Tattoos

Steezie · Jan 23, 2008

Im confused on something.

I was talking with someone via PM and tattoos came up. They said that they felt tattoos were sinful because it was desecrating the temple of the body. But...that logic can be applied to anything we do to ourselves. Tanning, eating bad food, piercings, etc etc. So why are tattoos the only thing that are bad?

And yes I know about the "markings uppon the flesh" passage of the bible. However this is a specific practice that deals with cutting your skin when someone dies, something that was part of the tribal culture of the time when the bible was written and does not refer to the modern practice of tattooing.

So why is tattooing immoral?

Shigatsu418 · Jan 23, 2008

Steezie said:
Im confused on something.

I was talking with someone via PM and tattoos came up. They said that they felt tattoos were sinful because it was desecrating the temple of the body. But...that logic can be applied to anything we do to ourselves. Tanning, eating bad food, piercings, etc etc. So why are tattoos the only thing that are bad?

And yes I know about the "markings uppon the flesh" passage of the bible. However this is a specific practice that deals with cutting your skin when someone dies, something that was part of the tribal culture of the time when the bible was written and does not refer to the modern practice of tattooing.

So why is tattooing immoral?

It's not immoral, that's just that persons opinion.

flicka · Jan 23, 2008

I don't think it's immoral either. But I'm not a fan. I don't care about people having them but when my 50+ yr old husband went out and got one with our daughter after proclaiming them "stupid" for as long as I can remember....they now symbolize, to me, young kids trying to be edgy and old farts trying to be young kids.

r1nn · Jan 23, 2008

I don't believe that tattoos are sinful/immoral. They're just another way to express yourself, I suppose. But I'm not into it; I already have my freckles for tattoos anyway. : P

SedjmNeter · Jan 24, 2008

P.E.A.C.E and Blessings...

Eye'd call it decorating the temple that is your body. Eye would only consider something desecrating the temple if it was harmful to the body, which tattoos potentially can be but its unlikely they will do any major damage. Eye don't have any tattoos but eye plan to...

SHEM HETEP

Washington · Jan 24, 2008

Steezie said:
So why is tattooing immoral?

Because they are ugly, UGLY, UGLY, UGLY, UGLY, UGLY, UGLY , UGLY!

LouTheWicked · Jan 24, 2008

Well done on raping the font editor.

grvsend35 · Jan 24, 2008

is it immoral? no. is it against God? not that i can see. is it painful? heck yes thats the only thing i find about it that is immoral

Robbie_James_Francis · Jan 24, 2008

Maybe I'd see them as immoral if I thought my body was a temple. As it is, I see it more as an amusement park.

WatersMoon110 · Jan 24, 2008

I have a tattoo (and want more, of course). So, obviously, I don't see it as immoral. And I think that the Christian view that it is immoral is slowly fading (due to the occasional Christian tattoos that I have seen).

I think that tattoos are awesome. It's like making your body into artwork. If my body is my temple, I want it to express beauty and meaning through decoration! *grin*

keith99 · Jan 24, 2008

Immoral? In general I'd say no, the only way one could get there would be the misunderstanding of the scriptures about death rituals you refer to.

In specifics I can think of a few ways.

1) Content. A devil comes to mind. Also Gang tats.
2) If done to offend/shock ones parents or as open rebellion then of course 'honor thy mother and father' comes into play
3) Fiscal responsibiliy. good tats are not cheap. Shocking exposed tats can impact the ability to earn decent money.

OK I've tried my best to come up with ways tats might be sinfull. Of course if you apply my strict accounting to tats you should also apply it to everything else too. Very few people are willing to be nearly so strict with things they like. Apply fiscal responsibility to tats and you also have to apply it to eating out or seeing a movie.

Steezie said:
Im confused on something.

I was talking with someone via PM and tattoos came up. They said that they felt tattoos were sinful because it was desecrating the temple of the body. But...that logic can be applied to anything we do to ourselves. Tanning, eating bad food, piercings, etc etc. So why are tattoos the only thing that are bad?

