Take a look at this photograph from the early 20th century. It has not been retouched, nor is it a double exposure. It looks like a big face has been plopped into the middle of it, an example of pareidolia {wiki}, the tendency for human brains to interpret patterns as meaningful, like seeing a face when there is no face. For an explanation of what this photo really is, see the post at Historic LOLs. Link Update: Commenter MosselKots has images spelling out both ways of looking at this picture, in case that will help you see it. http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab74/mzzzl/Pareidoliaillusionfotohint.jpg
I agree with you that these superstitious face-finding miracles are pretty loopy.