Tattoos

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spldwfe

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Sin or No ? Desecration of the body? What if its a cross? opinions?
 
Tattoos are not a sin per se, but they are discouraged.

Jimmy Akin (Great apologetic) answers a lot of questions relating to “mutilation” by tattooing or piercing.

members.cox.net/jimmyakin/x-archives-040306.htm
The Church does indeed have something to say about mutilation. Here’s what the Catechism says (CCC 2296-2297):
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It is morally inadmissible directly to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons.
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Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations performed on innocent persons are against the moral law.
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Mutilation, as understood by the Catechism and moral theology in general, involves more than simply making a change in one’s body. Otherwise having an ear pierced or even getting a manicure or a haircut would count as mutilation. Instead, mutilation must involve some kind of impairment of function in the body (like cutting off a hand out taking out an organ). The degree of impairment then tells us the gravity of the mutilation.
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Since tattoos do not involve an impairment of body function, they do not count as mutilation. You are correct about that.
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You are also correct about some of the other body . . . uh . . . “modifications” that are being done today would seem to count as mutilation. I don’t know that much about tongue and cheek piercing. I’d have to do research about whether they involve long-term risk of infection. But tongue splitting would seem to be a prime example. Not only does it impair the tongue’s role in eating and talking, it also would seem to make an immoral statement of some kind due to its snake-like connotations. It also has an even higher risk associated with it due to the fact that the tongue has significant blood vessels in it and a split requires a longer time to heal, with risk of infection and bleeding. As a result, many doctors are opposed to the practice.
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Not another thread on this again 😦

A nun use to remind us kids of these bible verses:

1CO 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1CO 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

1CO 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
 
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spldwfe:
Sin or No ? Desecration of the body? What if its a cross? opinions?
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exovedate.com/the_real_gladiator_one.html

“The Latin word for ‘tattoo’ was stigma. It was slaves, gladiators, criminals, and later, soldiers who were tattooed, as an identifying mark.”

“Upper class Romans did not partake in tattooing, which they associated with either marginal groups, or foreigners, such as Thracians, who were known to tattoo extensively. The emporer Caligula is said to have forced individuals of rank to become tattooed as an embarrassment.”

"The christian emporer Constantine, ca. 325 AD, decreed that individuals, condemned to fight as gladiators or to work in the mines could be tattooed on the legs or the hands, but not on the face, because ‘the face, which has been formed in the image of the divine beauty, should be defiled as little as possible.’ "

"In 787, Pope Hadrian the First prohibited tattooing altogether, due to its association with superstition, paganism, and the marginal classes."

Also, please view this photograph of modern day tattooed criminal losers:
vikingphoenix.com/public/JapanIncorporated/ultranationalists/tattoogang.jpg

Common sense just says don’t get a tattoo!
 
I do not see why people (especially women) think tatoos are sexy. As far as I am concerned, they contaminate the person.

PF
 
I’m with Tom. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Why would you want to put grafitti on the walls?

Gosh this really gets tiresome. Have any of you considering tatoos seen numbers tatooed on the forearms of certain individuals. Do you know what that means? Can we say Concentration Camp? I recoil from the very idea of a tatoo.

Biggest point. May look good now but have you seen what they look like when you’re in your 60’s -70’s? That hula girl looked real good in 1945…what does it look like now?
 
Personally, I don’t think it’s a huge issue with God either way, providing the image chosen is not inherently sinful (naked women, devils, pentagrams, etc.). The only Biblical reference to tattoos of which I am aware is in Levitical law, where we are told (and I paraphrase) not to tattoo our bodies for the dead. And that instruction is right next to the one that commands men not to trim the corners of their beards!

We have to remember, also, that tattoos in past centuries were highly unsanitary things. And, as is mentioned in previous posts, they were many times used for unrighteous purposes. Let’s also remember, however, how many other things that’s true of. Music and jewelry, for example. Anything can be used for evil, even bread and wine.

All that said, I certainly hope that God is understanding about tattoos done in innocence … because I have one!
 
Although I don’t think tattoos are a sin as such, I personally think they are gross but that’s my opinion. But when a person puts a tattoo in a “private spot” I believe is a sin. Because you must expose yourself and after its done I have seen one to many especially young girls wearing clothing in such a way the tattoo is visable.:bigyikes:
 
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kaymart:
Although I don’t think tattoos are a sin as such, I personally think they are gross but that’s my opinion. But when a person puts a tattoo in a “private spot” I believe is a sin. Because you must expose yourself and after its done I have seen one to many especially young girls wearing clothing in such a way the tattoo is visable.:bigyikes:
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I agree with you about the location. Mine’s around my ankle. I used to be a surfer, after all. And I never regretted it or thought it gross, although you ought to ask my mother what she thinks!
 
