Orac is the nom de blog of a (not so) humble pseudonymous surgeon/scientist with an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his miscellaneous verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few will. (Continued 
I don't know how many of you have ever been to an Ikea, one the Swedish furniture stores that have sprouted across the U.S. over the last couple of decades, bringing Swedish design sensibility and off sized sheets to the the masses at affordable prices; that is, if you can stand the crowds. Apparently Jesus likes Ikea, too, as he has shown his holy visage at Ikea's Braehead outlet, near Glasgow. More specifically, Jesus has shown up on the door to the men's bathroom at that particular store. This provoked one of the best lines I've ever heard about a pareidolia experience:
Last night one shopper said: "It takes you by surprise. It is really clear in the wood."I was only heading to the toilet and found God."
Why not? It's as good a place as any to find God.
Unfortunately, not everyone agrees that it's Jesus:
But Ikea bosses reckon it looks more like the founder of Sweden's most famous pop group ABBA - Benny Andersson.A spokeswoman said: "Swedishness is engrained in every part of our stores."
Fair enough, but, really, to me the image looks more like Treebeard:
Comments
That does bear a stunning resemblance to treebeard.
Posted by: JohnV | October 19, 2009 1:49 PM
All hail the holy Ent!
Posted by: Ramel | October 19, 2009 2:02 PM
The forked beard reminds me a bit of the guy from Anthrax, but otherwise Treebeard is a close fit. I guess we know where the wood came from. Ikea - Made From Ents!
Posted by: Badger3k | October 19, 2009 2:09 PM
Wow, I can't believe how no one else thought of Treebeard.
Posted by: IBYea
| October 19, 2009 2:26 PM
I think it looks a bit like a sad Lorax.
http://chokingplanet.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lorax.jpg
Posted by: D | October 19, 2009 2:27 PM
It´s the ent of the world as we know it!
Posted by: Arnfinn Pettersen | October 19, 2009 3:07 PM
First thought was that it looked like something with tentacles. Like Davy Jones http://www.sqpn.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/SOC01_davyjones.jpg
Treebeard is a better fit though.
Posted by: Mandarb | October 19, 2009 3:25 PM
I totally agree with Davy Jones! And Treebeard too. I guess it's Davy-Beard. Tree Jones? Hmmm I don't think either of them will catch on.
Posted by: Colin | October 19, 2009 3:48 PM
"I was only heading to the toilet and found God."
If the rumors are to be believed, Elvis was on the toilet and found God.
Posted by: Jud | October 19, 2009 3:57 PM
Um, has anyone else noticed that Jesus is apparently a woman?
Posted by: Susan B. | October 19, 2009 4:45 PM
i immediately thought it looked like an ent. and then when i scrolled down there was the picture of Treebeard.
made me chuckle.
Posted by: rob | October 19, 2009 4:53 PM
I couldn't decide if the round things at the bottoms were his nipples or his nuts.
Posted by: wrpd | October 19, 2009 4:55 PM
Glasgow, huh?
Well, I guess I'm relieved (if that's the word) that Jesus was not seen in the Worst Toilet in Scotland.
Posted by: jre | October 19, 2009 5:16 PM
I think it is John Lennon, obviously a reference to Norwegian Wood.
http://musicmedia.ign.com/music/image/article/869/869529/john-lennon-20080425005343142-000.jpg
He was more popular than Jesus you know.
Posted by: daedalus2u | October 19, 2009 5:25 PM
Looks like cheap veneer. One side of the image is a mirror image of the other, two junks of veneer put together in a feeble attempt to make them blend. Take half of a lot of things and create a mirror image and you start to see weird patterns.
Posted by: sailor | October 19, 2009 5:57 PM
Why is Ikea Jesus playing with his nipples?!?
Posted by: JFox | October 19, 2009 6:06 PM
The pareidolia veneer Jebus is obviously holding a couple of holy hand grenades in his tiny mitts.
… Now did the Lord say, “First thou pullest the Holy Pin. Then thou must count to three. Three shall
be the number of the counting and the number of the counting
shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou
count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is
right out. Once the number three, being the number of the
counting, be reached, then lobbest thou the Holy Hand Grenade in
the direction of thine foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall
snuff it.”
Posted by: E.V. | October 19, 2009 6:10 PM
Looks more like Odin to me.
Posted by: Eric Wilner | October 19, 2009 6:39 PM
Oh no! They made Treebeard into a door. What a sad end to a majestic Ent! :(
Posted by: Shawn | October 19, 2009 11:15 PM
Sorry, it's George Harrison during the Yellow Submarine era.
Posted by: idlemind | October 20, 2009 5:08 AM
Ha!!! engrained!!!!!! 100% epic win of the year!!!
Posted by: firemancarl | October 20, 2009 8:39 AM
They installed the wood upside down! - it's really Satan (or maybe his half brother)
Posted by: ColinB | October 20, 2009 11:29 AM
My first reaction was Bigfoot.
Posted by: mattand | October 20, 2009 10:30 PM
In John 10:9, Jesus says "I am the door ..." However, I wasn't expecting to see such a literal embodiment of this statement, and was rather expecting the door to lead somewhere nicer.
Posted by: SWT | October 21, 2009 7:40 AM
Ikea ROCKS. Literally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTJEtMSuMqg&feature=youtube_gdata
"Selling furniture for college kids and divorced men..."
Posted by: rrt | October 21, 2009 11:54 AM
Don't be absurd. It's a distorted pic of Barack Obama.
Posted by: hf | October 22, 2009 1:45 AM
Get your minds out of the sewer-I think it looks like a man holding binoculars.
When I was a kid, our bathroom door had grain that looked like the boogie man-I think I wet the bed rather than face that by the dim light of the nightlight in the hall.
Posted by: Ruth | October 22, 2009 9:02 AM
As a Glaswegian, I can confirm: it IS Benny Andersson. The proof we have been waiting for people. Benny Andersson is the way, the truth and the light.
What further sign do you need? Do you demand another miracle from Benny, after he has appeared so publicly before you? Oh ye of little faith. I'll be glad when you're all in Hull (Benny Andersson sends the unworthy to costal English towns known for their sea ports; Hull, Dover, Portsmouth, Southampton, Liverpool) due to your lack of faith whereas I will be rewarded with thai sweet chilli crisps (in accordance with the prophecy) for taking Benny's hand when it was offered.
Think about it: what have you got to loose? If Benny Andersson is not a supernatural being, all you've lost is the brief time it takes you to sing Mamma Mia every morning (which many psychologists believe helps relieve stress and thus makes you a more moral person, such is Benny's wisdom) which is nothing. But if Benny is the way, as he says, then you will be sent to Hull or Dover while I'll be enjoying spicy potato snacks.
Look around the world, does it not look like it has a bit of Abba influence to it? A little? Let me put the case to you another way; why would Benny Andersson offer crisps and threaten Hull if you refuse to sing and enjoy his music. He must be either a liar, a madman or be telling the truth. He isn't a liar - he's got a beard, and people with beards are truthful. Moreover, it seems a strange thing to lie about, as what does he have to gain? Nothing. And he doesn't seem mad; after all, he doesn't foam at the mouth when walking the streets of Stockholm. Therefore he must be telling the truth.
Hail Benny! Thy truth will out!
Onwards Andersson's Soliders,
Marching out to war....
Posted by: Duncan | October 22, 2009 5:21 PM
On a related note, I thought you might enjoy the following from Mitchell and Webb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=fi6V4MhhH7I
@16 - FTW! Jesus likes twiddling his nipples! Teach the debate!
Posted by: Duncan | October 22, 2009 5:25 PM