As a sarcastic teenager circa 1970 I used to say, “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Offering many examples, some scholarly kibbitzing, a dissent from the Catholic establishment, and few conclusions, Haldane examines the related phenomenon of “pareidolia,” “the perception of patterns where none are intended”---especially when they seem to bear religious significance. The Mother Theresa Cinnamon Bun exemplifies the genre, to which each of us can supply instances not cited here: The Holy Name “written” inside a cross-cut eggplant, the Virgin’s face visible in a sawn-off tree in Brooklyn. (Lexicographer Michael Quinion mentions that an auditory form of pareidolia called “electronic voice phenomena [EVP], in which people ... More »

Fascinating article on a psychological phenomenon called pareidolia, "the perception of patterns where none are intended." I would have enjoyed a bit more analysis on root causes of that phenomenon, with fewer anecdotes of people seeing God's face in a tortilla. Could the same phenomenon also affect the way we interpret the daily news? Food for thought. My favorite quote is from Fordham cultural anthropologist Stewart Guthrie: "It's a built-in perceptual strategy of better safe than sorry. In a situation of uncertainty, we guess that something is caused by the most important possibility."

A fascinating account of the built-in human yearning to recognize well-known faces and the divine in ordinary objects. I especially appreciate the response of the LA Catholic diocese spokesperson -- "The church encourages Christians to see the face of Christ in the homeless, the poor, the destitute and the immigrant ." The story could have been improved by including psychologists who aren't hostile to faith as sources.

Although mostly based on opinion and a few facts, the article is interesting and well writen

So is religion a universal, civilized channel for superstitous tendencys of our primal nature? Uniformity in interpretation of apperceptions now a subliminal subset of Religious indoctrination. But that's a story within this story. Good stuff. Provacative

It's an interesting description of a phenomena, and fun to read, but the writer makes little effort to ground it in science: Perhaps it's a survival trait so our mothers won't toss us out before we're weaned?

I find this article to true. It seems that those who pander to this snarky crap have nothing else to discredit progressives with. It is obvious to me that the GOP crowd has a base that enjoys this type of commentary; perhaps because of their lack of respect for reality and/or truth. I think the answer would be to expose the depth of their shallow minds.