…and this is a 
Pareidolia poll
Category: Pointless polls • Weirdness
Posted on: August 28, 2008 1:00 PM, by PZ Myers
Two things I find absurd are people who see Jesus in random patterns, and internet polls that try to impose patterns in noise. Here's something that does both: a moth was found with speckles that are supposed to look like Jesus.
"His hair right here and you can see the mustache and the beard and there's a little slit right there that looks like His mouth and when he would move the mouth would open so it looked like he was trying to talk to you."
Kirk Harper spotted the moth on an RV trailer Monday, and right away could tell it was unique.
"I immediately thought it looked like Jesus and that was what was so cool cause you've seen His face in grilled cheese sandwiches and windows and things but on a moth's back...we thought that was pretty neat."
Just to top off the silliness, the story comes with a poll to ask if you see a face. Yeah, I do — it's Charles Manson.
Comments
Posted by: Mandy | August 28, 2008 1:06 PM
Actually, it looks kind of like Satan to me. The brown section up top kind of has two big horns, and there's even a pointy beard at the bottom of the face in that section of brown. Hmmm . . . what does this mean!?!?! Ha!
Posted by: Mike | August 28, 2008 1:08 PM
Huh, I didn't know jesus had such an impressive afro. Learn something new every day.
Posted by: Dan B. | August 28, 2008 1:09 PM
I...genuinely don't see a face.
These things still piss me off to no end. It's ridiculous for SO many reasons, as I'm sure everyone here already knows.
1) That vague description matches any near-human with a beard. 2) How the hell does anyone know what Jesus looks like anyway? When are the earliest paintings of him? Centuries after his (alleged) death? 3) Really? THIS is how god chooses to reveal himself to the world? A tacky stunt on a moth's back? Not, you know, suddenly appearing in the sky to all of humanity and saying "Sorry about cancer. My bad. It won't happen from now on" and curing everyone?
Posted by: Luke | August 28, 2008 1:10 PM
Whoever it is, they're wearing a turban and touching their temples as if trying to communicate psychically with someone...
Posted by: tceisele | August 28, 2008 1:11 PM
Oh, for crying out loud. Haven't they ever seen an Imperial Moth before? They pretty much all look like that. In fact, a lot of the ones in Bug Guide look more face-like than that one!
Personally, I think the "face" looks more like your classic Zoroastrian priest than anything else.
Posted by: valdemar | August 28, 2008 1:12 PM
I see D'Argo from the spiffing space adventure series Farscape. Who'd have thought he would appear on a moth, like religious fictional characters?
And I would like my Sad Old Nerd t-shirt in a size M, please.
Posted by: Yossarian | August 28, 2008 1:13 PM
In my opinion, it looks like Jerry Garcia, as depicted in one of those Peter Max illustrations from the 1960's.
I'm guessing that I'm not the only person who isn't surprised to learn that the moth was found (a) on an RV; and (b) in Texas.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT | August 28, 2008 1:13 PM
I see a face but it looks like one of these guys.
Posted by: Sophist | August 28, 2008 1:13 PM
I dunno, with the thing on "his" "forehead" and the two lobes to the sides it looks more like a cross between Charles Manson and a French lop to me.
Also:
"Pieces of the true cross, twelve for a buck, get 'em while their holy!"
Posted by: Qwerty | August 28, 2008 1:13 PM
I don't know. It looks like an Assyrian King to me. Then, maybe I am an ass-yrian for seeing it.
As for finding Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich, you HAVE to eat it or face the wrath of Bill Donohue and the Catholic Cheese League.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | August 28, 2008 1:14 PM
If RV parks in Texas are anything like the ones here in Alberta, Kirk probably sees a lot of things in other things, like seeing a refreshing apéritif in a bottle of Aqua Velva.
Posted by: WRMartin | August 28, 2008 1:15 PM
To me it looks like Gilda Radner's Saturday Night Live character, Emily Letella, wearing a veil.
What do I win?
;)
Posted by: Amber | August 28, 2008 1:16 PM
I swear it's Rasputin on that moth...or at least a version of him close to most cartoon depictions I've seen.
Posted by: Holbach | August 28, 2008 1:16 PM
Holy shit, a flying shit face of the jeebus! Bring that sucker down with hurled crackers!
Posted by: Moses | August 28, 2008 1:17 PM
Sounds like ergot poisoning to me.
Posted by: Sophist | August 28, 2008 1:18 PM
What is a grammar and why do I want one?
Posted by: Deepsix | August 28, 2008 1:18 PM
"Actually, it looks kind of like Satan to me."
I agree with Mandy. I saw it the same way she did.
