Saw a religious image - need to explain it

IamtheWalrus

About 10 years ago I had a vision of an image of the face of Jesus. I had been on a J1 to the USA and had shared a joint with a friend. When it was time for bed, I went into my room and lifting a bag of clothes from the bed. When I moved the bag away, the image appeared. It really startled me. The obvious retort would be that I was stoned but I wasn't. I know what stoned is and I felt fine (I wish I was stoned because that would have been an acceptable explanation for me).

I used to be religious but am not anymore. Therefore, I need another way to explain what happened to me. I'm aware that the brain can create images of familiar object that aren't actually present as a means of survival.

Can any of you recommend a book on what would have explained what happened to me?

Walrus

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

you were stoned. even if you think you weren't, you were.

IamtheWalrus

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

you were stoned. even if you think you weren't, you were.

Isn't that just the lazy answer?

Valmont

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Isn't that just the lazy answer?

You smoked a psychedelic drug and saw a vision of Jesus' face -- what do you think could have happened?

But considering you are looking for a book on this topic, you are in luck. Oliver Sacks' new book Hallucinations challenges the very notion that hallucinations are something only 'mentally ill' people experience. I think if you are looking for some explanation for what has happened you could do a lot worse than giving this a read.

Seaneh

When you said you saw an image of jesus do you mean Italian Renaissance style blonde haired, blue eyed white man?

Because there is no way in hell a jew from 1st century palestine looked anything like that.

Imagine a young Yassir Arafat and you'd be closer to reality.

Basically, more this:


Than this:

28064212

Which image of Jesus was it? The current version of him that's presented in religious iconography that you would have grown up with? Or how he would most likely have really looked, given that he was a middle-eastern man 2000 years ago?

Incidentally, isn't it weird how people who see religious images always see the person they're already familiar with? No Buddhist has ever seen an image of a man, described him to someone else, and the other person has gone "Oh, that's Mohammed!"

Also:

Myrddin

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Isn't that just the lazy answer?

When drugs are involved, there's no basis for anything else. Its utterly pointless to try & rationalise something where people have been under the influence.

IamtheWalrus

I replies in here having given me a good laugh.

The image I saw was something similar to Seaneh's second picture.

Thanks a lot for your responses. I was playing on my mind; what if I'd been given a sign and ignored it, yada yada.

So we can conclude that the image I saw was concocted by my own mind because that is the image of Christ us westerners are familiar with? That the actual Jesus couldn't have looked like that? Coupled with the drugs?

The image was so clear. I jumped back for a second when I saw it. Swore I'd never smoke again.

b318isp

The brain will find familiar patterns in random shapes. Simples.

Valmont

EnterNow wrote: »

When drugs are involved, there's no basis for anything else. Its utterly pointless to try & rationalise something where people have been under the influence.

Psychedelic drugs such as marijuana* don't produce images and hallucinations in isolation--they simply distort perceptual information already present so there is a HUGE basis for other explanations. So while I agree that strange instances such as this should really be explained in terms of the psychedelic drug ingested, we could also ask why did Iamthewalrus see a vision of Jesus? Why not Mohammed? Or John Lennon? Explaining this solely in terms of the drug ingested will only get us so far; we must also look at Iamthewalrus himself for an understanding of why his mind perceived these shapes to be Jesus.

*True hallucinogens (tropane alkaloids for example) could be argued to simply distort thoughts and emotions already present in the mind so there is a basis for something else here also.

IamtheWalrus

Valmont wrote: »

Psychedelic drugs such as marijuana* don't produce images and hallucinations in isolation--they simply distort perceptual information already present so there is a HUGE basis for other explanations. So while I agree that strange instances such as this should really be explained in terms of the psychedelic drug ingested, we could also ask why did Iamthewalrus see a vision of Jesus? Why not Mohammed? Or John Lennon? Explaining this solely in terms of the drug ingested will only get us so far; we must also look at Iamthewalrus himself for an understanding of why his mind perceived these shapes to be Jesus.

*True hallucinogens (tropane alkaloids for example) could be argued to simply distort thoughts and emotions already present in the mind so there is a basis for something else here also.

Are you saying that the image appeared to me because my mind may have been full of thoughts on Christianity?

sambuka41

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Are you saying that the image appeared to me because my mind may have been full of thoughts on Christianity?

was there any catholic guilt in you for being 'bold' and doing drugs??? :p

Really though, If so you may have seen Jesus as your super ego wanted to punish you, and did so via Jesus (you said you swore you'd never smoke again?? so maybe???)

Calibos

I had a similar experience and I wasn't stoned. Being stoned just prevented you from copping what had happened right there and then. Happens to everyone. Has a neurological basis in everyones normal brain.

Have a read of my story here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=79692183&postcount=47

Myrddin

Valmont wrote: »

Psychedelic drugs such as marijuana* don't produce images and hallucinations in isolation--they simply distort perceptual information already present so there is a HUGE basis for other explanations. So while I agree that strange instances such as this should really be explained in terms of the psychedelic drug ingested, we could also ask why did Iamthewalrus see a vision of Jesus? Why not Mohammed? Or John Lennon? Explaining this solely in terms of the drug ingested will only get us so far; we must also look at Iamthewalrus himself for an understanding of why his mind perceived these shapes to be Jesus.

*True hallucinogens (tropane alkaloids for example) could be argued to simply distort thoughts and emotions already present in the mind so there is a basis for something else here also.

I don't mean to imply the drug alone induced the hallucination, but such is the nature of a psychedelic drug, there could have been a picture hanging on the wall that the OP might have glimpsed at though not being aware of. There are many possible explanations, but where there are any substances involved that alter perception, I think its safe to rule out the paranormal.

Valmont

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Are you saying that the image appeared to me because my mind may have been full of thoughts on Christianity?

No, but Jesus Christ may have been lurking in there somewhere. Why else did you see him and not someone else? The face of christ is not -- as far we know -- inherent in the pot-smoking experience.

Calibos

You saw a bearded and moustachio'd face. You are hardly going to come to the conclusion that you saw some random bearded and moustachio'd spirit. Whether or not you are or ever were religious, you live in a christian country so would be aware of Jesus, fairy tale figure or not. He'll be the first bearded moustachio'd fella that will come to mind. Its the same reason I saw Jesus. Had the illusory shape I saw been without facial hair, the first thing I would probably have thought would have been burgler than an apparition of Jesus.

IamtheWalrus

Thanks for all the replies. I think we can conclude that I am indeed not unique and special and that Jesus did not appear to me. My brain, affected by weed and most likely fatigue from many nights of galavanting, made the whole thing up.

I can now go on vehemently attacking religion without that nagging doubt.

Lock up yer priests!

pillphil

Them stoner reflexes are spectacular.

Calibos

What was this thread about again???