Iron Jesus

Mary Jo Coady is making news because she “sees” Jesus in her iron.

Can you blame her? Not really… when so many other people see Jesus with even less to work off of, it’s only natural people like Mary would follow. Based on her quotations in the article, she seems to be the type who’d be easily duped by something like this.

At least she’s not trying to make money off of it.

But we can put some blame on writer Eric Moskowitz who covered this story (or his editor for assigning it). Not only that, Moskowitz did not interview a single person who could be a voice of reason.

Is it really so hard to find someone who could say the following?

I can understand why Mary thinks she sees Jesus in the iron, but the fact is we’ve evolved to sees faces even when none are there. The truth is: there’s nothing special about this iron at all and it’d be foolish to think anything more of it. Now don’t you have some real news to cover?

There. I said it. Now somebody quote me!

(Thanks to Tony for the link!)

"That's a pretty good explanation, too - I'll take it!"

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muggle

But, Hemant, that wouldn’t sell papers!
Alex Perez

I think i see Christ in my coffee, oh-no I think he is magically disappearing. OOOO now I see Billy Mays it must be a sign, the second coming of Billy
Fett101

On first glance I saw Franz Kafka (the black portion being a black background)

Most of these are pretty vague images that could be taken as almost any person. The image on the truck window is pretty defined, though. Seems more likely to be an intentionally created prank image, created with or without the truck owner’s knowledge.
Eamon Knight

How come God is so bad at image reproduction? These images of Jesus always look like an ancient, deteriorated photograph, or bad reception on an old b&w TV with a tube that’s slowly dying. You’d think the omnipotent Lord of the Cosmos could manage a clear, high-res image. Just once. (Lemme guess: it’s that “faith” thing again, right? If he just out and told us, it’d blow our puny minds, so vague hints and head-games are all we get. Bastard.)
littlejohn

This might be a hoax. For all we know, she was ironing a piece of toast with Jesus on it. There’s always a scientific explanation, you know.
lurker111

Looks more like the Mona Lisa to me.
JD

I see a profile Sherlock Holmes against an arched opening. If the rust is supposed to be hair, it looks more like Benjamin Franklin with long hair.
zuckerfrosch

Mona Lisa in a strait jacket, maybe.

I can see a god pondering how to spread the message that he believes in his followers wearing clothing that is well pressed. How to do it, how to do it…
Shannon

Well, if Jesus is balding and wearing lipstick . . . I guess.
MikeTheInfidel

I see Charles Manson.

By the way, I’m always amused that these kooks seem to know what Jesus looked like because of the European paintings of him…
Tim D.

Looks more like Charles Darwin to me 0.0
The Other Tom

I saw Ben Franklin too, but then I realized it’s really a skull. It must be proof that Mary Jo Coady is evil.

Or that her iron is past due to be replaced.
David D.G.

I think it looks like the face of the Sphinx at sunset — or maybe just a plain ol’ smudge of rust.

People see faces in random imagery like this because we are hardwired for it. But religious fanatics specifically “see” Jesus or the Virgin Mary in random imagery like this because they are brainwashed to interpret those vague faces as specific religious visions — and always supporting their own religious views (e.g., Baptists don’t see visions of saints). I’ll bet that Muslims would be seeing visions of Mohammed in their pita bread, if it weren’t for their fierce tradition against having any imagery of him at all.

~David D.G.
Alec

To me it looks a bit like the Mona Lisa, a bit like a person in a straight jacket, a bit like Benjamin Franklin, and a bit like a bald Gene Simmons.

Phil Plait also had a nice article about this:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/11/28/ironic-icon/
Sesoron

I saw Mona Lisa as well. You know what would make these almost vaguely convincing? If Muslims and Hindus started seeing Jesus in random patterns. Quite peculiar that people only see apparitions of a god when they already believe in him.
Valdyr

Obviously, Jesus wouldn’t have been a fair-skinned northern European, but why does no one ever question the flowing locks? I seem to recall hearing about the ancient Egyptians giving themselves the equivalent of buzzcuts in order to help against head lice. Unless lice went extinct in the Near East at some point, wouldn’t a Judaean peasant (presumably living in squalor) have the same concern? I thought long hair was a luxury for spoiled, upper-class, brooding Greek philosopher wannabe types who didn’t sleep on ratty straw mats.
Judith Bandsma

All those are good points but everybody seems to have missed the obvious…Mary Jo just wants to get out of ironing.

