Are tattoos a sin/morally wrong?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Nope obviously. This woman is a Lutheran pastor:



Oh and note the guys in this band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUeiYieYK4

I can't understand people who think tattoos are a sin with all the Christians that have them.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I personally don't care for it, but it's not a sin.

[The Mikado]

The argument that they are has to do with the whole "Man is made in God's image" thing and the idea that defacing your body is defacing God's image.  If you took that argument seriously, it'd probably apply to things like ear-piercings as well.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Ugly=/=Sinful/morally wrong

[John Dibble]

Nope obviously. This woman is a Lutheran pastor:



Oh and note the guys in this band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUeiYieYK4

I can't understand people who think tattoos are a sin with all the Christians that have them.

Because people who call themselves Christians NEVER do anything that could be considered sinful, obviously.

If you are going to argue about what is or is not considered a sin in regards to the Christian faith then shouldn't you use the Bible, and not people, as your source? Looking up a few things in regards to this on Google, here's the passages that seem most relevant.

Leviticus 19:28 NIV: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

Of course this is OT law, and it may be one of those one Christians don't feel they have to follow, and this may also be because at the time the practice was associated with witchcraft. But this NT passage may be interpreted to be against the practice:

1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV: "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple."

Tattoos weren't the context of this, but nevertheless it could be interpreted to apply. Take it for what you will.


As to my personal stance on the question the question, I don't believe in the concept of sin. I personally don't have find there to be any ethical problems with people getting tattoos, though honestly I tend to find them unattractive on women.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Uh oh, looks like another Dibble vs. BRTD clash.

[RI]

They aren't sinful inherently, but they are inherently stupid, shortsighted, and ugly.

[Dr. Cynic]

They aren't sinful inherently, but they are inherently stupid, shortsighted, and ugly.

Oh, that's not always true. I have a friend who looks really good with a bit of skin art.

[lowtech redneck]

The argument that they are has to do with the whole "Man is made in God's image" thing and the idea that defacing your body is defacing God's image.  If you took that argument seriously, it'd probably apply to things like ear-piercings as well.

Or possibly even shaving.

I don't care myself, but so long as there is no explicit biblical prohibition and body modification does not interfere with the overall functioning of the human body, then I don't think it could reasonably be considered a sin as far as Christian theology is concerned.

[FloridaRepublican]

Not a sin, but they just look terrible and you can't undo them.

[Dr. Cynic]

Not a sin, but they just look terrible and you can't undo them.

Yeah, you can. Although it's fairly painful.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

It's deeply morally wrong on the grounds that it covers up the naked.

Shirts cover up the naked too, but you can take those off.

Thus I don't care when men get them but women? That is like a crime against God (since God made nudity, and made it hot [and invented hotness] and thus wants people to be naked)

[Lambsbread]

this band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUeiYieYK4

Bless your soul.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

obviously, the OT explicitly forbid tattoos and piercing - it was a practice of pagans (which is why those that have them today are usually on the wild side).  But that was under Moses' law.

Personally, I don't like any tattoos on a woman, no matter the size or location.  It's a huge turnoff and makes me question her common sense and where she has been - it would be an instant disqualifier.  I understand a girl who gets her ears pierced for earrings, but I draw a line at more than two piercings per ear, and the pierces have to be on the ear lobe.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Personally, I don't like any tattoos on a woman, no matter the size or location.  It's a huge turnoff and makes me question her common sense and where she has been - it would be an instant disqualifier.  I understand a girl who gets her ears pierced for earrings, but I draw a line at more than two piercings per ear, and the pierces have to be on the ear lobe.

I never thought I'd agree with you on anything, but I do here

[minionofmidas]

Nope obviously. This woman is a Lutheran pastor:



Oh and note the guys in this band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUeiYieYK4

I can't understand people who think tattoos are a sin with all the Christians that have them.

Because people who call themselves Christians NEVER do anything that could be considered sinful, obviously.

Yeah, that opening post is so full of fail as to... uh. Yeah.

It's deeply morally wrong on the grounds that it covers up the naked.

Shirts cover up the naked too, but you can take those off.

Thus I don't care when men get them but women? That is like a crime against God (since God made nudity, and made it hot [and invented hotness] and thus wants people to be naked)

I've used the same semi-argument to argue against fake tits.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

My church probably would say so, but I don't think they necessarily are.  I wouldn't get a tattoo myself, but I don't think that it would be a sin to get a Christian tattoo.

[Frodo]

Tattoos in and of themselves are not a sin to God, but when you are talking about clergy, I have an entirely different (and higher) set of expectations.  Among these is that you don't act like you are just another guy or gal at the bar, or sport tattoos.  After all, if you are going to try to bring yourself down to my level, why on earth should I look up to you for spiritual support and advice?   

Call me a traditionalist, but it diminishes your spiritual authority in my eyes.  There need to be distinctions made (and maintained) between clergy and laity. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Tattoos in and of themselves are not a sin to God, but when you are talking about clergy, I have an entirely different (and higher) set of expectations.  Among these is that you don't act like you are just another guy or gal at the bar, or sport tattoos.  After all, if you are going to try to bring yourself down to my level, why on earth should I look up to you for spiritual support and advice?   

Call me a traditionalist, but it diminishes your spiritual authority in my eyes.  There need to be distinctions made (and maintained) between clergy and laity. 

This shows an obvious difference in our perspectives on this that couldn't be any more distant clearly...

[dead0man]

No, just a stupid fad like SUVs and visors.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

No, just a stupid fad like SUVs and visors.

They certainly have been around far too long to be a "fad".

[dead0man]

SUVs have been around a long time too, but they didn't get faddish until, oddly (or not), about the same time tattoos did.  "regular" people didn't get tattoos (or drive SUVs) before the late 80s early 90s.  I knew two people with tattoos back then and they were both truckers.  Now every girl gets one in her teens.  A tattoo doesn't make you "cool" and "edgy", it makes you a sheep.  Even more so if you get the same stupid "tribal" or barbwire or ass antlers that everybody else has.

[opebo]

SUVs have been around a long time too, but they didn't get faddish until, oddly (or not), about the same time tattoos did. 

Really the main cause of SUVs becoming a 'fad' was the shrinking of the ordinary sedan (and the disappearance of the ordinary full-sized family station-wagon).

SUVs are less a fad than a continuation of what Americans have always wanted:

[minionofmidas]

SUVs have been around a long time too, but they didn't get faddish until, oddly (or not), about the same time tattoos did.  "regular" people didn't get tattoos (or drive SUVs) before the late 80s early 90s.  I knew two people with tattoos back then and they were both truckers.  Now every girl gets one in her teens.  A tattoo doesn't make you "cool" and "edgy", it makes you a sheep.  Even more so if you get the same stupid "tribal" or barbwire or ass antlers that everybody else has.

I read a text some while ago where the author, apparently my age or a little older, reminisces about how he always thought about getting a tattoo when he was about 18 or 20... have something unique... but didn't. And now he realized during a visit to the public pool that he has achieved that objective - he has something unique - a tattooless body.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

tattoos are just plain dumb