Ron Jeremy]

I might sound like a crackpot but faith healing seems to work in less educated and enlightened areas of the world. I am not saying that it will regrow severed limbs or cure diabetes. But in many psychosomatic cases, faith healing works because of the simpleton belief of the poor and uneducated people. Faith has a weird power over human body.

But personally, I'd rather stick with modern medicine than losing my sapience to heal my afflictions.

[dharma warrior]

The psychic surgery con was debunked years ago, yet people are still lining up to be scammed.
Too bad Joao de Deus  can't cure stupid, but then he'd be out of a job.

[libstaK]

He claims to have healed thousands, an entire towns' economy revolves around his "healing centre", he heals "for free" but collects donations and sells natural remedies and purified water et al.

If ever there was an opportunity to thoroughly test someone's capacity this should be it.  There should be a undeniable swathe of inexplicably healed cases on record - where are they?  Why are all these faith healers claims so, well, "anecdotal"?

He has been at it for 30 years and this is the first I have heard of him ... he should be more famous than Oprah if his claims are genuine and yet ....

Well, those are my reasons for passing this one by anyway.

[Leonardo]

Why would god, if god exists, need to manifest it's power through an intermediary to heal?

I see activities such as this as not only a possible means for self-enrichment of the person claiming to be a healer, but also as a means for religions to increase their 'flock' by duping people into a false faith.

Edited by Leonardo, 17 April 2012 - 04:08 PM.

[ColoradoParanormal]

libstaK, on 17 April 2012 - 03:31 PM, said:

He claims to have healed thousands, an entire towns' economy revolves around his "healing centre", he heals "for free" but collects donations and sells natural remedies and purified water et al.

If ever there was an opportunity to thoroughly test someone's capacity this should be it.  There should be a undeniable swathe of inexplicably healed cases on record - where are they?  Why are all these faith healers claims so, well, "anecdotal"?

He has been at it for 30 years and this is the first I have heard of him ... he should be more famous than Oprah if his claims are genuine and yet ....

Well, those are my reasons for passing this one by anyway.

I very much agree with you. I strongly hope western scientists and medical personnel test this fraud and reveal him for what he is. This "healing" gift has been claimed through-out recent history and the minute scientists request to validate and evaluate these "healers" they deny them and disappear. Why would this be? You would think, if you're truly a healer, and your purpose in life is to help humanity as they claim, that you would be more than happy to oblige science and help the world receive an understanding of this so we might further help all of man kind...

This simply isn't the case with these frauds....

[chiole]

Ron Jeremy, on 16 April 2012 - 10:21 PM, said:

I might sound like a crackpot but faith healing seems to work in less educated and enlightened areas of the world. I am not saying that it will regrow severed limbs or cure diabetes. But in many psychosomatic cases, faith healing works because of the simpleton belief of the poor and uneducated people. Faith has a weird power over human body.

But personally, I'd rather stick with modern medicine than losing my sapience to heal my afflictions.

I do not think it's got anything to do with the "less educated" as you put it. When people are sick and dying, they become desperate and will try just about anything to become better again. Nothing to do with being a simpleton or being poor, it's called DESPERATION, remember that word when YOU end up in same place as they are.

[chiole]

Leonardo, on 17 April 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Why would god, if god exists, need to manifest it's power through an intermediary to heal?

I see activities such as this as not only a possible means for self-enrichment of the person claiming to be a healer, but also as a means for religions to increase their 'flock' by duping people into a false faith.

OK understand you do not believe in God and that is fine with me, luckily not my soul correct, but now I’m a bit curious and I would just like to know from all the non believers, if you have believed and you die and there is a God or no God, then you’ve got nothing to lose right, but you did not believe and you die and there IS A GOD in heaven, please explain, what are you going to say to Him? “O I’m sorry I did not think you existed?” Just a question.

[libstaK]

chiole, on 18 April 2012 - 06:42 AM, said:

OK understand you do not believe in God and that is fine with me, luckily not my soul correct, but now I'm a bit curious and I would just like to know from all the non believers, if you have believed and you die and there is a God or no God, then you've got nothing to lose right, but you did not believe and you die and there IS A GOD in heaven, please explain, what are you going to say to Him? "O I'm sorry I did not think you existed?" Just a question.

Hi Chiole,
I am actually a believer but I think I can add some food for thought to your suggestion to Leonardo.

The fact is - people should not choose to believe in God just in case he happens to be there when they die to judge them.  Religions sell this idea to people every day and I think it is wrong to appeal to people's fear.  The people who may be converted to "believe" in God are really only doing what they believe they can to stop being afraid of death - that is not the same as TRULY believing in God.

Now, if you do not believe in God and you die and discover there is a God - well, let's give him/her a little bit of credit - a God, by definition knows far more about what goes on in our hearts and minds than we do and I for one would trust him to recognise a sincere person who believed only what his conscience and evidence allowed him to believe - I don't think it is relevant to think a non-believer would be punished for not knowing any better - this is not a popular position amongst believers but I personally stand firmly by it.

In summary - a person who believes in God because they are afraid of punishment from God if they fail to believe is someone who believes in self preservation at all costs only - it is not a belief in God at all, it is fear hiding as belief.

As I said, those are just my opinions and offered as food for thought.

[Leonardo]

chiole, on 18 April 2012 - 06:42 AM, said:

OK understand you do not believe in God and that is fine with me, luckily not my soul correct, but now I’m a bit curious and I would just like to know from all the non believers, if you have believed and you die and there is a God or no God, then you’ve got nothing to lose right, but you did not believe and you die and there IS A GOD in heaven, please explain, what are you going to say to Him? “O I’m sorry I did not think you existed?” Just a question.

Honestly, I don't know if a god exists. I don't know how anyone can know whether a god exists because 'god' doesn't seem to be defined well enough for us to be able to know that.

However, I am fairly sure that the various scriptures relating that a god exists, and suggesting what that god is, are basically political manifestos wrapped around a bit of real theology and philosophy.