Overview

Oprah Winfrey and New Age icons billed João de Deus (John of God) as the world's greatest psychic healer. He is now recognized as the worst serial rapist in Brazilian history. João claimed to be possessed by dead doctors-performing ""surgeries"" with actual incisions requiring stitches. But backstage at his spiritual hospital, a secret world was hidden from the public, where black magic masqueraded as healing and charity. Blood sacrifice posed as surgery.João's history journeys through Brazilian trance cults and clandestine torture camps during the military dictatorship. It zigzags into Indian genocide and a lifetime of illegal gold mining. Murder for hire, incest, and human trafficking are strewn along its path.His reputation as a healer eventually attracted tens of thousands of visitors a month to his center, including many politicians and celebrities. His promoters hailed him as a selfless saint who did this work for free-a poor farmer. That man was a multi-millionaire. In 2018, at the pinnacle of his fame, his house of cards collapsed.Nearly 800 women have accused him of rape committed inside his healing center during the past forty years-under the guise of spiritual healing. This has resulted in 489 years of prison sentences. He is currently under house arrest in his mansion with his new wife, who is thirty years his junior. Michael Bailot was a guide and spirit medium at João's center. He was featured in the Netflix series John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer. His research unveils a psychopath posing as a saint. This is the first English exposé of John of God.

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""A masterful and unflinching revelation."" ""Bravo, this is a really powerful personal and thoroughly researched exposé. It's both illuminating and disturbing in equal measure. ""This book is not simply a story about one man from Brazil, but rather a story for our time, a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind faith in authority figures and the need for personal discernment. In an era where we are increasingly encouraged to outsource our own power, this book serves as a necessary wake-up call."" - Dr T. Edmunds, Clinical Psychologist, London ""An impassioned, revealing account of the dark side of a ""miracle worker."" ""Bailot explores João's background, from his birth in 1942 in a desolate part of Brazil to his possible involvement in clandestine operations with the military in the 1960s. ""The story hits its real stride when the author gets to his personal account-his narrative of falling into João's orbit is vividly populated with people desperate for cures and others more than willing to exploit them. He pulls no punches in his criticism, noting that one woman who worked with João 'could easily be cast as a Nazi prison guard.' This is a brutal and honest telling, and altogether unsettling."" -Kirkus Reviews ""A brilliantly written historical account, this harrowing story of João de Deus not only exposes the shocking events but also immerses readers in the rich and complex society and culture of Brazil. At times difficult to read but even harder to put down, it is a gripping and deeply detailed exploration of power, deception, and the forces that shaped a nation.""-Debra Lynne Katz, PhD, author "" Michael Bailot paints a damning portrait of religious power corrupted and unchecked. I found Cult of John to be powerfully compelling, at turns scary and enraging. It's well written and told with a good ear to engage the audience. I can see this being a true resource for anyone who wants to have the full picture of João. -Dereck Daschke, PhD, Professor of Philosophy & Religion

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