Jesus Tree

Status: Pareidolia
image The latest face of a deity to be seen in a random object is the face of Jesus that some people claim they can see in the trunk of a tree on North Clinton Avenue in Rochester, New York. They're now calling it the Jesus Tree. Most of the time, when people start claiming to see the Virgin Mary in a grilled cheese sandwich or Jesus in an oyster shell, I can at least make out the outline of a face. But in this case I can't see anything at all. Maybe you need to have more faith in order to be able to see it.

Pareidolia Religion

Posted on Sun Oct 30, 2005



Comments

You kidding? It is so obvious. I marked the face here:


Gosh Alex! Can't believe you can't see it! Splitting image of our good friend Jesus.

Of course, I never realised before that Jesus only has one eye.
Posted by Razela  on  Sun Oct 30, 2005  at  11:38 PM
Well you know,
God is sitting on his throne up in heaven and looking down on the world.

'Strewth,' he says, 'I teach and teach and teach and I'm still not getting through to everyone.'

The Archangel Gabriel sat beside him says, 'so what more can we do?'

'I know,' says God, 'I'll put send the image of my son (who coincidentally is also me) on a tree in New York, that should convince the remaining doubters.'

'Jesus Christ!' Gabriel exclaims, 'Thats a brilliant idea I should never have doubted you.'

'And if that doesn't work,' God adds, 'Maybe I'll send the image of Mary, who isn't a part of the holy trinity I might add, somewhere. Now where would be good? I slice of toast, A subway somewhere, maybe even a jar of peanut butter.'

'Good God!' Gabriel exclaims, 'I'm in the prensence of a genius.'
Posted by Sharruma  on  Sun Oct 30, 2005  at  11:40 PM
That's not Jesus, that's Ted Nugent!
Posted by Citizen Premier  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  12:03 AM
It's pretty obvious to me. Although you should read the whole book, Romans Chapter 1 starting at verse 18 is a good place for you to sart. By the time you get to verse 25, you will understand the subways, watertanks, underpasses, Doritos, grilled cheese sandwiches, or whatever else - and just where they fit into the whole picture... they aren't his image. There is NO description of what Jesus looked like in the Bible. There is a description of him in Revelation (yet future), but I have yet to see that depicted in any food item, or any other item for that matter. What are these people using to base their claim on??? It ain't something in the Bible...
Posted by Christopher  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  05:04 AM
Looks like George Michael, circa 1989.
Posted by Craig  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  07:31 AM
I can see an upsidedown face of a woman. Was Jesus a hand-standing transvestite?
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  07:58 AM
I'm with Alex on this one. Just a tree-- I don't see any face at all.

However, I'm in a theological mood today, so here's my sermonette:

Since God pervades everything in the universe, everything in nature is imbued with some form of the image of God (or Christ, or the Holy Trinity if you prefer). So the error is not so much in seeing Christ in one particular tree as in failing to see Him in all the other trees.
Posted by Big Gary, on spiritual retreat at an undisclosed m  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  09:19 AM
I thought I saw God in a bush once. Turns out it was youthful exubrience. I stopped seeing her shortly after that.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  09:23 AM
that's my halloween costume! me as a tree pretending to have a lumber jack's face on it.
Posted by Tom  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  09:30 AM
Is Jesus anywhere near the image of lovable clown Emmett Kelly?
Posted by Mark  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  11:00 AM
UHH im srry i don't believe in ur invisible friend that some how controls every thing but didn't prevent tones of people from dieing in the hurrican or tsuname or earthquake. good job invisible friend...o wait if u could control every thing why didn't u save ur followers?
Posted by Vince  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  07:06 PM
Actually... looks more like Elvis if you ask me..
Posted by Robin Bobcat  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  07:46 PM
i live like five miles away from that thing
Posted by nightmare  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  07:50 PM
Alright who's taking pictures of me?

Seriously, I don't see a thing. And I DO believe in God. I guess it's not a faith thing. It's really just a mental illness thing.
Posted by Carter S  on  Mon Oct 31, 2005  at  11:01 PM
Charybdis said:

"I can see an upsidedown face of a woman. Was Jesus a hand-standing transvestite?"

Yes, "She" was!
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Nov 01, 2005  at  02:59 AM
Incase anyone else can't see it... I did outline it... (horribly...) But you get the point. Maybe after looking at this you can see it in the actual picture better. Atleast I think this is the image we are supposed to be seeing?

Posted by Jackie  on  Tue Nov 01, 2005  at  05:57 PM
Anyone want to point out to the nation's uberconservatives that the image of Jesus has appeared on North CLINTON Avenue?

