Religious perspectives on tattooing

Some religions have perspectives on tattooing.

Christianity

Man with a full back Christian tattoo. Michael and the Dragon. Adapted from Die Bibel in Bildern (Revelation) engraving. Enlightenment motto "Sapere aude" is tattooed in the upper back.

A Christian couple with matching cross symbol tattoos to associate with their faith

Some Christians take issue with tattooing, upholding the Hebrew prohibition (see below). The Hebrew prohibition is based on interpreting Leviticus 19:28—"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you"—so as to prohibit tattoos, and perhaps even makeup.

Interpretations of the passage vary, however. Some believe that it refers specifically to, and exclusively prohibits, an ancient form of self-mutilation during mourning (as discussed in the Judaism section). Under this interpretation, tattooing is permitted to Jews and Christians.

Others hold that the prohibition of Leviticus 19:28, regardless of its interpretation, is not binding upon Christians—just as prohibitions like "nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff" (Lev. 19:19) are not binding—because it is part of the Jewish ceremonial law, binding only upon the Jewish people (see: New Covenant#Christian view).^[1]

Some Christian groups, such as the Knights of St. John of Malta, sported tattoos to show their allegiance. A decline often occurred in other cultures following European efforts to convert aboriginal and indigenous people to Western religious and cultural practices that held tribal tattooing to be a "pagan" or "heathen" activity. Within some traditional indigenous cultures, tattooing takes place within the context of a rite of passage between adolescence and adulthood (without any explicit religious subtext).

Christian Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina started tattooing, especially of children, for perceived protection against forced conversion to Islam and enslavement during the Ottoman occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (see Christian tattooing in Bosnia and Herzegovina). This form of tattooing continued long past its original motivation. Tattooing was performed during springtime or during special religious celebrations such as the Feast of St. Joseph, and consisted mostly of Christian crosses on hands, fingers, forearms, and below the neck and on the chest.^[2][3][4]

Orthodox Coptic Christians who live in Egypt commonly tattoo themselves with the symbols of Coptic crosses on their right wrists, the history of this custom is similar to that of the Christian Croat tattoos.

Among Mormons getting a tattoo is not considered sinful, but it is discouraged as it is altering the creation of God.

Christian related tattoos are highly common in Military Veterans and born-again Christians (people that lived difficult lives and rediscovered spirituality).

Many Christians with tattoos will have a Psalm or verse from the Bible tattooed on their body although some people will still have tattoos from the Bible despite not being Christian. Popular verses include, John 3:16, Philippians 4:13, and Psalms 23.^[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christian_tattoos.

Islam

Woman applying a henna temporary tattoo in Morocco. Permanent tattoos are generally not allowed in Sunni Islam, but are permissible in Shia Islam.

Sunni

The forbiddance of tattooing in Sunni Islam is derived from Sunni hadiths (sayings of Muhammad), such as in Bukhari:^[6]

Narrated Abu Juhaifa: The Prophet cursed the lady who practices tattooing and the one who gets herself tattooed, and one who eats (takes) Riba' (usury) and the one who gives it. And he prohibited taking the price of a dog, and the money earned by prostitution, and cursed the makers of pictures.^[7]

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The effect of an evil eye is a fact." And he prohibited tattooing.^[8]

Several Sunni Muslim scholars believe tattooing is a sin because it involves changing the creation of God (Surah 4 Verses 117–120).^[9] There is, however, difference of scholarly Sunni Muslim opinion as to the reason why tattoos are forbidden.^[10]

Due to Sharia (or Islamic Law), the majority of Sunni Muslims hold that tattooing is religiously forbidden (along with most other forms of "permanent" physical modification). This view arises from references in the Prophetic Hadith that denounce those who attempt to change the creation of God, in what is seen as excessive attempts to beautify that which was already perfected. The human being is seen as having been ennobled by God, the human form viewed as created beautiful, such that the act of tattooing would be a form of mutilation.^[11][12] This is however viewed differently in Shia Islam, and it is generally permitted.

