I had an interesting facebook experience today. In my newsfeed was a profile pic update by a 'friend." In this case, she wasn't someone I actually know, but one of many friends who are probably more accurately described as "fans." She is apparently a Christian minister of some kind. Here's a shot of her new profile pic:

   Accompanying the picture was a story she told about how she was going to the cardiologist for some heart health issues. She was afraid-- until she looked up and saw that God had provided her this sign in the sky. She presented this as a true story that had happened to her. 
   Now I do a lot of my illustrating in Photoshop and can usually spot an image that's been created there. Some people are pretty good at it, but this one was obviously faked. Plus, I wasn't sure why God would appropriate a symbol more likely used by Hallmark than any diety. So I did a google image search and found this image on a dating site:

    There are human silhouettes and a building inside this image, which she has blurred out in her profile pic. And, of course, she cut off the people on the beach. I challenged her in a comment. Why, I asked, would she make up a story- lie - to promote her faith? I didn't mention that she also stole an image and presented it as her own. She didn't answer, but she did update her pic again and removed the post that told the cardiologist story.
   What does this have to do with writing?  Well, I'm working right now on a YA novel that explores questions of faith. This facebook post got me thinking about belief and faith. Why do people make up these sort of "miracle" stories to justify or defend their faith, and why do other people believe them? Were the visions of prophets recounted in the bible, from the wheel of Ezekial to the Book of Revelations, once just ancient versions of someone's "god-heart-cloud-in-the-sky' facebook update? How many ministers today make up these kind of bogus stories to console/guide their flock (or to fleece them)? Why do people feel such an urge to make Jesus a sort of "super magician in the sky" instead of listening to his message, which is basically "love one another?"
   Are you a believer?  What do you believe and why do you believe it? Are you a skeptic? Why? Have you ever had an miraculous experience, or fallen for a bogus miracle?
   Tell me.
   I'm curious.