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Jesus Christ, with his iconic flowing hair and beard, remains one of the most widely recognized figures across the globe. It is therefore unsurprising that appearances resembling his face are frequently observed in everyday objects. This phenomenon, known as face pareidolia, is a common neurological occurrence where the brain interprets random patterns or images as faces.
Robin Kramer, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Lincoln, explains, “We sometimes perceive faces where none exist. Whether it’s noticing a facial pattern on the front of a vehicle or in a piece of burnt toast, this is face pareidolia, an error in the brain’s facial recognition system.”
Recently, an optical illusion gained traction online. Viewers were intrigued to discern an image of Jesus’s face within what initially seemed to be a typical photograph of three young women when viewed with slightly blurred vision.
Can You Identify Jesus in These Images?
The following are examples of pareidolia where individuals have reported seeing the face of Jesus in various unexpected places:
This week, an optical illusion went viral, after viewers were intrigued to spot Jesus’ face when squinting at what first appears to be an ordinary photo of three young women
In 2020, a woman was surprised to see the face of Jesus staring back at her from a Brussels sprout while she was preparing vegetables – and decided to spare it from the pan
In 2008, a man in Darlington was amazed to spot an uncanny image of Jesus Christ in the foil wrapping of his cider bottle
Understanding Pareidolia
Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon where individuals perceive significance in random or vague stimuli, whether visual or auditory.
Kevin Brooks, a Senior Lecturer in Human Visual Perception at Macquarie University, notes that while the term might be unfamiliar, the experience is common. “Most people have encountered this to some degree, from identifying shapes in clouds as children to seeing figures in textured ceilings when drifting off to sleep.”
Visual pareidolia, the act of seeing objects within patterns, is the most prevalent form. However, auditory pareidolia is also a recognized experience.
In 2018, a viral video demonstrated auditory pareidolia, featuring a toy that produced a sound interpreted differently as either ‘brainstorm’ or ‘green needle’. Surprisingly, the perceived word depended on the listener’s focus at the time, despite the sound recording being identical for all.
As two boozed-up men were waiting outside the Mayho Chinese Takeaway in Sunderland in 2012, they noticed that peeling paint and dirt on the door appeared to form the face of Jesus
In 2019, a Virginia woman recorded the moment she spotted a rock formation that resembled the face of Jesus while walking down a trail
In 2022, a father spotted the face of Jesus when he was chopping wood for a Christmas fire
The interpretation is influenced by mental focus. Listeners who initially heard ‘green needle’ could change their perception to ‘brainstorm’ by consciously thinking of the latter phrase while re-watching the video.
Another instance of auditory pareidolia from the same year involved a sound clip where listeners were split between hearing ‘yanny’ or ‘laurel’.
The Neuroscience Behind Face Recognition
Professor Brooks suggests faces hold a “unique significance” for humans.
“From infancy, humans display a marked interest in faces, which persists throughout life. Considering that infants’ limited vision effectively prioritizes nearby objects, particularly the faces of caregivers, it’s logical that we develop into face recognition experts. Our brains become adept at actively searching for and identifying faces in diverse environments.”
“As social beings, we are constantly surrounded by faces, continually refining this essential skill.”
The Prevalence of Jesus Imagery
In 2010, shadowy features of what appeared to be the Messiah were discovered by internet fan Zach Evans while using Google Earth
Do you see it? A family near La Paz, Mexico believe an image of Christ appeared in their bathroom wallin 2015
In 2016, an image of Christ appeared on an oven door in a kitchen of a home in a remote village of Slovakia
Religious figures, notably Jesus and the Virgin Mary, are frequently identified in pareidolia. In 2004, a Florida resident famously sold a decade-old grilled cheese sandwich for $28,000 due to a browning pattern resembling the Virgin Mary.
Similarly, a mould formation nicknamed “Shower Jesus” was sold for $1,999.
Professor Brooks comments that religious icons “frequently emerge in unexpected contexts.”
“While believers may attribute spiritual significance to these occurrences, science offers a more rational interpretation, attributing the phenomenon to coincidence, amplified by peculiar aspects of neural processing inherent in our everyday perception,” he states.
Professor Brooks proposes that the frequent identification of religious figures may be due to a lack of definitive photographic representation. “Many commonly reported figures, like Jesus and the Virgin Mary, predate photography. Their facial characteristics are primarily known through artistic depictions.”
“Consequently, vague stimuli can readily align with various artistic portrayals of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, increasing the likelihood of such apparitions being perceived.”