Personally, I think tattoos are gross whether on a man or a woman. They are a turn-off to me. However, I wouldn’t think it is a sin to get one unless someone goes overboard and starts tattooing their entire body.

Karen
 
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SWTHRT:
Personally, I think tattoos are gross whether on a man or a woman. They are a turn-off to me. However, I wouldn’t think it is a sin to get one unless someone goes overboard and starts tattooing their entire body.

Karen
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Hi Karen,

Yes, I totally agree with you. Look at these Japanese Yakuza mobsters, everyone of these guys is a loser and a zero (so we must pray for them):

vikingphoenix.com/public/JapanIncorporated/ultranationalists/tattoogang.jpg
 
I think tattoos are a great way to express yourself…however it should be done tastefully. Nothing lewd or anything like that. I have a few tattoos and I don’t regret them whatsoever. Each one has a special meaning to me. I also don’t agree with tattoos of someones name…it’s just stupid, especially after you break up with the person but are still stuck with “Betty” written across your chest…all tattoos must be done with common sense.
 
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sarcophagus:
I think tattoos are a great way to express yourself…however it should be done tastefully. Nothing lewd or anything like that. I have a few tattoos and I don’t regret them whatsoever. Each one has a special meaning to me. I also don’t agree with tattoos of someones name…it’s just stupid, especially after you break up with the person but are still stuck with “Betty” written across your chest…all tattoos must be done with common sense.
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I was told regarding tattoos while I was in the military: 1. never get a girl’s name; 2. never get a cartoon; and 3. never get it where it shows.

I know guys from the military who got these nasty tattoos on their forearms, and now as adults they have to wear long sleeve shirts in their professional occupations.

Also, a few guys I know who did prison time are now undergoing expensive laser surgery to have those india ink cell mate done tattoos removed, so as not to be ‘stigmatized’ for life.
 
This issue has been gone over many times all over these forums… do a search and you will come up with plenty of opinions about tattoos . If you want the facts regarding tattooing and the Catholic faith, I suggest you pop on over to the ask an apologist forum and search there.

The Church’s position is that tattoos and piercings are morally neutral… the two criteria for deciding if it is right for you (according to the AAA forum) are:
  1. can you afford it? In other words, will it use money that should be spent on family, charity, or other responsibilities?
and
  1. is it medically safe? In other words, are you absolutely certain that the tattoo or piercing is being done with very little risk of infection or other complication?
As long as you are not getting a piercing or tattoo that would offend God (a tattoo stating that the devil is king for example, lol) or in a “private” place then you are free to get a tattoo or piercing.

My own personal opinion on the issue:

Most piercings will leave a small scar if removed. So be absolutely sure that you are ok with that for the future.

Only get a tattoo after considering the image you would like for at least a year. Make sure it has meaning for you and is not just a fad image. Get the tattoo artist to put a temporary image on you and wear it around…see how you like it before going permanent.

Get a tattoo in a place where it can be easily hidden in formal wear… like lower back for women, and chest or upper arm for men etc.

Just my two cents on the issue…again.

Malia
 
Feanaro's Wife:
This issue has been gone over many times all over these forums… do a search and you will come up with plenty of opinions about tattoos . If you want the facts regarding tattooing and the Catholic faith, I suggest you pop on over to the ask an apologist forum and search there.

The Church’s position is that tattoos and piercings are morally neutral… the two criteria for deciding if it is right for you (according to the AAA forum) are:
  1. can you afford it? In other words, will it use money that should be spent on family, charity, or other responsibilities?
and
  1. is it medically safe? In other words, are you absolutely certain that the tattoo or piercing is being done with very little risk of infection or other complication?
As long as you are not getting a piercing or tattoo that would offend God (a tattoo stating that the devil is king for example, lol) or in a “private” place then you are free to get a tattoo or piercing.
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Thanks for the information. 🙂 For the record, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with bringing up a topic that’s been discussed before. I’m sure most topics have, at some time or another. As long as the person asking seems genuinely interested in the answer and not just trying to push people’s hot buttons, I don’t see a problem with asking. Sometimes we all want to talk to a live person.
 
surf(name removed by moderator)ure:
For the record, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with bringing up a topic that’s been discussed before. I’m sure most topics have, at some time or another.
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Oops! Sorry, didn’t mean it to sound that way. I just wanted to point out that if they want to do a search of the forums that they will find tons of info on this topic…and to search the AAA forum for accurate Church views on the issue.

I don’t have a problem with the same topic being brought up over and over. Like you said, sometimes people want to get a “live” person to answer them and/or participate in a discussion.

Malia
 
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