Clearly, this evil moth species needs to be eradicated.
Posted by: Greg | August 28, 2008 1:18 PM
Heh. I blogged about this this morning. To me it looks like Mohammed - from the Danish cartoons. Or, a good likeness of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
Posted by: Hap | August 28, 2008 1:18 PM
Someone needs to calibrate their drug dosages or change to another medication. Call your doctor, please.
Oh, people see lots of things in the clouds. My ability to see an alligator up there doesn't mean that there actually is one there, or somewhere else - my ability to do so is irrelevant. If you are that desperate to have proof for that in which you believe, a better thing to do might be to ask why rather than to make up proofs that don't prove anything, other than perhaps your desperation or lack of logic.
Posted by: firemancarl | August 28, 2008 1:19 PM
I see a set of tits on top on of an ice cream cone. With the yellow streak making it look like cleavage. I prefer tits over Jebus any day.
Posted by: Paul Burnett | August 28, 2008 1:19 PM
I don't recall Jesus' bald spot being so prominent. And purple eyes? And a really long pointy beard? And a Hindu "wisdom dot" on His forehead? Definitely not JC.
Posted by: Lago | August 28, 2008 1:22 PM
Here is your problem right here:
"Kirk Harper spotted the moth on an RV trailer"
Also, I am going to have to go with the above stated fact that this is actually a Zoroastrian Priest.
Posted by: Siamang | August 28, 2008 1:22 PM
Okay, that's silly. You're right, PZ.
But may I offer something you should be covering:
Elizabeth Dole's campaign seems to think that atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and humanists should not be allowed to meet with their candidates. They are attempting to embarrass Democrat Kay Hagan for having the guts to attend a fundraiser organized by the Secular Coalition for America. That's right, the same group that the Democrats decided couldn't attend their "values and unity" summit.
Dole Campaign Communications Director Dan McLagan: "You can tell a lot about a person by their friends and these are friends most North Carolinians would not be comfortable having over for dinner."
We've got a lot of atheists fired up about this, over at Friendly Atheist. We're taking action.
http://friendlyatheist.com/4272/email-to-the-elizabeth-dole-campaign/
Posted by: Glen Davidson | August 28, 2008 1:22 PM
That's fine. It'll do as much good to worship the moth as some putative invisible and undetectable being.
I can at least see the insect.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: Taxorgian | August 28, 2008 1:23 PM
Am I the only one who sees Harvey Birdman in that picture?
Posted by: Mike | August 28, 2008 1:24 PM
Am I the only one who thinks it looks just like Darth Vader?
Posted by: BMD | August 28, 2008 1:25 PM
I see an ice cream cone.
Posted by: Jackal | August 28, 2008 1:25 PM
@ Dan B.
If I recall my art history, the earliest pictures of Jesus we have depict him with short, blond, curly hair. It was the beauty ideal at the time. (Think adult Cupid.) It wasn't until the Byzantine emperor Roger had Jesus depicted to look like him that we got the image we know today - caucasian with a gaunt face, long brown hair and beard.
Posted by: llewelly | August 28, 2008 1:28 PM
I see Cthulhu eating an ice-cream cone.
Posted by: Raynfala | August 28, 2008 1:28 PM
<bug-eyed> <spittle> <agitated> But... but... but... GOD doesn't WORK that way!!! </agitated> </spittle> </bug-eyed>Ooops... forgot the <sarcasm> tag... my bad :^)
Posted by: Hap | August 28, 2008 1:31 PM
I thought Jesus was supposed to eaten with lots of the social outcasts of his time - the unwillingness for Dole and friends to do so (and to oppose others doing so) tells you more about what Dole believes in than she might perhaps have wished. I'm sure she can find someone else to eat with - in a few months W will be free (I hope) and they can discuss hypocrisy and the art of Constitutional deconstruction at length.
Posted by: aiabx | August 28, 2008 1:31 PM
Another vote for Ra-Ra-Rasputin, lover of the Russian Queen.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT | August 28, 2008 1:31 PM
No wait I DO see a face.
Posted by: jimmiraybob | August 28, 2008 1:31 PM
Clearly it's Nostradamus with an afro and giant goat ears. Anybody that's not biased will agree.
Posted by: Stephen Couchman | August 28, 2008 1:34 PM
ZOMG it's Jason Momoa!
Posted by: Alan Chapman | August 28, 2008 1:35 PM
It's Johnny Carson as the Amazing Karnak.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT | August 28, 2008 1:35 PM
Continued OT
Dole is one of the worst and most ineffective Senators employed right now. She's awful and this doesn't surprise me. She's pissed at the effective campaign that Hagan is running against Dole's senatorial record, what there is of one.
