Are wearing temporary tattoos sinful?

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CrispSnowflake

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Sometimes I like wearing temporary tattoos. I know my body is a temple, but it is fun wearing temporary tattoos. But that is ‘decorating’ my temple, so doesn’t that mean I’m making myself an idol?
 
The question you should be asking is, “why do I have a desire to wear tattoos?”

Is it to draw attention or to impress others ? If so, this is feeding the ego, the false self.

Is it because you enjoy looking at them for your own enjoyment ? Then perhaps not a problem.

However, only you can evaluate the motive behind wearing tattoos.

Definitely, don’t get real one’s if you don’t have them already.

Jim
 
To me it’s the same as wearing a ring or a necklace, if it’s only temporary.
 
The Church does not even teach that permanent tattoos are sinful, assuming the subject of the tattoo is not inherently sinful.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Is it to draw attention or to impress others ? If so, this is feeding the ego, the false self.
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I’m certain that seeking the attention of others or attempting to impress others is not inherently sinful.

E.g., a young man meeting a fine young lady for the first time will surely brush his hair and dress nicely if he has any sense to him, clearly that is just as much for the benefit of the lady as it is for him, and clearly it is not sinful.

So, we really need to qualify these things a little better because seeking attention/seeking to impress is not a sin in and of itself, and in fact can be quite good and recommendable!
 
VeritasLuxMea said:
I’m certain that seeking the attention of others or attempting to impress others is not inherently sinful.

E.g., a young man meeting a fine young lady for the first time will surely brush his hair and dress nicely if he has any sense to him, clearly that is just as much for the benefit of the lady as it is for him, and clearly it is not sinful.

So, we really need to qualify these things a little better because seeking attention/seeking to impress is not a sin in and of itself, and in fact can be quite good and recommendable!
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Agreed. If one is going to a job interview, one needs to seek to impress and wear attractive clothing and groom themselves attractively. You actually DO want to call attention to yourself.

It is only when vanity is the underlying motive that it is sinful.

And the Church has voiced no objection to tattoos in themselves. Common sense would dictate that a Christian should not be getting suggestive or vulgar tattoos. People should not go beyond what the Church teaches and try to impose their own standards on others.
 
VeritasLuxMea
I’m certain that seeking the attention of others or attempting to impress others is not inherently sinful.
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It feeds pride which is probably the root of all sin. Pride is boastful and self-serving, because it seeks to feed the ego which hides the true self.

Pride is the opposite of humility, which is the path to holiness.
E.g., a young man meeting a fine young lady for the first time will surely brush his hair and dress nicely if he has any sense to him, clearly that is just as much for the benefit of the lady as it is for him, and clearly it is not sinful.
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And it’s one of the problems in our culture where we seek a member of the opposite sex with a false image of ourselves.

Many run off to get married only to find out when it’s too late, just who it is they married.

Jim
 
I do not think that tattoos, specifically, are a good practice. They entitle modifying the body, and any such thing does not sound good to my ears.

Is it sinful? Maybe it isn’t. But as others have mentioned, it may reflect motions of the soul that deserve to be discerned and addressed.
 
CB Catholic
Agreed. If one is going to a job interview, one needs to seek to impress and wear attractive clothing and groom themselves attractively. You actually DO want to call attention to yourself.
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Trust me, as a person who worked in the electronics industry in engineering departments, for 40 years and who never was turned down after one interview, presenting your true self along with your true talents serves you far better than trying to impress the hiring manager with a classy false image.

In fact, if you get hired by such a manager after presenting a false image, turn down the job for he’s incompetent and you don’t want to work for him.
It is only when vanity is the underlying motive that it is sinful.
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Which is why I said to the OP, you have to evaluate what your motive for sporting the tattoos is for.
And the Church has voiced no objection to tattoos in themselves. Common sense would dictate that a Christian should not be getting suggestive or vulgar tattoos. People should not go beyond what the Church teaches and try to impose their own standards on others.
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Depends. The Church opposes body modifications for inappropriate reasons which God did not have in mind when he created you.

Having plastic surgery because you had an accident which deformed your looks is acceptable.

Having breast implants to make inordinate breast size to attract attention is not.

Besides, tattoos all turn ugly, just as mind did.

I don’t care what the tattoo artist tries to sell about having better inks and techniques, the fact is, new skin grows over the tat and in time it fads.

My Marine Bull Dog with the DI Hat, looks like a black blot. The U.S.M.C still shows up, but faded.

Why did I get a tattoo when I was 19 years old?

Drum roll, PRIDE serving EGO.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
VeritasLuxMea

It feeds pride which is probably the root of all sin. Pride is boastful and self-serving, because it seeks to feed the ego which hides the true self.

