Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?

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Poll: Tattoo art - Christian perspectives: Fight it? Ignore it? appreciate/embrace it?


  • Total voters
    29
  • Poll closed .

farouk

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Jan 21, 2009
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I have never been interested in tattoos. Not ever.
@Pearl Fine!

PS: I think as regards Northumbrian and Scottish traditions, some of them are quite similar, including pipes, etc. The Lowlands of Scotland seem in some ways to have similarities to Lindisfarne, Berwick, etc.
 

Pearl

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@Pearl Fine!

PS: I think as regards Northumbrian and Scottish traditions, some of them are quite similar, including pipes, etc. The Lowlands of Scotland seem in some ways to have similarities to Lindisfarne, Berwick, etc.

I think with Scottish bagpipes you inflate them with your mouth but the Northumberland pipes are inflated with an underarm bellows.

 
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farouk

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While some readers fee the poll has run its course, if you don't think so, and if you have not yet voted, please vote now!

Thanks to all who voted in the poll so far!
 

farouk

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Interesting poll here farouk!
@Mayflower Thanks for your poll vote participation.

It is to be frankly anticipated that among the posters on this forum there would be a very wide range of views, from "Oh, no, NO! don't do it!" to "Ohhh this is reeeally gooood for me to do as a Christian!"

It seemed like a worthwhile poll, anyway, which still has some months to run.

While a long time in the past ppl may have been conditioned by social convention, gender shyness, or whatever, yet the matter of whether wholeheartedly or not to go to the parlor to get inked up really belongs to the area of responsible adult decision making, sticking to it confidently one way or another (and among believers, we trust, prayerfully).

It's still true that some tattooed ppl do regret their ink. Some definitely don't.
 
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farouk

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I would be fine with a little one
@FluffyYellowDuck Going confidently to the parlor, or not going, to get inked up is and should be entirely a wholehearted, responsible adult decision (as is a piercing, for that matter), which can also be looked at from various angles (hence the possibility of multiple poll responses, above).

Undoubtedly the scope for possibly witness friendly tattoo designs has risen enormously in recent decades. From large ones to simply a tiny Christian Christian fish sign <>< on a wrist, heel, etc.
 

farouk

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I hate tattoos. Everyone's tattoos. I dislike them all equally.

Same with bumper stickers.
@Wynona Thanks for your robust contribution. Sounds like you never got one, then. (Sorry the poll has already expired; not sure exactly how you might have voted.)

Leaving aside the like/dislike aspect, which I guess is quite subjective, there is also the aspect of how so often faith based tattoo designs prove to be practical and effective conversation-starters in witness. For example, my wife and I talked to a young woman with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and it gave rise to our conversation, and I'm sure to many other conversations she will have had, which is presumably and precise the whole point, if you see what is meant?
 

Wynona

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@Wynona Thanks for your robust contribution. Sounds like you never got one, then. (Sorry the poll has already expired; not sure exactly how you might have voted.)

Leaving aside the like/dislike aspect, which I guess is quite subjective, there is also the aspect of how so often faith based tattoo designs prove to be practical and effective conversation-starters in witness. For example, my wife and I talked to a young woman with the whole of John 3.16 tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and it gave rise to our conversation, and I'm sure to many other conversations she will have had, which is presumably and precise the whole point, if you see what is meant?

Esthetically speaking, I dislike them.

But I also wonder how God feels about them, seeing how He commanded the Israelites not to mark their skin.

Leviticus 19:28 KJV

28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Do I think tattoos are sin? Im not sure because we are not under Mosaic law. Just to be safe, I won't be getting any.

Food for thought.
 

farouk

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Jan 21, 2009
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Esthetically speaking, I dislike them.

But I also wonder how God feels about them, seeing how He commanded the Israelites not to mark their skin.

Leviticus 19:28 KJV

28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.

Do I think tattoos are sin? Im not sure because we are not under Mosaic law. Just to be safe, I won't be getting any.

Food for thought.
@Wynona Thanks for your comment. It's interesting that the same passage from Leviticus seems to say about not trimming beards; do preachers shave? As regards cutting for the dead, some would see necromancy in view. Like you say, we are not under the Mosaic law; but New Testament believers for whom the Gospel is the rule of life, which for some people would include liberty about using proven effective witness means.

