A Colombian mother holds her baby boy, having a tumor in his chest, during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian mother holds her baby boy, having a tumor in his chest, during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A face of a Colombian woman is seen behind the crucifix during the religious healing ceremony performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A face of a Colombian woman is seen behind the crucifix during the religious healing ceremony performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian boy, held by his fellow believers, screams of pain while being allegedly possessed by demons during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian boy, held by his fellow believers, screams of pain while being allegedly possessed by demons during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian man, having a skin rash disease, prays during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian man, having a skin rash disease, prays during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
Colombian believers pray during the religious healing ritual performed by pastors of Misioneros Marianos church in Bogota, Colombia. Colombian believers pray during the religious healing ritual performed by pastors of Misioneros Marianos church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian couple, hugged by missionaries, cry during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian couple, hugged by missionaries, cry during the religious healing ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
Colombian women, having joined hands, pray during the religious healing ceremony performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. Colombian women, having joined hands, pray during the religious healing ceremony performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian female pastor reads bible before performing the religious healing ceremony at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian female pastor reads bible before performing the religious healing ceremony at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian girl, held by her fellow believers, cries while being allegedly possessed by demons during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian girl, held by her fellow believers, cries while being allegedly possessed by demons during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A Colombian girl is seen held tightly by missionaries during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia. A Colombian girl is seen held tightly by missionaries during the exorcism ritual performed at a house church in Bogota, Colombia.
A wooden cross, pointing out a local church, is seen placed above the large outskirts in the south of Bogota, Colombia. A wooden cross, pointing out a local church, is seen placed above the large outskirts in the south of Bogota, Colombia.

Exorcism in Bogotá

Bogotá, Colombia – 2013 - 2016

Hundreds of Christian belivers, joined in nameless groups, gather every week in unmarked home churches dispersed in the city outskirts, to carry out prayers of liberation and exorcism. Community members and their religious activities are usually conducted by a charismatic pastor or preacher. Using either non-contactive methods (reading religous formulas from bible, displaying Christian symbols and icons) or rough body-pressure-points techniques and forced burping, a leading pastor commands the supposed evil spirit, which is generally believed to come from witchcraft, to depart a person’s mind and body. The demon’s expulsion often consists of multiple rites and may last for several months.

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