I don’t blame her.
Gary

I think it looks like Mary Jo Coady.
Mizliz81

I see an iron that needs cleaning…
unique.smile.within

I thought it looked like a rapper with his arms crossed.
polomint38

I saw FSM in my meatball and pasta earlier on.
Bastian

Looks more like Emperor Claudius to me.
Auryn

Loooks like the Sphinx to me.
hoverFrog

Yep, definitely the Sphynx. Clearly Ra has spoken and you must all bow down before the gods of Egypt. So says the Holy Iron of Massachusetts.
Q-Squared

I see Isaac Newton, but that’s just probably because I’ve been studying him for a test for the past three days.

…I’m also tempted to say that I see Ghandi.
Jim H

I see an iron chariot in the iron. (Judges 1:19)

( sorry 😉 )
Bravewolf

I’m a dog person, so all I see is an American Cocker Spaniel facing left… no, wait… English Cocker Spaniel, or it could be a Springer…
Staceyjw

Its silly, but we’re all still commenting on it 😉
My husband is an artist, and “sees” hidden images in every painting. A friend of mine called it extreme pattern matching. Maybe he should start saying they are hidden pics of jesus so he could get some press!
Staceyjw
Wendy

My favourite way to prove that pareidolia is natural and common in humans:

What do you see here?

=)

Most people will tell you they see a smiley face, when in fact, it’s only 3 lines. 3 black lines, and nothing more. If we can see a face in 3 simple lines, we can see a face in *anything*!
Kristen M P

Looks more like the Mona Lisa than Jesus, unless he was a cross-dressing Jew Hippie. lol
Gabriel G.

Looks like a Sphinx to me.

Must mean the Ancient Egyptians were right. Oh well, time to memorize the book of the dead.
Claire

You’re all wrong, clearly this is Khan from Star Trek. What’s more, he’s wearing an FSM costume! Note the top two iron holes representing His eyes, Khan’s dark face in the position of His meatballs, and the two long series of iron holes each representing a noodly appendage by which to touch us.

Sheesh, people will just see any damn deity they want in these things regardless of the hard facts!
Sarah

Looks like Benajamin Franklin with long hair to me. *Note to self: stop taking LSD!*

@JD: Wow I posted this before reading your post. We must have a psychic link… either that of Benjamin Franklin is trying to communicate from beyond the grave! Bwa ha ha
Rest

It looks like an iron with burn marks to me. Oh well. I once had a image of Abraham Lincoln appear on my shower.
Old Beezle

Well now it’s a Holy Iron like unto the Holy Hand Grenade no doubt.
Brian Macker

Looks like the Mona Lisa to me.
Johnny Cache

It’s too bad that jesus was working his magic on this iron and didn’t have time to help Notre Dame win their football game last night. Or was that part of his master plan? Hmmm.
Johnny Cache

In all seriousness, on November 22 (the day Mary Jo Coady saw the image on her iron), there was almost undoubtedly some atrocity committed against innocent humans somewhere in the world. The people who think this image is a sign from god really need to look at the big picture and decide how plausible it is that some all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving god could spend any effort at all to put some vague image on the back of an iron, but not feel the need to put a stop to some real suffering going on in the world at the same time.
JD

“but why does no one ever question the flowing locks?”

I think it’s because of a passage that said he was taking part in a particular ritual that didn’t allow the person to cut or trim their hair. I don’t recall the specifics very clearly.
Judith Bandsma

I think it’s because of a passage that said he was taking part in a particular ritual that didn’t allow the person to cut or trim their hair. I don’t recall the specifics very clearly.

JD, doesn’t that contradict the part of the bible that says god only allowed Sampson to have long hair? Gee, imagine that! A contradiction in the bible.
David E

I really need to start looking around the house for objects with rust/stains/etc that vaguely resemble human shapes I can call Jesus or Mary to sell on ebay.

