Tattoos versus religion.

[Peregrinator]

Is there a religion that forbids or discourages tattoos?

[atmas]

I may be wrong but I think Judaism, certain sects, take a dim view of it. Those sects who also admonish "you shall not round the corners of your head."
Some flavors of christianity too, with their intolerance for "making craven images." But I think it is more codified in various orthodox jewish circles.

[Bert Notorius]

I think the Apostolics kinda frown on it, but they frown on most things.

[vrosej10]

Originally Posted by atmas

I may be wrong but I think Judaism, certain sects, take a dim view of it. Those sects who also admonish "you shall not round the corners of your head."
Some flavors of christianity too, with their intolerance for "making craven images." But I think it is more codified in various orthodox jewish circles.

Judaism strictly forbids tattooing. You cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetary if you have a tattoos, which to my mind makes the Nazis tattooing the Jews especially cruel. There is a passage in the bible about marking your flesh with is used to support a ban on them. I'm Neopagan, so it's no skin off my nose.

[sunandshadow]

Originally Posted by atmas

I may be wrong but I think Judaism, certain sects, take a dim view of it. Those sects who also admonish "you shall not round the corners of your head."
Some flavors of christianity too, with their intolerance for "making craven images." But I think it is more codified in various orthodox jewish circles.

that's "graven" images (like the word engraved)

[KRCummings]

Many fundamentalists discourage tattoos. It's relatively common. Most are ok if you get them before you join but not after. Judaism has been mentioned and I've heard they're strict about it but I wouldn't really know.

[TurdFergeson]

Worried God might ask why you decided his work needed adornment?

:P

[Luke_Atmydik]

Jehovah Witnesses get booted for ink. Amongst other stupid shit.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by atmas

I may be wrong but I think Judaism, certain sects, take a dim view of it. Those sects who also admonish "you shall not round the corners of your head."
Some flavors of christianity too, with their intolerance for "making craven images." But I think it is more codified in various orthodox jewish circles.

It's graven images and that's still Jewish not Christian. Christians are generally ok with graven images. You know, what with crucifixes and Madonnas and all that. They stop short of actual idolatry but ask a Jew and they'll tell you all Christians are in big trouble over the graven images thing.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by TurdFergeson

Worried God might ask why you decided his work needed adornment?

:P

That's the usual argument against it. God made you the way He saw fit.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by Luke_Atmydik

Jehovah Witnesses get booted for ink. Amongst other stupid shit.

Can they convert if they already have it?

[Luke_Atmydik]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

Can they convert if they already have it?

Not sure. My ex was a J-Dub and hid a tat of her dead father's name on her side for years. Her sister who she is best friends with didn't know for over a year.

[TurdFergeson]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

That's the usual argument against it. God made you the way He saw fit.

In that case all plastic surgery for purely cosmetic purposes, makeup, jewelry, etc, and even clothes should be banned?

Purist, baby.

[Ham Murabi]

I'm not sure what the rules are for Catholics, but the bishops told Benedict to lose the nose ring before they elected him pope.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by TurdFergeson

In that case all plastic surgery for purely cosmetic purposes, makeup, jewelry, etc, and even clothes should be banned?

Purist, baby.

That's the way some see it. Amish and such. In terms of the religion it makes sense and I can agree with some of it but not all. I find it hard to believe God cares if we wear a watch.

[atmas]

Originally Posted by sunandshadow

that's "graven" images (like the word engraved)

Typo. Good catch.

[TurdFergeson]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

That's the way some see it. Amish and such. In terms of the religion it makes sense and I can agree with some of it but not all. I find it hard to believe God cares if we wear a watch.

Right, I was thinking more along the lines of piercings. But I suppose those heal up.

Then again, with modern technology even tatts can be removed.

[JohnnySavage]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

It's graven images and that's still Jewish not Christian. Christians are generally ok with graven images. You know, what with crucifixes and Madonnas and all that. They stop short of actual idolatry but ask a Jew and they'll tell you all Christians are in big trouble over the graven images thing.

Ever been to the Vatican?

[atmas]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

It's graven images and that's still Jewish not Christian. Christians are generally ok with graven images. You know, what with crucifixes and Madonnas and all that. They stop short of actual idolatry but ask a Jew and they'll tell you all Christians are in big trouble over the graven images thing.

Well, certain fundamentalists are big on the graven image and idolatry thing, somewhat paradoxically. They'd tell you that madonnas and crucifixes have symbolic meaning and are not revered for what they are but for what they represent. It becomes a bit imprecise when the discussion trends towards making claims of hierophanies associated with these symbols.
Mennonites and Amish come to mind.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by JohnnySavage

Ever been to the Vatican?

Yes and it's tackier than Graceland. I should have said most stop short of idolatry.
Hell, even your average Catholic thinks the Vatican is too much. Although I'd love to spend some time in their basement. I bet some they got some cool shit hidden around there.

[TurdFergeson]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

Yes and it's tackier than Graceland. I should have said most stop short of idolatry.
Hell, even your average Catholic thinks the Vatican is too much. Although I'd love to spend some time in their basement. I bet some they got some cool shit hidden around there.

What does this silver sphere represent in the Vatican?

[JohnnySavage]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

Yes and it's tackier than Graceland. I should have said most stop short of idolatry.
Hell, even your average Catholic thinks the Vatican is too much. Although I'd love to spend some time in their basement. I bet some they got some cool shit hidden around there.

There's dead people down there

[Luke_Atmydik]

Originally Posted by TurdFergeson

What does this silver sphere represent in the Vatican?

You should know, it's the orb of life given to God by the aliens.

[KRCummings]

Originally Posted by TurdFergeson

What does this silver sphere represent in the Vatican?

I'm not Catholic and am pretty ignorant of the whole thing. If I didn't learn it in Church or the World Religions class I took in college then I probably don't know it.

[atmas]

Originally Posted by KRCummings

Yes and it's tackier than Graceland. I should have said most stop short of idolatry.
Hell, even your average Catholic thinks the Vatican is too much. Although I'd love to spend some time in their basement. I bet some they got some cool shit hidden around there.

No less an authority than the Decameron asserted that christianity (read: catholicism) should last forever because if all that opulence and all that sin hadn't doomed it, nothing will.