Pride is the opposite of humility, which is the path to holiness.
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I don’t disagree with you that excessive pride is a very dangerous thing, I think I do disagree with you as to what constitutes excessive pride though.

Do you think it is excessive for a husband to dress attractively for his wife, or vice versa? Or a boy who is courting a girl, or vice versa? What about for job interviews, etc.? It is similar (not the same but similar) to the way we dress ourselves nicely for mass, it signals “I take your time seriously,” “you are worthy of my best (or near best).”

Wouldn’t you agree that there is a reasonable line one can draw between a healthy pride and vanity?

I’m not talking about sitting and starring into the mirror for 8 hours plucking our eyebrows. That would be vain. I’m talking about, say, taking a good shower, fixing our hair nicely, wearing clean and ironed clothes that fit our body type and are of a pleasing appearance to the eye, etc.
And it’s one of the problems in our culture where we seek a member of the opposite sex with a false image of ourselves.
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I think there’s a big difference between a “false image” and our personal “best image.”
Many run off to get married only to find out when it’s too late, just who it is they married.
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I wasn’t sure what you meant by this, sorry.
 
Not many people know Jesus has a tattoo.

13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19

Don’t know if it is temporary…😃
 
JimR-OCDS said:
CB Catholic

Trust me, as a person who worked in the electronics industry in engineering departments, for 40 years and who never was turned down after one interview, presenting your true self along with your true talents serves you far better than trying to impress the hiring manager with a classy false image.

In fact, if you get hired by such a manager after presenting a false image, turn down the job for he’s incompetent and you don’t want to work for him.

Which is why I said to the OP, you have to evaluate what your motive for sporting the tattoos is for.

Depends. The Church opposes body modifications for inappropriate reasons which God did not have in mind when he created you.

Having plastic surgery because you had an accident which deformed your looks is acceptable.

Having breast implants to make inordinate breast size to attract attention is not.

Besides, tattoos all turn ugly, just as mind did.

I don’t care what the tattoo artist tries to sell about having better inks and techniques, the fact is, new skin grows over the tat and in time it fads.

My Marine Bull Dog with the DI Hat, looks like a black blot. The U.S.M.C still shows up, but faded.

Why did I get a tattoo when I was 19 years old?

Drum roll, PRIDE serving EGO.

Jim
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I think you take things a bit too far and too stringently. If I get dressed up for a job interview, I am not presenting a false image–I am presenting my best image. There is not a darn thing wrong with that. Most employers would not want to re-interview or hire a sloppily dressed, unkempt person–that is an indication the person may be sloppy about their job, as well as themselves. There is no vanity in keeping oneself well-groomed and presenting your best self to the world. That is not false. Most employers are pretty astute at recognizing people who are trying to pull the wool over their eyes. And most expect people to be dressed as well as possible and appropriately for a job interview.

Tattoos are not sinful, unless they are vulgar or blasphemous. No where does the Church teach that they are, and it is not our place to present our opinions as such, or judge the motives of those who get them.

And I am one who hates looking at the things and would not get one for myself.
 
I have seen a priest with both arms covered in tattoos. Don’t know if he got them before or after becoming a priest, but it was pretty cool… True story 😃
 
SMA_12 said:
I have seen a priest with both arms covered in tattoos. Don’t know if he got them before or after becoming a priest, but it was pretty cool… True story 😃
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There we have it: “Omnibus omnia factus sum, ut omnes facerem salvos” 😃

(That’s 1 Cor 9:22, I just love how it sounds in Latin).
 
And on that note, in the book, “Hostage to the Devil,” my Malachi Martin, which is the five documented cases of demonic possession by the Catholic Church, one of the cases was a Catholic Priest.

The point is, not all priest are holy and their actions are not always worthy examples to follow.

Jim
 
I have a permanent tattoo and I don’t think it’s sinful. I got it when I was in my 40s (mid-life crisis, maybe? :D). I gave it a lot of thought and am happy with the result. However, I would not advise some teenager to get one of his or her current dating partner–after the break-up, you’re stuck with the face of someone you no longer like. And undergoing laser removal of the tat is almost as bad as a root canal (maybe even worse). :eek:
 
Our bodies are temples true but some are adorned I dont even think real ones are a sin. I have had piercings and now a tattoo. I did not do it for anyone else.Just for me.h
 
“Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord.”

Is mainly meant for the pagans, pagans did tattoo themselves for they’re Gods or such things. So you have to look at the context. Getting a tattoo even a real one that has nothing to do with pagan religions or any other religion should be perfectly fine.

Though you might say you desacrate your body and your body is a temple and a place connected with God. But hmm would he really trip over that? Don’t think so.
 
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