I guess Bill's been forgiven for his sins.
Posted by JM  on  Tue Nov 01, 2005  at  06:25 PM
Wow, Jackie, it IS Emmett Kelly!!!

Now theologians will be busy for generations discerning whether it's Emmett, Sr. or Emmett, Jr.

Alex, how many miraculous apparitions of Emmett Kelly have we had on this site now?
Posted by Big Gary, in retreat  on  Tue Nov 01, 2005  at  07:55 PM
Big Gary said:

"Wow, Jackie, it IS Emmett Kelly!!!

Now theologians will be busy for generations discerning whether it's Emmett, Sr. or Emmett, Jr.

Alex, how many miraculous apparitions of Emmett Kelly have we had on this site now?"

Gary, do you think it's time for us to start the First Church of Emmett Kelly, Sr.? Down the road, I envision that there will be a schism as the Juniorites break off from the Father Church, but we'll deal with that when it happens.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Wed Nov 02, 2005  at  01:21 AM
It's a tree, nothing more.
Posted by Jon  on  Wed Nov 02, 2005  at  07:12 AM
Eric Schucard sent me a link to another Jesus Tree:

http://www.marilynspoetry.com/view/?pageID=105158

Warning: annoying music!
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Wed Nov 02, 2005  at  08:47 AM
Cranky Media Guy says:
"... do you think it's time for us to start the First Church of Emmett Kelly, Sr.?"

Preach it like it is, brother. By your beat-up hats and big shoes they shall know ye.
Posted by Big Gary, retreating faster  on  Wed Nov 02, 2005  at  05:06 PM
I think it looks more like a clown. The girl outlining it confirmed it for me, a CLOWN. People are so stupid!

LOOK LOOK! there is a face in the tree! ahhhhhhh, I freaking hate people!!!!!!
Posted by All Tweeked up  on  Wed Nov 02, 2005  at  10:27 PM
All Tweeked, it is a clown: it's Emmett Kelly. Join now and be saved, or at least amused, by the holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Spotlight That Can't Be Swept Up.
Posted by Big Gary, retreating faster  on  Thu Nov 03, 2005  at  05:18 PM
I can't see the nose o_O'
Posted by Kash  on  Sat Nov 05, 2005  at  11:10 AM
1st There is no Archangel Gabriel. It's Archangel Michael. 2nd Jesus the son OF God is not God himself... that doesn't make any sense. Trinitarians say it's a "mystery" because they can't explain it; yet they insist on believing it. 3rd Nobody alive has ever seen Jesus so how can you say that his image is on a tree? 4th Christians are not supposed to worship pieces of wood or stone or trees or inanimate objects... it's NOT a sign of anything. that "image" has probably been there for years and years and someone now probably noticed it looks like something.
Posted by comon sense  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  01:54 PM
comon sense [sic] said:

Can you PROVE any of your statements? No, pointing out that the Bible says so is NOT proof. Many books say many things.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Wed Nov 09, 2005  at  02:13 PM
everything i'm saying is from the bible and for people who are using the bible to come to a conclusion. i'm doing the same. most people who talk bad about the bible have never read it and if they have read only parts of it don't understand it. I'm totally convinced that it is of divine inspiration. it's a collection of books and over a thousand pages and it doesn't make any sense to say just one or two things to prove that it's true because then you'll say "how about this?" and if i go talking about that or show you anything pretty convincing it'll just be another question and another question and another change of subject and we'll never get anywhere. most people who don't want to give the bible any sort of credit is not because of the bible's lack of anything it's sometimes because they don't understand how God can allow all the evil in the world or because something bad happened to them that took away their faith or because a lot of "religious" people give it a bad name or they don't like the idea that a book or anyone else should be telling them how to live their lives or they think that because it's very old it doesn't apply to people today or lots of other things. e-mail me personally if you wanna talk to me about this. realize this... this is one of the biggest subjects in the world and it's impossible to convince someone one way or the other with one conversation or one statement.
Posted by comon sense  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  11:26 AM
This looks like a tree to me. I found a picture of a tree in a cemetary where it does look like jesus might be sticking out of it. I dont know if its jesus or not but it looks better than this other tree that everyone has to make a big deal about.
http://thefolklorist.com/Pareidolia Project/doc/Pareidolia Project-195.htm
Posted by Steve  on  Thu Nov 10, 2005  at  01:01 PM
comon [sic] sense said:

"everything i'm saying is from the bible and for people who are using the bible to come to a conclusion. i'm doing the same. most people who talk bad about the bible have never read it and if they have read only parts of it don't understand it. I'm totally convinced that it is of divine inspiration."