There’s gold in them thar’ hills.
L3D

Baldness on top, but still long curly hair…

That iron is clearly from the future, just look at it, that is picture of a klingon!

Behold the resemblance: http://fremenalex.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/klingon.jpg
We Are The 801

That Mitchell and Webb Look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfqht0LEOWQ

“Finally, after all these years of doubt– PROOF!!”
AnonyMouse

I can’t help but notice that Jesus is slouching in this sort of “make my day, bitch” pose. Or, if you look at it another, way, he’s naked.
JD

Judith, I don’t think it’s so simple as that. The ritual in question was for those that wanted to set themselves apart, it was optional for most Israelites.
no2religion

I think it looks like Robert Plant.
IdahoEv

I see William Shakespeare.
ironflange

Willie Nelson.
Alec

I see Shakespeare as well.
Eliza

I’m certain it’s Blaise Pascal, back to impart wisdom to us…that you can scorch your iron if you let it get too hot.

Or, looking at it again, Helena Bonham Carter. (But not in her role as Bellatrix Lestrange – the chin’s not thrust up & the eyes aren’t crazed enough.)
Kris

I’m glad I’m not the only one who saw Mona Lisa rather than Jesus.

But I guess it fits. Leonardo is as good a candidate for god on Earth as anyone else.
Sven

How can anybody NOT see Iggy Pop in that image?
James H

First case of Christian pressing since Giles Corey.
Lagunatic

I see a topless chick covering her boobies w/ her arms. She has a cute belly button but her face looks like a zombie.
How much do think crazy chick want’s for that iron?
Lagunatic

I see a topless chick covering her boobies w/ her arms. She has a cute belly button but her face looks like a zombie.
How much do think crazy chick wants for that iron?
Revyloution

I hope she wasnt ironing fabric blended of wool and linen.

Straight ticket to hell, that is. Perhaps that’s what Jesus was trying to tell her.
catsnjags

Perfect place for an appearance. Jesus shows up on an iron; christianity hit it’s peak during the iron age. Coincidence ?
martin

looks like the sphinx to me!!! Maybe it is a message from Ra?
Edmond

Coady is quoted as saying the image is proof that Jesus is listening. Why do these people never see an image of the devil? What would she do if it did look like a traditional devil? Get a new iron? Would a trip to Wal-Mart put an end to Satan’s dastardly plans?

I used to work at a Subway and occasionally this woman would come in late at night and order a foot-long roast beef sandwich and a drink. Every time she ordered, the total came to $6.66. And every time, she would say that she wanted something else, anything else, just to change the price. She didn’t care what it was, and usually wanted me to choose something since she didn’t really want the item, she just didn’t want the price to be $6.66. This would go on for a while, each time she came in. I eventually wondered why she didn’t just change her regular order to avoid the price, if it bothered her so much. That’s besides wondering WHY it even bothered her in the first place. Does Satan dance a happy little jig every time a cash register rings up $6.66 somewhere in the world?

The mental capacity of the people I have to share the planet with is depressing.
Angie

These “holy” images are like Rorschach ink blot tests! Different people see different things in them.
Ms. Crazy Pants

The first thought that came to my mind when I looked at the iron was Ted Nugent.
Carlie

I see Max Headroom.
JTorch

Don’t be silly. It’s clearly a slightly stretched image of the Sphinx, as depicted in my handy accompanying animation:
http://i47.tinypic.com/dpjwr5.gif
CB

JD, I think the religious ritual you’re thinking of is the Nazirite vow. Wikipedia says the vow required a person to refrain from cutting his or her hair. (It also required adherents to avoid graves and corpses, and to abstain from drinking wine, fwiw.) There’s some speculation that Jesus was a Nazirite based on some of the things said about him in the gospels.

I see the Sphinx, incidentally. Guess it’s back to worshipping Ra, Osiris, and the rest of the Egyptian pantheon. 🙂
TheLoneIguana

Skeletor! Or maybe the “Spooky Space Kook” from the original Scooby-Doo series.
Ian

I see the mona lisa