| It does not take a genius for one to realize that | | | | also considers tattoos unacceptable; as well as |
| tattoos are becoming indelible in our society today. | | | | traditional Jews. However, maybe due to the |
| People from all walks of life are getting | | | | changing of the times, this body art is now slowly |
| themselves inked for various reasons. For some, | | | | being accepted by these religious sectors, though |
| the reasons are merely skin-deep: to increase | | | | not as a religious act. |
| their "level of sexiness" up a few notches, to | | | | But in some Asian cultures, having religious tattoos |
| identify themselves with a group of tattooed | | | | is traditional practice. It is common custom for |
| individuals, or to exercise their freedom and be | | | | Buddhist monks to wear tattoos that are believed |
| cool. But for some, it involves a deeper, religious | | | | to ward off bad luck and evil spirits, and therefore |
| meaning. | | | | serve as an amulet. In Hindu religion, tattooing is |
| Religious tattoos are quite common nowadays. | | | | also common practice as part of their culture. For |
| We see cross tattoos or religious symbols and | | | | the Egyptians, religious tattoos such as The Eye |
| images being sported by different individuals | | | | Of Horus also serves as protection from evil |
| around. And, in all truthfulness, a few of these | | | | spirits, to bring good luck, and to gain entry into |
| individuals do not fit into the bill of what a religious | | | | after-life. |
| person should be. But one question remains: Is | | | | In recent times, religious tattoos seem to be just |
| tattooing of religious symbols recognized as a | | | | that: a skin-deep image of a once-revered symbol. |
| religious act? It would depend on which religious | | | | The Ankh, Ichthus, the Sacred Heart and the |
| sector you belong to, and on what your religious | | | | Crucifix of the Christians; the Star of David, |
| beliefs are. | | | | Menorah, and Allah symbols of the Islams; the |
| The advent of religious tattoos dates back to the | | | | Eye of Horus, Yin Yang, Dharma, and other |
| pre-biblical era when the art of tattooing was | | | | religious symbols for different religious sectors are |
| widely practiced by the pagans as a means of | | | | seen worn by people who do not practice the |
| worship until it was forbidden when Constantine | | | | religion. |
| became the emperor of Rome. According to | | | | But it is also fairly common for a person to show |
| Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuttings in | | | | his devotion by having something of religious |
| your flesh for the dead; neither shall you make in | | | | importance etched on his body even on this day |
| yourselves any figures or marks. I am the Lord." | | | | and age. So the question of whether religious |
| This then became the basis for Christians to shun | | | | tattoos are taboo or not lies on the personal |
| tattooing. | | | | belief of the wearer. It is no longer dictated by |
| Islam tradition forbids any bodily alterations made | | | | society but by how one chose to show his |
| as a way to enhance physical beauty, and this | | | | spirituality. Tattoos, like religion, have become a |
| includes body tattoos. Generally, the Muslim culture | | | | personal thing. |