Posted by: Cyrock | August 28, 2008 1:36 PM
OH MY GOD!
It is Mohamed!!!
Posted by: Mike | August 28, 2008 1:39 PM
I guess this says something about me, like a Rorschach test, but I see the dark lobes above his head as a set of breasts in a bikini top! There is even a belly button and his face is actually a skimpy bikini bottom.
Posted by: dave UH | August 28, 2008 1:44 PM
eBay!
Posted by: gg | August 28, 2008 1:45 PM
Hmm... I see a dog with its head split open.
Posted by: michel | August 28, 2008 1:45 PM
from the priest at the end of the movie clip:
"if he [the creator] can do that to a little moth, imagine what he can do to our lives"
what a humble christian he is!
Posted by: Ubi Dubium | August 28, 2008 1:46 PM
I was going to say I saw a duckie and a horsie, but I changed by mind.
Honestly - it's Jafar from Alladin!
Posted by: Mena | August 28, 2008 1:47 PM
It's not Charles Darwin? :^)
Posted by: Chief | August 28, 2008 1:47 PM
I see:
a Samurai warrior
Genghis Khan
a concept drawing of Darth Vader (which makes sense, given #1 and that the inspiration behind a lot of the Star Wars characters were samurai warrior films)
Posted by: Milo Johnson | August 28, 2008 1:47 PM
Count me in for a scoop of butter brickle in a sugar cone. I wish I could see the tits...
Posted by: Patricia | August 28, 2008 1:48 PM
Silly Raynfala, Everybody knows - gawd doesn't need to report for duty any more. He sent Holbach some prophets. It's heavy brain work, but do try to keep up. ;)
Posted by: Kryth | August 28, 2008 1:48 PM
Thus proving Jesus like moths but still hates figs.
Posted by: ILYa | August 28, 2008 1:48 PM
Holly FSM it is PZ Myers!!!
Although early in the morning and with a zit on his forehead.
Posted by: RayCeeYa | August 28, 2008 1:49 PM
I think I see Skeletor from He-Man
Posted by: Thrillhouse | August 28, 2008 1:49 PM
My first thought was a balding Mesopotamian male, but then I noticed the bindi and now I'm really confused. I guess I'm back to random pattern.
Posted by: Adam Bourne | August 28, 2008 1:49 PM
Don't be so quick to judge. I am certain I have found an image of the Virgin Mary on the sign for a public convenience. ;)
Posted by: Neil B | August 28, 2008 1:49 PM
Yeah, it really does look a lot like Charles Manson - even with that little spot in the middle of the "forehead", where Manson has his little swastika tattoo IIRC>
Posted by: JRQ | August 28, 2008 1:50 PM
I heard it was all staged -- that moths don't perch on trailers in real life.
Posted by: robert estrada | August 28, 2008 1:55 PM
To me it looks like the back og Yoda's head when he still had hair. See the pointy ears?
Posted by: Matt Hussein Platte | August 28, 2008 1:56 PM
It's obviously Ganesha -- viz the third eye and the trunk that y'all have confused with a beard. And how do you explain those elephant ears: Jeebus wears pigtails!? Oh sure he's gay, but pigtails?
Posted by: bigjohn756 | August 28, 2008 1:57 PM
Wow! That's right here in East Texas. I'm so proud!
Posted by: Hesitant Iconoclast | August 28, 2008 1:58 PM
C'mon guys, it's all part of THE PLAN!
Posted by: ennui | August 28, 2008 1:58 PM
IIRC, Jesus looks just like a combination of Mithra, Hercules, Baal, Krishna, Dionysus, and Epicurus. Does that help?Posted by: ckerst | August 28, 2008 1:59 PM
Looks like Frank Zappa to me.
Posted by: Bronze Dog | August 28, 2008 2:01 PM
Jesus is Fek'lhr?
Posted by: idahovic | August 28, 2008 2:03 PM
Damn Christians. It's obviously Muhammad.
Posted by: Wade | August 28, 2008 2:03 PM
Hey wait! There is a dot on "his" forehead. Its obviously one of the many Hindu deities. Also I don't think Jesus had long dog ears or a fro.
And he said unto me "I am the lord, the lord of funk"
Posted by: Hesitant Iconoclast | August 28, 2008 2:04 PM
Forget about grilled cheese sandwiches and moths. Jesus loves man's best friend.
Posted by: Maltodextrin | August 28, 2008 2:06 PM
I see Rasputin in a Ushanka.
