tattooing

[sledheavy]

-Tattoos: culturally accepted norm and spite against god?

-I've always been told that (if god exists) he doesn't favor symbolism outside the christian church. Much less anything that takes away from worshiping him.

-As askew as this topic sounds, are tattoo's really that diminishing to the body spiritually?

[twobitsmedia]

-Tattoos: culturally accepted norm and spite against god?

-I've always been told that (if god exists) he doesn't favor symbolism outside the christian church. Much less anything that takes away from worshiping him.

-As askew as this topic sounds, are tattoo's really that diminishing to the body spiritually?

I have never heard of such a thing as it being "spiritually diminishing" or being "spite against God." I know Christians who have tattoos.

[MagusYanam]

I don't know about 'spiritual diminishing' of the body or 'spite against God', but I'm personally against getting a tattoo just on principle.

I think Pvt. Leonard Church from Red vs. Blue bgc put it best:

I think it's quite clear that you should not get a tattoo. And I can sum up my point in this elegant, but very simple, bulleted list:

* Number one: tattoos are permanent.

* Number two: you are a god damn idiot. And I'd like to prove this mathematically, if I may: take your current age. Now subtract ten years from it. Were you smart back then? Of course you weren't! You were a god damn idiot! Fact of the matter is, you're just as big an idiot today, it's just going to take you ten more years to realise it.

Now think if you had drawn a picture on your body ten years ago. Would you be happy with it today? Chances are, you wouldn't be.

As for worshipping symbolism and idolatry outside the Christian Church, I don't think tattoos are that big a concern. The people who get them by and large tend to consider them a form of art, not something that replaces or affects their spiritual life. I think as far as idolatry goes, there are a lot bigger concerns.

Like people who put money or creature comforts ahead of their other concerns, which leads to consumerism and exploitation of the working classes. Or 'patriots' who see their nation as a cause that can justify taking human life. I think these are bigger examples of idolatry than tattooing.

[sledheavy]

ok, well I'll give you my take on it.

I think every year of my christian high school experience I heard the Leviticus 29:28:

'ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you, I am the lord'.

Though in modern translation it can be argued, the point is I was told that quite often by the bible toaters. I'll agree there's a huge account of christian tattooing, but it even makes me wonder of that 'not playing it safe' mentality it comes to with tattooing and spirituality.

Obviously appart from fanatics (i.e. the guy with 666 on this forehead), isn't there a thin line being walked?

I've got two tattoos. I spend about 6 months redrawing and rethinking constantly before I make a decision. This last one's gone over a year now. When I'm old, I think I'll be pretty happy with my decision because it'll remind me of a time in my life that was less.....old. lol.

Am I just complaining about maturity in decision making again? Or is there really something more to this? Help me out, please.

[Greatest I Am]

All who get to heaven, all of us, get there without a body. Would God then look at us and resent that which no longer exists. Not likely.

God is interested in the condition of the soul, not the body.

Regards
DL

[sledheavy]

All who get to heaven, all of us, get there without a body. Would God then look at us and resent that which no longer exists. Not likely.

God is interested in the condition of the soul, not the body.

Regards
DL

wow, amazing point.

But, doesn't he still consider our actions while we're here on earth?

I mean, we've even talked about the possibility of an idea being a sin; I think he'd take the body into account if someone were getting off on destroying themself even after he considers their intentions, why not the same lines as a tattoo?

[Greatest I Am]

All who get to heaven, all of us, get there without a body. Would God then look at us and resent that which no longer exists. Not likely.

God is interested in the condition of the soul, not the body.

Regards
DL

wow, amazing point.

But, doesn't he still consider our actions while we're here on earth?

I mean, we've even talked about the possibility of an idea being a sin; I think he'd take the body into account if someone were getting off on destroying himself even after he considers their intentions, why not the same lines as a tattoo?

There is a big difference between tattoo's and self mutilation.

Regardless, it is the intent that God looks at. If I want to express an idea with art, I can place this art on my body. Where is the harm. No harm, no sin.

Further for believers, Jesus died for sin and we cannot view sin the same way.
We are born pure and Perfect for our time here. Learning is our job.

Regards
DL

[sledheavy]

I guess I can leave it at that.

[Katsuro]

The way I see it, a lot of the things the Bible says God commands us not to do is simply people saying something is the word of God in order to convince people not to do it. I don't think I worded that sentence very well but basically my point is this - tattooing and other such practices were potentially dangerous in those days, particularly without things like anti-septic etc. So what was a good way to stop people from doing this potentially fatal practice? Tell them God said it is wrong.

But in the modern era of anti-septics, sterilization and such this really isn't a problem anymore.

[sledheavy]

The way I see it, a lot of the things the Bible says God commands us not to do is simply people saying something is the word of God in order to convince people not to do it. I don't think I worded that sentence very well but basically my point is this - tattooing and other such practices were potentially dangerous in those days, particularly without things like anti-septic etc. So what was a good way to stop people from doing this potentially fatal practice? Tell them God said it is wrong.

But in the modern era of anti-septics, sterilization and such this really isn't a problem anymore.

you make a good point. I can say I even understand when wording becomes misplaced with strong moral ideas, even if they might be blown well out of perportion. It could had very well been a good word of advice against a consequentional death.

What's always been bugging me was when I heard a pastor say something to the effect of 'god doesn't like symbolism'. And therefore, any form of symbolism outside jesus on the cross would be offensive.

Yet again probably another classic misplaced idea.