Hands of God Email

Outline
Email claims that an accompanying image is a photograph of the hands of God in storm clouds.



Brief Analysis
The message is a hoax. The image has been digitally altered and does not depict a real cloud formation.

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Last updated: 27th December 2011
First published: 12 September 2004
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer

Example (Submitted, September 2004)


Detailed Analysis
This email, which features a picture apparently depicting the hands of God in the clouds, continues to circulate. The original version of the email claimed that the photograph was taken after Hurricane Charley hit the US state of Florida in 2004. However, the photograph has clearly been altered to include the "hands" in the clouds. Moreover, the image was circulating around the Internet well before Hurricane Charley occurred. And, in later versions, the image is associated with other storms or disasters, including 2004's Asian tsunami and 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Who created the original picture and in what context it first appeared is difficult to determine. However, a number of visitors have pointed out the similarity between this image and a well-known pornographic image that was featured on Goatse.cx. It has been suggested that the image was created as a "tribute" to Goatse and, indeed, the image is featured on the Tribute to Goatse.cx website. The original Goatse.cx website is no longer online, but extensive information about Goatse is available via an article on Wikipedia.



References
Image on Tribute to Goatse.cx
Tribute to Goatse.cx
Wikipedia - Goatse

Last updated: 27th December 2011
First published: 12 September 2004
Article written by Brett M. Christensen
About Brett Christensen and Hoax-Slayer