SOME people who disagree with the Bible have, perhaps, not read it. That certainly is NOT the case for all non-believers, though. My wife went to divinity school and is an expert in the Bible. She is a non-believer. Trust me, you would NOT want to debate the Bible with her. As for the fact that you are "totally convinced that it is of divine inspiration," I respectfully direct you to my Rule Number Two:

"The sincerity of your belief in God is NOT proof of the existence of God."

"it's a collection of books and over a thousand pages and it doesn't make any sense to say just one or two things to prove that it's true because then you'll say "how about this?" and if i go talking about that or show you anything pretty convincing it'll just be another question and another question and another change of subject and we'll never get anywhere."

If the Bible is the inerrant word of God, how can ANY of it contradict any other part?

"most people who don't want to give the bible any sort of credit is not because of the bible's lack of anything it's sometimes because they don't understand how God can allow all the evil in the world..."

Well, that's part of it, for sure. How can a being who is said to be the embodiment of love allow innocent people to suffer?

You might want to take a look at whydoesgodhateamputees.com . It's pretty good.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  02:00 AM
Has anyone seen the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a tree or on a piece of toast yet?
Posted by Nigel Pond  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  08:33 AM
"Well, that's part of it, for sure. How can a being who is said to be the embodiment of love allow innocent people to suffer?"

if your wife is an expert on the bible why can't she answer that question ACCORDING to what the bible says even if she believes it or not?

This God who is the embodiment of love is the one from the bible right? so many answers about that same God are there.

Debating the bible is pointless. people who do that just go from one subject to another to another to another and even if the person in favor of the bible answers all the questions there's aonther one then another one.

the bible has some "aparent" contradictions. most of these aren't contradictions at all. the reader just doesn't understand so they think it's a contradiction. others are taken from bible accounts where what it says seems to contradict something written in another part but both accounts don't have sufficient details to really come to that conclusion and there's nothing wrong with that. it's just stating the relevant details. if the bible had to elaborate on every single thing that happened with each and every person to MAKE sure nothing seems to contradict it would be 50,000 pages? 1,000,000 pages? more?

the most important thing about the bible though is it's practical wisdom. surely someone who went to school and studied the bible there can at least get those benefits.

Bible's prophecies are proof of it's inspiration too and most so called bible experts dont understand anything about prophecy.

i've never been in an argument about the bible over the internet and it's pretty pointless too. e-mail me if you want because i dont want to post here any more. i also dont want to argue with you. i know your point of view and you know mine. i want to show you WHY i have mine though and that can take a while. what have you got to lose?
Posted by the same guy as before  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  12:31 PM
i saw that website... the one why does god hate amputees. pretty weak.
Posted by same guy as before  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  12:40 PM
same guy as before said:

"i saw that website... the one why does god hate amputees. pretty weak."

Really? What specific points made by the author would you like to refute? Should be easy for you to do since you think it's "pretty weak." Please enlighten us all.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  02:41 PM
same guy as before said:

"if your wife is an expert on the bible why can't she answer that question ACCORDING to what the bible says even if she believes it or not?"

Well, she absolutely could do that, including quoting large passeges of scripture from memory (she was born with a photographic memory). As I said, you would NOT want to debate the Bible with her. She was, of course, a believer when she went to divinity school. She isn't now because she can see the contradictions and absurdity in the Bible.

She's sitting right next to me and adds that a lot of the things in the Bible made more sense at the time they were written, like people being sick because of "demon possession." Nowadays, of course, we know about germs and genetic diseases. What was reasonable to believe 2000 years ago simply isn't rational in the face of present knowledge.

"the bible has some "aparent" contradictions. most of these aren't contradictions at all."

Everyone who has had any Bible study has been trained to use the phrase "apparant contradictions." The problem is in order to use that term you're using a standard where any explanation you can find, no matter how implausible, turns a contradiction into an "apparant" contradiction. If you were to apply the same loose standard to any secular contradiction, there would BE no contradictions, according to you, anywhere, ever.

The sad fact is that the Bible--according to you, the "inerrant" word of God--contradicts itself. Can't God keep His story straight?
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  05:18 PM
same guy as before said:

"the most important thing about the bible though is it's practical wisdom. surely someone who went to school and studied the bible there can at least get those benefits."

Better throw out any 50/50 blend T-shirts you have in your closet. After all, the Bible says you should NOT wear clothing made of mixed fabric. Seriously. It's in there, so you're obligated to believe it. Or are you cherry-picking the parts of the inerrant word of God you're willing to follow?
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  05:22 PM
Looks like my Uncle Stan.

I find it hard to believe that in 2006 people still believe in deities and other such archaic and silly mythology, but everyone needs a little hobby.
Posted by SoxSweepAgain  on  Wed Jul 05, 2006  at  09:56 AM
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