Tattoos, piercings, etc

  • Thread starter Thread starter JayCL
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I strongly disagree and this might be an incipient “No True Scotsman”. So here’s the deal. I have a “good job”. I don’t know how you would consider it. But my coworker with an identical title is really tatted up. He has sleeves, his knuckles have letters on, and he’s got huge gauged up lobes, and I don’t know what else – I only see him over Zoom. He’s the kindest teddy bear that you’ve ever met. He’s two times better at my job than I am. He’s always appreciated and well-reviewed by the students in our class (we’re TAs) and the boss thinks he’s great enough to rehire. So I have anecdata for you, how about that?
 
I’m sorry but I think there is a quiet but large segment of people who hate tattoos for many reasons.

I’m one of them.

I saw a facebook post just this morning - it was a bride who got married yesterday. She had a sleeveless gown - and one arm was covered in tattoos. I thought she looked awful. Does that make me judgmental? I dunno - I like what I like, and the same with what I dislike.
 
Last edited:
What kind of tattoos were they? Could you discern the color, the shapes, the designs? Or did you just dislike a blob of vivid color? How do you feel about birthmarks?
 
The bride had a sleeve of some weird interlocking design all over one forearm.
 
I think it is wrong to get a tatoo or piercing because of what the Bible teaches:
Leviticus 19:28 "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”
Did the Lord change His mind? I thought that the moral law never changes, and that God never changes.
 
This is not true. Some places might have restrictions, but many do not. There are a great many good jobs a person with tattoos can and do hold; to say otherwise is absurd.
 
First, a ‘good job’ and >+200K are often not corollary. Money is only one indicator but by no means is money the measure of a ‘good job’. Good jobs include teachers, police, civil servants, plumbers, electricians, construction workers, maintenance workers, programmers, HVAC, postal workers, etc etc. None of these professions pay a large salary.

Secondly, you clearly are not interested in discussion and sharing of opinion, or even willing to entertain that other perspectives are valid. Therefore, I won’t be engaging with you any further.
 
Katie777 said:
Okie…please name jobs over 200k.
Click to expand...
Is this your definition? “Good job” = 200k+, “Not good job” = 199k-?
Do you have no other criteria for a good job?

Because if you want to base it on salary alone, then we can find examples to prove you wrong. If you keep adding criteria later on, then you’re “moving the goalposts” and running into “No True Scotsman” territory again. How’s it gonna go?
 
Last edited:
I don’t think there are any Catholic teachings against tattoos. However, we must try to be modest.

I was thinking about this earlier because I was thinking about getting one to cover up a scar. This scar has been bothering me for years, and reminded me of my past days with depression. I went to confession for it, talked to the priest and went to counseling, but nothing helped when it comes to this. I wanted to cover it up for something that represents something positive, like a flower.

But as a Catholic, I have to do what’s right for God and do what’s right for my body that God has given.

So before I get one, I will ask a priest and ask for his guidance.
 
I was mentored by a lovely gentleman who had an arm tattoo. He was truly amazing and helped me a lot with my mentoring process.
 
Katie777 said:
Okie…please name jobs over 200k.
Click to expand...
For starters, many jobs in the software, tech, medical and law industries. Including several I have held.

My niece also has a tattoo and was recently hired into a good STEM job. She’s not over 200 K yet because she just started, but she will likely advance in her position.

A whole lot of the Western world simply does not care about this issue. If you do, fine, but to say tasteful tattoos (as opposed to the “job stopper” kind where a guy has a prison tatt on his face or “Love-Hate” on his knuckles") keep people with marketable skills out of a job in this day and age is ridiculous, and not in touch with current reality. It’s thinking from 50 years ago - and even then, there were plenty of ex-Marines with a tattoo on their arm holding high level positions.
 
Last edited:
AlNg said:
Leviticus 19:28 "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.”
Click to expand...
Catholic Answers
CEREMONIAL LAW VS. MORAL LAW
Sometimes people point to the passage in Leviticus that says, ”Do not . . . put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord” (19:28).
But this verse is not binding upon Christians for the same reason that the verse “nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff” (Lev. 19:19) is not binding upon Christians. Namely, it is a part of the ceremonial law that was binding upon the Jewish people but not binding upon Christians (except for when it coincides with the moral law).
**
The author of Hebrews writes:
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit’ical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchiz’edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well (11-12).
**
Similarly, St. Irenaeus of Lyon wrote, “The laws of bondage, however, were one by one promulgated to the people by Moses, suited for their instruction or for their punishment, as Moses himself declared: ‘And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments’ (Deut. 4:14). These things, therefore, which were given for bondage, and for a sign to them, He cancelled by the new covenant of liberty ( Against Heresies IV.16.5).
What does the Church Teach about Tattoos? | Catholic Answers
Click to expand...
Old Testament prohibitions regarding tattoos are considered ceremonial laws and thus are not binding on Christians. There is nothing inherently immoral about a Catholic having a tattoo or a piercing. What would make those things immoral would be its content/message/purpose. What message am I trying to send through this action? What is my motivation? It is essentially viewed as a morally neutral act whose morality depends upon content, context, and circumstances. Prudential judgment is needed.
The Church on Tattoos and Piercings | Catholic Answers
Click to expand...
Obviously, Satanic, occult, immoral tattoos are not okay and I cannot imagine any Catholic living their faith doing it. That’s pretty logical.
 
Last edited:
So God did change His mind about whether or not tattoos or piercings are allowed?
 
Namely, it is a part of the ceremonial law that was binding upon the Jewish people but not binding upon Christians (except for when it coincides with the moral law).
Click to expand...
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levit’ical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchiz’edek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well (11-12).
Click to expand...
We should put things in right context:
Many of the precepts of the Mosaic Law are ceremonial and do not belong to the moral law. Their purpose, in many cases, is simply to make the Israelites culturally distinct from the Canaanites who surrounded them. This is one such command. The Canaanites cut their bodies for the dead and made tattoos as part of their religious practice, and this command forbids that in order to make the Israelites unable to participate in Canaanite religious practices.
Tattoos – Jimmy Akin
Click to expand...
 
So God can change His mind on this? God forbids it at one point in time, but allows it at another point in time?
 
27lw said:
I’m sorry for your loss.
However, may I respectfully ask a question? Why do you feel the desire to have her artwork tattooed on your body?
Why not have it on a canvas, or even a t-shirt? She didn’t have it on her body.
I personally don’t understand the feeling that you have to have something colored on your skin permanently. Maybe someone can explain it. I just don’t understand it.
Click to expand...
I want it as a permanent reminder. Shirts fall apart eventually, and I want to see it and smile and remember her anytime.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top