I would challenge anyone who considers themselves to be religious in any way to do a little research on the beliefs of your faith before considering body art. Here's why:
- Out of all religions, the top three - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - all have strict rules or sometimes harsh beliefs on tattoos and body modifications. It would be wise to know what criticism or outcast you may face upon entering your place of worship after getting inked or pierced.
- Judaism in particular bans tattoos as part of their belief system. If you are Jewish, make sure you are aware of that, and ready to face the consequences of going against this rule.
- Having tattoos or body modifications, while they may not be strictly banned like in Judaism, could have negative effects on the way you are perceived or treated, not only in your place of worship, but also in society as a whole.
- Make sure you are sure of the religious implications of your tattoo choice, and that you haven't chosen a symbol or verse that could be misinterpreted or offensive. Some words, phrases, symbols, or pictures may not be meant to be displayed on the human body.
- Consider tattoo placement of religious symbolism. Perhaps a tattoo of a cross is better served on the arm than the butt cheek.
- Consider your reasons for wanting a religious tattoo. If you are unsure of how your faith sees body art, have some reasoning as to why you chose to get it. Are you attempting evangelization by displaying the gospel message of Christ? Are you honoring the teachings of Buddha through a daily, physical reminder of his words? Is your body art meant to be a tribute to your family's struggle with persecution through the Holocaust?
- What is the cost? Both Islam and Christianity have tied to them a monetary obligation to give to the church and the poor. Are you using your wealth wisely, or are you using the money you should be giving back to pay for expensive body art?
Although this is a long list of things to consider, there are, I'm sure, many other things one might want to think about with regard to a choice to tattoo yourself with images and symbols of your faith. Here are a few examples of religious tattoos gone wrong. Spelling matters:
I would also like to pay tribute to the tattoo artists and tattooed men and women who have made the effort to get it right. Check out some of these amazing works of art:
Here are some of the websites I used when thinking about this post, click the link to go directly to each article if you'd like to read further:
And here are the websites from where my images were copied:
