Religious Tattoos
From LoveToKnow Tattoos
Ancient Traditions
Many cultures use tattoos to signify status, mark adulthood, or commune with gods and spirits. Among some Polynesian groups, special tattoos are said to bring magical protection in battle. The Dayak people of Borneo use tattoos to ward off evil spirits.
Archaeologists have found numerous mummies from many different cultures with complex tattoos. Although the exact meanings of the tattoos can't be known, some are thought to have religious significance.
Christian Religious Tattoos
Christian symbols in tattoos aren't a new idea. Soldiers in the Crusades were supposedly tattooed with small crosses, a symbol that they wished for a Christian burial. And according to the Australian Museum, in 1862, England's Prince of Wales got a tattoo of a Jerusalem Cross after visiting the Holy Land.
But with the recent explosion in the popularity of tattoos, more and more people are choosing tattoos that reflect their Christian religious beliefs. There are abundant web sites with information about and examples of Christian religious tattoos.
These sites are specifically dedicated to Christian body art:
- ReligiousTattoos.net has hundreds of pictures of religious tattoos, sorted by type. You'll find crosses, praying hands, saints, angels, biblical animals, and more. The site also offers a brief history of religious tattooing, information about Christian views on body art, and some helpful links. Photo submissions are welcome.
- The Christian Tattoo Association is a community of Christians who are devoted to tattoo art. In addition to a photo gallery, sorted by tattoo image, artist, studio name, and more, the CTA has a discussion forum. Discussions go beyond tattoos, including books and prayer. There's also a growing list of ink-friendly churches.
Some of the more general tattoo sites include photo galleries of Christian tattoos. Two of the big ones are Tattoo Design and BMEzine. Be warned that these sites also contain explicit images of body modification and other types of tattoos, including images that may be offensive to some people.
Buddhist Tattoos
Buddhist imagery is a popular tattoo choice. You can find some examples at LuckyFishArt.com.
There is a long tradition of tattooing in some Asian cultures. For example, monks at some Thai Buddhist temples will do traditional tattoos which are intended to work like amulets, warding off injury or bringing strength to the wearer. Tattoos.com has an extensive article about tattooing in Thailand, including information about religious tattoos.
If you're not a practicing Buddhist, it's a good idea to do careful research before choosing a Buddhist tattoo design. Make sure you understand what the symbol means. If it includes any lettering in a language you don't speak, find out the translation and ask a native speaker to verify it.
Hindu Tattoos
Hinduism doesn't have any special prohibition against tattoos. In fact, among some sects and castes, tattooing is part of their culture. The Hindu religion has a rich tradition of imagery and decoration. These designs are easily adapted to tattoos.
Check the large tattoo web sites for Hindu religious tattoos. You'll also find a few at LuckyFishArt.com. BMEzine has some intricate examples in their tattoo galleries. As with other religious symbols, make sure you understand the meaning of the image and any script before getting a tattoo.
Religious Prohibitions
There is a biblical passage that seems to forbid tattoos for both Jewish and Christian believers. Leviticus 19:28 states: "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves." Observant Jews believe that any body modification, including tattoos, is forbidden. However, tattoo fans choose to interpret this sentence differently. They believe that it was part of a general prohibition against adopting the practices of other religions. Under this interpretation, the modern practice of tattooing, which is done for ornamental purposes, isn't prohibited.
Islam prohibits making alterations to the body to enhance beauty, and many Muslim leaders feel strongly that this includes tattoos. A few religious leaders find tattoos acceptable, but in most cases, they are considered haram, or forbidden. Some less observant Muslims see nothing wrong with getting a tattoo; as with all religions, different people interpret the requirements differently.
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Comments
I got the Pagan Triple Goddess tattoo :)
-- Contributed by: Larissatest
-- Contributed by: jackactually, while religion (I assume you're talking about Christianity), preaches to treat your body as God's temple, tattoos are not forbidden. When Christian leaders and Christian followers talk about treating your body as a temple, they are referring to sexual topics and continuously refer to cutting and comitting suicide as harm for your "temple." There is a verse in Leviticus that people often use in the fight against tattooing on Christians, which refers to an Old Testament pagan way-of-life, where people would often carve Satanic and other things onto their bodies. The verse goes as follows, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." this verse is Leviticus 19:28. If you need more information on Christians and tattooing, go to this website... http://www.sacredink.net/tattoo_and_the_bible/
-MissTeenDysphoria
-- Contributed by:This page has been accessed 68,526 times. This page was last modified 21:50, 2 May 2007.
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