Tattooing a Catholic

[tattooinehelp]

Hey guys
I’ve decided I might as well pop in here, and see if I can get some level headed words of wisdom, regarding a tattoo I was considering.
After reading the alchemist, I decided to get a tattoo of a triangle and Urim and Thummim on my wrist. But somebody told me that not only is tattooing against God, but using an image of Urim and Thummim is seriously against God.
I’m not exactly the most dedicated Catholic out there and dont believe in many of the rules and regulations of the church, since theres so many apparent holes in the theories. (Lets not go there.)
But after hearing about Urim and Thummim, I thought it would be a really cool symbol to use. Several different religions seem to be saying different things regarding the shape of these stones. The mormons say they were in the shape of a ‘three-edged diamond’, ,and I heard somewhere they were in the shape of two pebbles…I was thinking two circles or something like it might suffice.

But would it really be that bad to get a tattoo…of Urim and Thummim?
What shape did the BIBLE say they are?

(IF theres any aspiring artists who want to take a stab at a cool design using a triangle/pyramid and a black, and a white pebble as the prominent feature I’d be happy to see your work!)

Cheers

 

[cheeto1]

Do you think the tattoo will make you a more dedicated Catholic?

 

[tattooinehelp]

Not really, although, if we were to get into it I do feel that God seems to be screaming at me to get back in touch. A chain of rosary beads I received after giving an old man who needed bus fare (he gave them to me) seems to be a pretty recurrent theme in this.

But to answer your question, the tattoo will not do any such thing, but I love what they mean to me. If you ever read the alchemist, the pyramid represents following your dreams; your personal legend; your destiny. And sacrificing love money and everything in between in order to achieve it.

Meanwhile Urim and Thummim represent making decisions; making your own decisions and standing your ground on them, or asking for help. Both of these are meaningful to me, as I have spent the last while in councelling, and beginning to understand that I need to stand by my own decisions, but its okay to ask for help.

 

[FightingFat]

Hope this helps bro-

There is no description of the form of the Urim and Thummim in the passage describing the high priest’s vestments, and a number of scholars believe that the author of the passage, which textual scholars attribute to the priestly source, wasn’t actually entirely aware of what they were either[3]. Nevertheless, the passage does describe them as being put into the breastplate, which scholars think implies they were objects put into some sort of pouch within it, and then, while out of view, one (or one side, if the Urim and Thummim was a single object) was chosen by touch and withdrawn or thrown out[3]; since the Urim and Thummim were put inside this pouch, they were presumably small and fairly flat, and were possibly tablets of wood or of bone[3]. With the view of scholars that Urim essentially means guilty and Thummim essentially means innocent, this would imply that the purpose of the Urim and Thummim was an ordeal to confirm or deny suspected guilt; if the Urim was selected it meant guilt, while selection of the Thummim would mean innocence.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urim_and_Thummim

BTW- there are no holes in the “theories”, only in your understanding of the “theories”

You might be interested to know what some of your misconceptions are. Seriously, try us, loads of knowledgeable Catholics here!

 

[juliamajor]

Hey guys
I’ve decided I might as well pop in here, and see if I can get some level headed words of wisdom, regarding a tattoo I was considering.
After reading the alchemist, I decided to get a tattoo of a triangle and Urim and Thummim on my wrist. But somebody told me that not only is tattooing against God, but using an image of Urim and Thummim is seriously against God.
I’m not exactly the most dedicated Catholic out there and dont believe in many of the rules and regulations of the church, since theres so many apparent holes in the theories. (Lets not go there.)
But after hearing about Urim and Thummim, I thought it would be a really cool symbol to use. Several different religions seem to be saying different things regarding the shape of these stones. The mormons say they were in the shape of a ‘three-edged diamond’, ,and I heard somewhere they were in the shape of two pebbles…I was thinking two circles or something like it might suffice.

But would it really be that bad to get a tattoo…of Urim and Thummim?
What shape did the BIBLE say they are?

(IF theres any aspiring artists who want to take a stab at a cool design using a triangle/pyramid and a black, and a white pebble as the prominent feature I’d be happy to see your work!)

Cheers

There is no physical description of Urim And Thummin.And not much information about it either. It was probably small enough to fit in the high Priest’s breastplate and probably contained in a pouch.scholars believe it was some kind of lot casting system. The Urim meant or pointed to one thing and the Thummin another. Everything else would be mere speculation Good Luck!

 

[tattooinehelp]

Well I know that they were used for decision making, by the high priests. This is why my decision to have it branded on my skin has caused such uproar with certain religious people, not necessarily Catholics, although I know that the bible tells us that we shouldnt do it.
(It also tells us we should never fornicate, using contraception, or masturbate. It also tells us that if we sin we should mutilate the sinning part of our body!)

The whole ‘high priest’ issue, can be resolved using two arguments. One; we don’t know for sure what the shape was, although there are ideas around. Two; I’m referring to a book, in which a lowly Catholic shepherd is given them, to help make his decision to follow his dreams. That is what it represents to me. The fact that these symbols are religious does not truly affect my decision making; although it does make it more contemporary; cool, in my eyes.

 

[Mintaka]

If you’ve already decided to get a tattoo, I’m not sure why you’re asking us. I also don’t really see the point of tattooing yourself an arbitrary design with arbitrarily assigned symbolism.

(If it’s just a reminder to yourself, why not just paint on a design with body paint/makeup? Or why not get a bracelet with the design you like? Or make a prayer card of it? Then you can change stuff later, if you get other inspirations.)

But if you want to do something like this, there’s nothing forbidding you to do it in Catholicism. A private devotion, however uncommon, that doesn’t do anything bad? That’s your business.

 

[John7]

Tattooing a Catholic…

In general I don’t think (?) the LORD is ‘into’ tattoos…not sure why
This is an Old Testament law,
Leviticus 19:28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead
nor print any marks upon you
I am the LORD.

 

[juliamajor]

Tattooing a Catholic…

In general I don’t think (?) the LORD is ‘into’ tattoos…not sure why
This is an Old Testament law,
Leviticus 19:28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead
nor print any marks upon you
I am the LORD.

People of the New Covenant not bound by the Holiness code.

 

[John7]

People of the New Covenant not bound by the Holiness code.

Agreed.

got this from Chabad.org

“In ancient times it was customary for idol worshippers to tattoo themselves as a sign of commitment to their deity—much like an animal that is branded by its owner. On many occasions the Torah forbids practices that emulate pagan customs—considering that following their traditions is the first step towards ascribing to their idolatrous beliefs and services”

Question:
I don’t think Jesus would necessarily look down on Christian getting a tattoo, unless it was something wicked like a 666 on the back of the head, but do you think he himself would get a tattoo? I dunno, I just can’t see him with like a large swirling forearm tattoo