Religions and Tattoos
From LoveToKnow Tattoos
Religions and tattoos have a long history together. Some people choose religious tattoos to represent their own beliefs. Others choose symbols they like, without attention to their meanings.
Do Religious People Get Tattoos?
Yes, religious people do get tattoos. For some it's a solemn ritual. For others, it's simply a joyous way to show one's beliefs to the world.
Whether or not to get a tattoo is a personal decision, and that includes the influence of religious beliefs. Some religions have no rules about tattoos at all. Others forbid them. Even within a single religion, different people may have different ideas about what is allowed. It depends both on tradition and on interpretation of holy books.
Religions and Tattoos: Major Beliefs
Among the world's most common beliefs, opinions on religions and tattoos vary widely. Here's a brief summary of ideas from Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism. To learn more, search the web, ask a friend who grew up in one of these traditions, or contact a local church, temple, or mosque.
Christianity
There's a line in the Bible that says,
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28)
Some Christians take this to mean that tattoos are forbidden. Others choose to interpret this whole verse as referring to funeral rituals, not to ordinary tattoos. And some believe that the "marks" refer to idolatrous images. Supposedly, scarring and tattooing were popular among non-Christians; Christians were forbidden to have other religions' marks on their skin.
Another View
Some tattoo enthusiasts choose to interpret two other Biblical verses as saying that tattoos are not only acceptable, they were—at one point—divinely ordered.
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. (Ezekiel 9:4)
One shall say, 'I am the Lord's,' and another shall use the name of Jacob, and another shall mark his arm 'of the Lord' and adopt the name of Israel. (Isaiah 44:5)
Whether these verses refer to tattoos at all is very much open to debate.
Christian Tattoos
For Christians who believe tattoos are acceptable and who choose to show their faith in ink, religious designs often show crosses or images from the bible. To see some examples, try:
Judaism
The Jewish view on tattooing includes the same bible verses mentioned above. Orthodox Jewish tradition essentially forbids any permanent changes to the body, except for the circumcision of boys. The reason is a matter of discussion, but it's often said that the body is a gift from the Lord, and therefore sacred. Making permanent marks on the body shows disrespect. (This prohibition does not extend to tattoos done for medical reasons, such as chemotherapy.) So for many Jews, tattoos are not allowed. Even non-religious people often feel uncomfortable with the idea. On the other hand, it's a Jewish tradition to argue about the meanings in the Torah (the Jewish bible)—and there are certainly Jewish people who love tattoos and have no problem with getting inked.
Jewish Tattoos
There aren't a lot of examples of Jewish tattoos on the web. Stars of David and Hebrew lettering are common choices among Jews who feel tattooing is okay.
Buddhism
Many Asian cultures have a long history of tattooing. Buddhism does not forbid tattoos. In fact, some Thai monks will give tattoos that serve as amulets, keeping the wearer safe or providing strength in the face of crisis.
Try LuckyFishArt.com for some examples of Buddhist tattoos.
Hinduism
There's no prohibition on tattooing in Hinduism. In fact, some groups in India include tattooing as part of their culture. Many Hindu images are very intricate and beautiful, and a Hindu or Indian design can make a striking tattoo.
LuckyFishArt.com has a few examples of Hindu tattoos, and you'll also find some at BMEzine. Hindu designs can also be found in more general tattoo galleries.
Islam
Sometimes religions and tattoos don't go together at all. Tattoos are not only forbidden in Islam, they can permanently prevent someone from being at peace with god. In general, Muslims may not make any permanent changes to the body to enhance beauty. For most Muslims, tattoos, considered ornaments, are included in this ban. A few religious leaders do disagree, and for secular (non-observant) Muslims having a tattoo may not be a problem at all.
If someone with a tattoo converts to Islam, the tattoo may be accepted as part of the person's past. However, new tattoos would be considered not just disrespectful but haram, or forbidden.
Learn More
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