Posted by: Karley | August 28, 2008 2:07 PM
When you sit on the toilet in my childhood house, the glare hits the door across from you in such a way, that it reveals a serene shroud-of-Turin Jesus face. Used to freak me out when I was little- Jesus is watching you poop!
I've told my mom that when the time comes that she sells the house, I want the door removed. That way I can claim that it's a miracle and charge gullible Catholics $30 a pop to touch it.
Posted by: Sastra | August 28, 2008 2:09 PM
Dan B #3 wrote:
Yes, eager belief in the most trivial manifestations of The Ultimate Necessary Infinite Eternal and Unchangeable Creator of the Universe always strikes me as weird, but I shouldn't be surprised. When you get right down to it, there's just as much disconnect between the enormous scope of the God concept, and Jesus deciding to impress us as really being God by "coming back from the dead." Big frickin' whoopy-doo. Credulous stories of people coming back from the dead were and are a dime a dozen. Like "changing water into wine" or curing blindness with spit, it's popular parlor tricks. Pick a card, any card.
I vaguely remember hearing about a story where the main character was given the power to change the laws of physics and bend the laws of nature -- but only by doing a simple and ordinary card trick that 5 year old children could do. It's just that, when he did it, the magic was real. Undetectable, and unremarkable -- but the real deal.
Maybe God is like that hapless character in the story, capable of enormous power and ability, but trapped into manifesting itself in the most banal ways -- faces on moth wings, and "inspiring" people to do something they were thinking about doing anyway.
Posted by: Wesley | August 28, 2008 2:09 PM
Hah, that's a good one. I think I'll have to add it to my collection: http://godhatesfraggles.net/stuff-that-looks-like-jesus/
You're right - it's ridiculously absurd. But also entertaining for the rest of us.
Posted by: Lee Picton | August 28, 2008 2:09 PM
Hey! Thanks for the info on Kay Hagan, a person I never heard of. But I sure know who she is now. I linked right on over to her website and donated $25. I wish it could have been more but the life membership to the FFRF tapped me out for quite awhile.
Oh, and I'm sorry - I can't see a damned thing on the moth. Does this mean I do not have a discerning spirit?
Posted by: Dave Godfrey | August 28, 2008 2:10 PM
A sailboat?
Honestly I can't see anything other than a moth. Its quite a pretty moth, but a moth nonetheless. Someone needs to show these people a Death's Head Hawk Moth. Though they'd probably claim its been sent by Satan or somesuch nonsense.
Posted by: YetAnotherKevin | August 28, 2008 2:10 PM
I'm with the Assyrian / Babylonian crowd.
Posted by: Kaddath | August 28, 2008 2:10 PM
Nah... that's Frank Zappa's moustache, like the one from his trademark logo...
Posted by: Aphrodine | August 28, 2008 2:13 PM
To quote Family Guy, "Are you sure it was Jesus? Are you sure it wasn't... nothing?"
Posted by: John Bode | August 28, 2008 2:17 PM
I see a cross between Rob Zombie and Pippi Longstockings.
Not that Jesus would have looked much like that anyway.
Posted by: mothra | August 28, 2008 2:18 PM
Looks like a beat-up male specimen of Eacles imperialis to me. The only face might be that of Mr Ed. I didn't know that god (even metaphorically) beat horses.
Posted by: Gavel Down | August 28, 2008 2:19 PM
I see Ghengis Khan. Look at the headdress.
Posted by: Wade | August 28, 2008 2:27 PM
You know for an omnipotent being God sure isn't much of an artist. When my son draws pictures no one has to point out anything to me.
You see it looks like Jesus if you close one eye, Squint the other, turn your head to the side, and think happy thoughts.
It seems that if a perfect, all powerful being was really trying to put his sons face on things it wouldn't be random things, it would be something symbolic. "I will put Jesus' on a grilled cheese sandwich to teach the humans about the importance of calcium"
Posted by: Senecasam | August 28, 2008 2:30 PM
You mean it isn't the image of Bigfoot?
Posted by: horrobin | August 28, 2008 2:31 PM
Hey look, it's dead Jesus!
Posted by: Nathan | August 28, 2008 2:36 PM
I don't know what the fuss is about; my coworkers and I see Skeletor.
Posted by: Penny | August 28, 2008 2:36 PM
If you look, you'll see that it's actually Siva. He has a third eye in the middle of his forehead. Om mani pa... errr.. I forgot the rest.
Posted by: El Herring | August 28, 2008 2:38 PM
Try turning it upside down. You get a completely different face, like some sort of comic alien with a big nose.
Posted by: Bjorn Watland | August 28, 2008 2:40 PM
:)
Posted by: Dahan | August 28, 2008 2:44 PM
I see a Rorschach inkblot test.