Despite alleged religious prohibition, tattoos are common among Sunnis of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and some Maghreb countries. Sunni Bedouin and Kurdish women have a long tradition of tattooed bodies.^{[13][14][15][16][17]}

Shia

Shia scholars such as Ayatollahs Ali al-Sistani and Ali Khamenei believe there are no authoritative (sunnah) Shia prohibitions on tattoos.^[18] Main Shia argument is that tattooing occurs under the skin, not on it, hence no change to the creation of God occurs. Shi'ites also point out to the fact that logically; cutting one's nails, trimming/removing body hair and undergoing medical surgeries, de facto equals to altering God's creation, so that should be also prohibited by the Sunni jurists. Within the Shi'ite communities tattoos are generally seen as allowed but makruh (disliked and discouraged). Grand Ayatollah Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi ruled: "Tattoos are considered Makruh (disliked and discouraged). However, it is not permissible to have Quranic verses, names of Ahlulbayt (a.s), drawings of Imams (a.s), Hadiths, unislamic and inappropriate images or the likes tattooed onto the body. And if the ink was the type that remains above the skin, then it would be considered prohibited. However, if it was of the type to go beneath the skin, it would be considered permissible but Makruh."^[19]

Judaism

Famous Jewish American NFL player Igor Olshansky has many tattoos, including two Stars of David on his neck.^[20] He is regularly featured in Jewish news publications.^[21][22]

Tattoos are generally forbidden in Judaism^[23] based on the Torah (Leviticus 19:28): "You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord." The prohibition is explained by contemporary rabbis as part of a general prohibition on body modification (with the exception of circumcision) that does not serve a medical purpose (such as to correct a deformity). Maimonides, a leading 12th-century scholar of Jewish law and thought, explains the prohibition against tattoos as a Jewish response to paganism.

Orthodox Jews, in application of Halakha (Jewish Law), reveal Leviticus 19:28 prohibits getting tattoos: "Do not make gashes in your skin for the dead. Do not make any marks on your skin. I am God." One reading of Leviticus is to apply it only to the specific ancient practice of rubbing the ashes of the dead into wounds; but modern tattooing is included in other religious interpretations. Orthodox/Traditional Jews also point to Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 180:1, that elucidates the biblical passage above as a prohibition against markings beyond the ancient practice, including tattoos. Maimonides concluded that regardless of intent, the act of tattooing is prohibited (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Idolatry 12:11).

Conservative Jews point to the next verse of the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 180:2): "If it [the tattoo] was done in the flesh of another, the one to whom it was done is blameless" – this is used by them to say that tattooing yourself is different from obtaining a tattoo, and that the latter may be acceptable. Orthodox Jews disagree, and read the text as referring to forced tattooing—as was done during the Holocaust—which is not considered a violation of Jewish Law on the part of the victim. In another vein, cutting into the skin to perform surgery and temporary tattooing used for surgical purposes (e.g.: to mark the lines of an incision) are permitted in the Shulhan Arukh 180:3.

In most sectors of the religious Jewish community, having a tattoo does not prohibit participation, and one may be buried in a Jewish cemetery and participate fully in all synagogue ritual.

Reform Jews and Reconstructionist Jews neither condemn nor condone tattooing.

In modern times, the association of tattoos with Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust has added another level of revulsion to the practice of tattooing, even among many otherwise fairly secular Jews. It is a common misconception that anyone bearing a tattoo is not permitted to be buried in a Jewish cemetery.^[24]

Neopagan

Neopagans can use the process and the outcome of tattooing as an expression or representation of their beliefs.^[25] Many tattooists' websites offer pagan images as examples of the kinds of provided artwork. At least one Wiccan Tradition uses a tattoo as a mark of Initiation, although it is an entitlement, not a requirement.

Hinduism

It is not clear if tattoos are allowed culturally or religiously.

References