Tattoos, What Do The Religions Say About Tattoos?


What Do The Religions Say About Tattoos?



When you think about what do the religions say about tattoos?, what do you think of first? Which aspects of what do the religions say about tattoos? are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

One subject on which the major Biblically-based religions agree is that getting a tattoo is wrong. Fundamentalist Christians, Catholics, and Jews all agree on this. They do, however, hold very different viewpoints on why it is wrong. It is interesting to take a look at the beliefs and viewpoints of these religions-- not only what each one believes, but what each one bases that belief upon.

For Fundamentalist Christians, the generally-expressed opinion is that people should not get tattoos because tattoos are "a pagan practice." Fundamentalist leaders state that this is a good enough reason for not getting tattoos, although they also add that there is nothing in the Bible which states that a person should not. Potential confusion regarding this standpoint is explained in terms of the Fundamentalist belief that the whole of the Bible consists of the New Testament, and the New Testament contains no references to tattooing, either positive or negative. Describing the practice of tattooing as something that was, or is, done by pagans, constitutes their main objection to the practice.

As Catholics believe that the Old Testament is as relevant as the New Testament, the general Catholic negativity toward the subject is covered by such Scripture passages as Leviticus 19:28, which reads "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves..." For most Catholics, though, it is still usually considered to be more a matter of personal interpretation and personal choice. The usual modern-day Catholic interpretation of the subject is that while tattooing is indeed wrong by Biblical standards, it is not necessarily sinful.

Think about what you've read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about what do the religions say about tattoos?? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

The Jewish faith takes the subject, and negativity about it, even further. As the Books of the Old Testament are taken to be the word of God, and commandments to be adhered to, in the Jewish faith tattoos are something which is simply not done. This commandment against any desecration of the body has been proported to be one of the main reasons tattooing was done on observant Jews at the concentration camps during the Holocaust; it was not merely a means of identification as many people assume. It was an attempt to separate observant Jews from their God, albeit unwillingly.

In the Jewish faith, desecrating the body with tattoos is considered to be such a violation of the commandments that a person who has tattoos is sometimes denied burial in Jewish cemeteries. While this used to be the standard practice, modern times reflecting fewer prohibitions has resulted in this being less of a concern than in the past. Although today few but the most orthodox consider it to be a serious issue, it is still indeed an issue.

The general consensus amongst these three major Biblically-based faiths is that it is wrong to get tattoos, although each one's reasons and points of view certainly differ. Whatever one's personal faith may happen to be, the two main factors involve both what one's religion teaches about tattoos, and what their specific reason is for it. These are important factors regardless of how observant an person is of his or her particular religion; and makes it clear that one should consider both factors in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to get a tattoo.

Don't limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about what do the religions say about tattoos?. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what's important.

Menu


AddThis Social Bookmark Button

More...

A Tattoo?! Are You Crazy?!
Are Tattoos An Addiction?
Celebrities Love Tattoos
Celebrities and Their Tattoos
First You Want It, Then You Don't - Tattoo Removal
How Tattoos Are Made
How to Find a Good Tattoo Artist
Positive Attributes Of Tattoos
Possible Side Effects of Getting a Tattoo
Problems Associated With Tattoos
Tattoo Cover Ups
Tattoo Designs
Tattoo Removal
Tattoos Around The World
Tattoos In History
Tattoos: Not Just For Bikers Anymore
Tattoos VS. Other Body Art
The History of Tattoos
Variations in Tattoos
What Do The Religions Say About Tattoos?
What Is Going On Today With Tattoos
What to Expect When You Get Your Tattoo
Who Is Most Likely To Get Tattoos?
Why Do People Get Tattoos?
Why Get a Tattoo?







More...


Tattoo Cover Ups Much thought should be put into getting a tattoo as it is a mark for......


How to Find a Good Tattoo Artist Let's say that you've considered all the effects of having tattoo. ......


What Do The Religions Say About Tattoos? One subject on which the major Biblically-based religions agree is......


The History of Tattoos Tattoos are a hot topic today. People get tattoos for many reasons. ......



Related Videos:

Related News::

 
Tattoos can mark a career - Toronto Star

    

Tattoos can mark a career
Toronto Star,  Canada - Jul 5, 2008
Toronto employers advise candidates to "be sensible" when meeting a prospective boss for the first time, and that includes hiding any tattoos or body ...



Children stay forever young tattooed on parents' arms - Chicago Tribune

    

Children stay forever young tattooed on parents' arms
Chicago Tribune, United States - Jul 5, 2008
While most mothers have pictures of their kids proudly displayed on a shelf, increasingly, portraits of children are turning up tattooed into the skin of ...