Posted by: Bjorn Watland | August 28, 2008 2:44 PM
^ look, it's Jesus!
Posted by: Sodding Wick | August 28, 2008 2:46 PM
I saw the faces of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph this morning. Then I flushed.
Posted by: Die Anyway | August 28, 2008 2:46 PM
I scanned teh intertubes for more E. imperialis images. There is a lot of variation. I think the one in question would look much less like a face if the wings didn't obscure the abdomen in a pointed fashion and if we had a bit better resolution. I'm reminded of the face on Mars. In any case, it's laughable that Christians see Jeebus or Mary but when Muslims see iconic figures it's always Arabic letters associated with Allah or Muhammed or whatever since images of people are forbidden. Personally I liked the Ganesha choice. A friend has a "Ganesha Loves You" bumper sticker on his truck and it draws a lot of odd comments.
Eat well, stay fit, Die Anyway.
Posted by: jj | August 28, 2008 2:48 PM
I must have a bad imagination, I really only see the moth, I keep trying to see this 'face' to no avail... Where the hell am I supposed to see this face? Is it like one of those damn magic eye puzzles?
Posted by: DJMoore | August 28, 2008 2:52 PM
Rasputin. With Chio chan dual ponytails.
Posted by: garth | August 28, 2008 2:54 PM
there's some funny comments from "gunther" in there. who is that?
Posted by: Warren | August 28, 2008 2:57 PM
Feh. I see Osama bin Laden in that moth.
Posted by: Snitzels | August 28, 2008 2:59 PM
Oh! Oh! I want to play! I see a Sith Lord in this bad boy! That means they're real, an' Jedis are real an' Darth VADER is comin' to get y'all. Prove me wrong.
Posted by: Holbach | August 28, 2008 3:01 PM
Karley @ 66
Better yet, to shit on it!
Posted by: kermit | August 28, 2008 3:04 PM
My first thought was "Evil Jesus!" so I guess I'm part of the Rasputin / Chas. Manson group. Still, I assumed the topic when I saw the headline, so I may have been biased before the mighty powers of my pareidolia were cast loose.
Posted by: Hoosier X | August 28, 2008 3:08 PM
If that's Jesus depicted on those moth wings, then He has some huge boobies!
On His return there will be holy milk for everyone to supplement the loaves and fishes!
Posted by: Geoff | August 28, 2008 3:12 PM
It's Pippi Longstocking and she's back with a vengeance.
Posted by: Ragutis | August 28, 2008 3:12 PM
"It's a schooner."
Posted by: D | August 28, 2008 3:15 PM
It looks like Charles Manson wearing a pirate hat and he has a parrot on each shoulder.
D
Posted by: craig | August 28, 2008 3:15 PM
Took me forever to see a face, but when I finally did, it looked like a demon with a long pointy beard and two curly horns on his head.
Posted by: ryan | August 28, 2008 3:16 PM
They've got it all wrong, clearly it is the Ninja Turtle's arch rival, Master Shredder.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5273/43966225kd5.jpg
Posted by: Zbu | August 28, 2008 3:20 PM
I see the bastard son of Captain Marvel Jr and Dave Lister. And wouldn't that be the true savior of mankind? ;)
Posted by: Gary Bohn | August 28, 2008 3:23 PM
Interesting that Jesus has Shrek's horns.
Posted by: Amanda | August 28, 2008 3:29 PM
I see Jesus' nipples. O_O
Posted by: Sili | August 28, 2008 3:30 PM
I think it's a very pretty moth (despite my dislike of yellow). Pity they have to ruin it with woo.
Speaking of flutterbys - Dummkatz caught a butterfly today. Big game for him; I've been picking up cranefly legs the past week.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | August 28, 2008 3:33 PM
Shhh, Ryan. Think of the children.
Posted by: RamblinDude | August 28, 2008 3:34 PM
I honestly first saw a grim, scowling face with a long, pointy beard and goat ears. I then tried to watch the video and when the preacher started talking I found him far more horrifying.
I suppose this means I'm going to hell...
Posted by: HereticChick | August 28, 2008 3:42 PM
It is so annoying that people see jeebus in everything....grilled cheese, cat fur, bugs, whatever. I'm sure if I looked hard enough, I'd see the face of jeebus in my husbands back hair!
Posted by: Andreas Johansson | August 28, 2008 3:46 PM
Looks vaguely like a skull (or perhaps some sort of ornate masque) in the middle, but I wouldn't noticed it at all unless someone'd pointed it out to me. As paeidolia goes, this one sucks.