And yes I know about the "markings uppon the flesh" passage of the bible. However this is a specific practice that deals with cutting your skin when someone dies, something that was part of the tribal culture of the time when the bible was written and does not refer to the modern practice of tattooing.

So why is tattooing immoral?

flicka · Jan 24, 2008

keith99 said:
Immoral? In general I'd say no, the only way one could get there would be the misunderstanding of the scriptures about death rituals you refer to.

In specifics I can think of a few ways.

1) Content. A devil comes to mind. Also Gang tats.
2) If done to offend/shock ones parents or as open rebellion then of course 'honor thy mother and father' comes into play
3) Fiscal responsibiliy. good tats are not cheap. Shocking exposed tats can impact the ability to earn decent money.

OK I've tried my best to come up with ways tats might be sinfull. Of course if you apply my strict accounting to tats you should also apply it to everything else too. Very few people are willing to be nearly so strict with things they like. Apply fiscal responsibility to tats and you also have to apply it to eating out or seeing a movie.

That was a good post. The idea that tattoos are "wrong" did have to come from somewhere and you've identified a couple I never even thought of.

LouTheWicked · Jan 25, 2008

I have one of a dragon on my right shoulderblade and definitely want another, preferably on my left arm.

jayem · Jan 25, 2008

At least, it's morally suspect when your tattoos are meant to be offensive and show contempt. Like Charlie Manson. But the people that would do this are generally comtemptible losers anyway.

Wednesday · Jan 25, 2008

I don't see them as immoral or offencive, it's just the whole lot of the designs are really ugly.

WatersMoon110 · Jan 25, 2008

Wednesday said:
I don't see them as immoral or offencive, it's just the whole lot of the designs are really ugly.

It really depends on the person, the tattoo they choose, where it is, and who they get it from. There certainly are bad tattoos. But there are some really pretty ones also. And some that are complex but odd looking (in my opinion).

No one will make you get a tattoo though, the worst is someone might show you their horrible alien tattoo.

Really, the only person who needs to enjoy a tattoo is the person who got it.

Wednesday · Jan 25, 2008

Yes, I know there are pretty ones, there are beautiful one.! There are ones that could be considered a work of art. It does depend on the person, I totally agree. It's just a lot of designs are either ugly or pretentious.

WatersMoon110 · Jan 25, 2008

Wednesday said:
Yes, I know there are pretty ones, there are beautiful one.! There are ones that could be considered a work of art. It does depend on the person, I totally agree. It's just a lot of designs are either ugly or pretentious.

I agree with you there. I am, personally, not fond of the "tribal" tattoos. But, I hope, the person who got a given tattoo really, really wanted that design and it means something to them.

I think that "I was drunk and got a tattoo" tattoos are usually pretty bad looking. And I think that any body art needs to be considered very carefully. I don't think it's immoral to get a tattoo while drunk, but it is pretty stupid (though good tattoo parlors won't do them on drunk people - the one I went to won't even do them on hungover people).

Wednesday · Jan 25, 2008

I think it is better if a person designs a tattoo for themselves, or if they cannot draw they'll get someone else to take down their ideas. It would be better if people used more of their imagination when getting something this permanent. It has be really well thought through.

WatersMoon110 · Jan 25, 2008

Wednesday said:
I think it is better if a person designs a tattoo for themselves, or if they cannot draw they'll get someone else to take down their ideas. It would be better if people used more of their imagination when getting something this permanent. It has be really well thought through.

I completely agree.

We hope the site problems here are now solved, however, if you still have any issues, please start a ticket in Contact Us

Tattoos

Steezie

Guest

Member

Contributor

the unexamined life is not worth living.

SedjmNeter

Guest

Well-Known Member

LouTheWicked

Guest

Regular Member

May all beings have happiness and its causes

To See with Eyes Unclouded by Hate

sola dosis facit venenum

Contributor

LouTheWicked

Guest

Naturalist

Heretic

To See with Eyes Unclouded by Hate

Heretic

To See with Eyes Unclouded by Hate

Heretic

To See with Eyes Unclouded by Hate

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency