Tattoos - history and religion

Some people consider tattoos or other types of body modification to be "hobo stuff". But what do religion and history have to say about it?

There is a lot of archaeological evidence that claims that the first tattoos were made around 4000 and 2000 B.C. in Egypt and also in places like the Philippines, Indonesia, among the Maoris (in New Zealand) and Polynesia.

Tattoos and Christianity

In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church banned tattoos in Europe, and in 787 they were forbidden by the Pope of the time, because they were considered demonic practices that characterized vandalism to the body. This Catholic doctrine states that tattooing your body was synonymous with despising the temple of the Holy Spirit, the body. However, some groups, such as the Knights of St. John of Malta, still had the custom of tattooing their members. According to history, whenever pagan tribes with the custom of wearing tattoos converted to the ChristianityThe first practice to be banned was the use of tattoos, piercings, or scarifications.

Tattoos and Judaism

Tattoos are totally forbidden in Judaism. Contemporary rabbis explain that this ban is part of the restrictions on body modifications that must not be done for medical reasons, with the exception of the ritual of circumcision. A 12th century Jewish leader says that the ban on tattoos is a Jewish response to paganism. At the time of the holocaust, the Nazis tattooed Jews to offend their faith. And it is quite common for anyone with tattoos not to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, as these are seen as a major reason for revulsion within the religion.

Tattoos and other religions and cultures

Steve Gilbert, author of the book Tattoo History: A source book says that when Cortez and his explorers arrived in Mexico around 1519, they were horrified to discover that the natives worshiped the devil not only through idols and statues, but also through non-degradable marks on their skin. And even though the Spanish Catholics had no previous contact with tattoos, they began to consider them "works of Satan".

The Mormons are warned by their leaders not to tattoo the body. They believe that the body is a sacred temple, and that their believers should keep the body clean. In other words: the practice of tattooing is totally discouraged and not recommended.

The Sunni Muslims believe that getting tattooed is a sin because it has to do with changing Allah's (God's, in Muslim) creation, but tattoos are allowed in Shiism and there are various opinions regarding the prohibition of tattoos among Sunnis.

The Hindu encourage making a mark on the forehead, and women often have points tattooed around the eyes and chin to enhance beauty and spiritual well-being. Some tribes use tattoos to differentiate themselves from other clans and ethnic groups.

See also

Tattoo History

-6 min read

Scarification in Africa: Traditions are coming to an end

As we can see, throughout the history of man, tattoos have been related to paganism, demonism, mysticism, and just about every kind of known pagan practice. Tattoos have never been and may never be part of the life of an upright and God-fearing person, according to religion. And research and studies, without exception, show that tattoos are related to paganism. In many cultures, the tattooist is at the same time a shaman, a magick-man, a priest or priestess. According to the dictionary, a shaman is an intermediary between the natural world and the supernatural world who uses magic to cure illnesses, predict the future, and control spiritual forces. The tattoo artist, or in this case the shaman, would use the tattoo as a contact point or entry zone to the spirit world. And in the 20th century, in fact, it is believed in some western countries that ?body decorations? are the gateway to the supernatural. The famous writer and witch Laurie Cabot writes the following about tattoos, The origins of tattooing are related to ancient magical arts?

Many ancient tribes used tattoos as a form of therapy or a kind of acceptance into the spirit world. The Ojibwa tattooed the temples, foreheads, and cheeks of those who had a headache or toothache when they thought these were caused by evil spirits. On the other hand, the Mohave tattooed the chins of both sexes, because they believed that a kind of judge was watching everyone who came to the land of the deadIf someone did not have this mark on their face, he would send them to the underworld. Other indigenous tribes believed that during the passage to the next world they were stopped by a woman who looked for marks on their face or wrists. If these marks did not exist, the person would be pushed from a high point on earth without the slightest hope of acceptance into the spirit world. Other tribes believed that women without tattoos would be eaten by the gods. And the Bengal Hindus said that without the tattoos the parents would not recognize their children in the next world.

Reasons to avoid tattoos, according to Christians

A pastorWhen asked about tattooed young people, he said: "Prehistoric civilizations were already tattooing in Egypt, Babylon, China, Africa, and the Americas many years before Christ. In all these civilizations, tattooing was basically to highlight the religiosity in the services given to their gods. The tattoo is, in fact, a mark that a person makes on his body to convey a message without words. The tattoo is also an expression of a covenant symbolism. By getting tattooed, a person establishes a relationship of appreciation, admiration, apology, identification, and consecration to the symbol marked on the skin. It can be avoided by a young Christian for the following reasons:

1. It is biblically forbidden according to Leviticus 19:28;
2. In most cases it is associated with an expression of rebellion. And this is not what should characterize the true believer;
3. Tattooing is aesthetically antisocial. Look at the people who are socially outstanding and who play a leading role in society. None of them have tattoos on their bodies. A tattooed person cannot donate blood until one year after its application;
4. It is hygienically not recommended because of the risk of contracting diseases such as hepatitis, AIDS, syphilis, allergic reactions, infections, and others;
5. It is usually associated with an attitude of immaturity or emotional instability. People who get tattoos are mostly young people and teenagers. There are few adults who have reached maturity or emotional stability and get involved in the tattoo fad. So say the hippies and punks entering their old age;
6. It is usually a cause for scandal, and not for edification;
7. The origin of tattooing is pagan and mutilates the body, which, in the case of the believer, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. And, according to the biblical standard, the outside should reflect the balance inside. To mutilate the body by causing bloodshed, without the purpose of spontaneous bleeding, by accident or due to health treatment, is, at the very least, pagan ritualism and desecration of life;
8. If tattooing was a great thing no one would want to take it off. Removing a tattoo is much more expensive and painful than applying one. The number of people who are looking to erase a tattoo is as large or even larger than those who are looking to get one.