When I saw people posting on facebook about 16 people being raised from the dead after these horrible floods and mudslides in the Serrana region of Rio, I was intrigued. I have friends there, I’ve been there, at least to Nova Friburgo. I was concerned for my friends’ safety and even though the church in Friburgo is safe, me and my husband have been following the news about Rio quite intently.
So, the story goes something like this, 16 people were raised in the Caleme bairro of Teresopolis on the 15th of January. Then “the local newspaper” published a front page article with two photos about the incident on Sunday, January 16. The “local newspaper” is called “O Diario” and their website is easy to access. I obviously read Portuguese perfectly fine, and browsed through their entire website trying to find anything about anyone being raised from the dead. Their front page articles get archived to the site and they have weeks and weeks worth of articles on their website. I found nothing. Not a trace.
So I nonchalantly commented on the “original” post on “The Healing Herald” (also posted on ibethel.org but they apparently have removed it) and asked if they had a better copy of the newspaper article available. Their reply: “Hi Ebair, Sorry, but I do not have any other information besides an email from the original anonymous source, who wants to remain anonymous. Thank you.” They had a slightly better “version” so you can actually make out some of the details. I have seen a pdf copy of the original Jan 16 front page circulating online, and, man, is it different!! Just saying…
The newspaper article is most likely a hoax because:
1. The byline. The bylines for “O Diario” do not have the place. They actually don’t have an “AP-style” byline at all. Obviously not, they are not an American newspaper.
2. The font. Anyone who has studied journalism knows that once a newspaper starts using a font, they stick with it. The “article” published by the “Healing Herald” uses what appears to be Times New Roman font (or a similar serif font) while the real “O Diario” newspaper uses a font without serifs. Small detail, but its a huge clue. Newspapers don’t change their fonts halfway through the page.
3. The spacing. Look at the other articles on “O Diario”. They are less than double-spaced. Again, newspapers don’t change their spacing for one article.
4. No names are used. Not even in the newspaper article. Well, I don’t know what you all think we do here in Brazil, but all the newspaper articles, all the news on TV and radio has people’s names published!! Brazilian journalists use names, its their protocol. If they interview a farmer, his full name goes on the article. Same thing would go for someone being interviewed about people being raised from the dead. Even if the team from Bethel didn’t want to publish any names, the newspaper wouldn’t really care and would publish people’s names.
Maybe just because people think Brazil is so foreign that no one would ever figure out a hoax here, or that people think Brazilians are stupid (I’m not even Brazilian yet and I’m insulted by the whole thing) and would believe it, but we have norms we follow here, and obviously, whoever made up the mock newspaper doesn’t know those norms.
Nor do they think that anyone reading their little article would actually be able to just call up “O Diario” to find out the truth. Nor do they think that someone would have the brains to go to the National Library here in Brasilia which has all the newspapers in the country to actually find out the truth. Both of those are in my plans for tomorrow.
I will get to the bottom of this and find out the truth.
I’m not debating (right now) whether or not the people were raised from the dead. I’m debating the validity of the “newspaper” article which the supposed missionaries are sending around the internet. I’m a journalist. I’m a missionary. I’m married to a Brazilian. And I’m offended at the hoax because it makes Christians look bad and look like liars or look too gullible. I believe in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, and I believe that He can raise people from the dead, but I do not for one instant believe that this newspaper article is actually true.
That said, if you are thinking of coming to help the flood victims in Brazil, bring your shovels and work boots and your own clean water. We don’t need more people making hoaxes about the terrible tragedy which has left over 500 people missing, over 800 people dead, and about 5,000 homeless. We don’t need more people with stars in their eyes thinking they’re gonna raise the dead in Teresopolis or Friburgo, we need people with Jesus’ hands and feet that are gonna help the people who lost their homes and families, people who will really love my country, and people who, most importantly, will love the truth over all.