Definitely they are not for everyone. Although in the Bible Belt it's something that is done so widely by people, who presumably share your perspective about not being under the Mosaic law; FYI, I saw this quote:

QueenCat said:
Around here (Bible Belt), it is common, especially among evangelical Christians, for the girls under about 40 to have religious tattoos. More do than don't, especially when you get to the under 30 crowd. I hardly know any female at church that is under 30 that does not have a tattoo.
forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

Not sure anyway how you would have voted in the poll, if it had still been active?
 

Wynona

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@Wynona Thanks for your comment. It's interesting that the same passage from Leviticus seems to say about not trimming beards; do preachers shave? As regards cutting for the dead, some would see necromancy in view. Like you say, we are not under the Mosaic law; but New Testament believers for whom the Gospel is the rule of life, which for some people would include liberty about using proven effective witness means.

Definitely they are not for everyone. Although in the Bible Belt it's something that is done so widely by people, who presumably share your perspective about not being under the Mosaic law; FYI, I saw this quote:


forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

Not sure anyway how you would have voted in the poll, if it had still been active?

I think I would have hit the ignore option.

I guess I have a personal conviction against getting one but would not break fellowship over the issue.

I think people should do what they feel in their conscience would please the Lord as long as its biblical.

For example, Ive grown accustomed to wearing skirts and dresses and its something I do partially to please God. I don't really go around expecting other women to do this and I don't think you can use Deuteronomy 22:5 as a cudgel because we're not under Mosaic law.

But I like being feminine in a world that says gender doesn't matter. Its now in my conscience as being set apart.
 
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farouk

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I think I would have hit the ignore option.

I guess I have a personal conviction against getting one but would not break fellowship over the issue.

I think people should do what they feel in their conscience would please the Lord as long as its biblical.

For example, Ive grown accustomed to wearing skirts and dresses and its something I do partially to please God. I don't really go around expecting other women to do this and I don't think you can use Deuteronomy 22:5 as a cudgel because we're not under Mosaic law.

But I like being feminine in a world that says gender doesn't matter. Its now in my conscience as being set apart.
@Wynona Okay, so the 'ignore' poll option, then... :)

Although the poll has expired, if I started a similar one because of some ppl who have not voted, I guess some would criticize...although I guess it doesn't have to be me that starts such a poll.

I see that you don't think that tattoos are a matter of fellowship, despite your personal thoughts about them. I guess that the fact is that these days it's become established as something that conservative ppl do also, leaving aside individual likes and dislikes; various past posters give evidence that this indeed seems to be the case:

GodsGrace said:
almost every young girl I know has some sort of tatoo.
Even those very conservative types.

shnarkle said:
One of the churches I go to has three quite elderly women, all widows, who recently went out and got themselves tattoos.

FHII said:
I got my first and only tattoo when I was 25. I was told it was addictive, but for me it was not. .. I don't regret it.. Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor

It's also identified strongly with particular demographics, including among people of a traditional outlook:

juliannenw said:
I am a nurse in a cardiac ICU. I am also pretty heavily tattooed. I am a well educated, well rounded nurse, and was raised with strong morals and manners. .. I am an extremely traditional person. I've always worn long sleeves .. I love having a professional persona as well as a unique one while I'm not working
allnurses dot com

It's not for everyone, of course. Pragmatically, it does seem to be a kind of effective ice breaker for people, such as nurses with their patients, and Christians witnessing, etc.
 
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Jay Ross

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Hi @Cachalot Sorry the poll already expired, but your poll option is noted...! Maybe there is scope for another, similar & related poll?

Can I humbly suggest that you stop flogging the poor donkey and not start another "polly" as you have already worked this topic to death.

Posted with much love.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
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I find them distasteful and unattractive, especially on women. Tattoos are unlady-like. That is why I would never have one.
@Cachalot Thanks for your comment and interesting that you have this perspective. Today among Christians there seem to be other perspectives also which are rather strong, often regarding faith based ones; FYI, in quote:

QueenCat said:
Around here (Bible Belt), it is common, especially among evangelical Christians, for the girls under about 40 to have religious tattoos. More do than don't, especially when you get to the under 30 crowd. I hardly know any female at church that is under 30 that does not have a tattoo.
forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
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@Mayflower Back a bit you said:
Tattoos. Maybe not parlors. Only way Id go to one is with my husband. But the man who did mine was really nice.
Sometimes parlors can be an acquired taste, so to speak. But a lot of Christians - in regard to their faith-based designs - do feel they have had some really good experiences in tattoo parlors, right?