Opinions on Tattoos

[PhuturePriest]

From an aesthetic point of view, I think tattoos are really ugly. Any person's beauty is diminished by them, in my opinion. But diminishing beauty =/= sin, it just means I don't find it attractive, and I would prefer it if my hypothetical wife did not have one.

If I were to ever get a tattoo, it would be a sort of Catholic branding on my left arm. For those who don't know (meaning they've never even seen Gladiator, which means they should stop reading this and immediately watch Gladiator), Roman legionaries would get SPQR tattooed on their upper left arm as a type of brand, showing they belonged to the Empire. So I might entertain something like a simple "nun" (letter for 'Nazarene'), but nothing else.

Edited April 5, 2016 by PhuturePriest

[Nihil Obstat]

I do quite like the Coptic custom of a small Coptic cross on the right(?) wrist. Obviously there is a lot more behind that than simply as a fashion statement.

[4LoveofJMJ]

On 4/3/2016, 1:24:22, Sponsa-Christi said:

In general, I personally don't like the look of tattoos, but I don't think the Church would ever say they're immoral in and of themselves.

I also think that tasteful religious tattoos are in a different sort of category. For example, there is a custom among Coptic Christians in Muslim to have a small cross tattooed on their wrist. The idea there is that marking themselves with a cross, they are professing their faith in a permanent way---i.e., they couldn't deny their faith even if they were pressured to do so by force or threat of violence. 

10 minutes ago, Nihil Obstat said:

I do quite like the Coptic custom of a small Coptic cross on the right(?) wrist. Obviously there is a lot more behind that than simply as a fashion statement.

16 minutes ago, PhuturePriest said:

From an aesthetic point of view, I think tattoos are really ugly. Any person's beauty is diminished by them, in my opinion. But diminishing beauty =/= sin, it just means I don't find it attractive, and I would prefer it if my hypothetical wife did not have one.

If I were to ever get a tattoo, it would be a sort of Catholic branding on my left arm. For those who don't know (meaning they've never even seen Gladiator, which means they should stop reading this and immediately watch Gladiator), Roman legionaries would get SPQR tattooed on their upper left arm as a type of brand, showing they belonged to the Empire. So I might entertain something like a simple "nun" (letter for 'Nazarene'), but nothing else.

I do like these ideas! With Christianity under attack nowadays, it's time to make a stance for what you believe in.

 

[Not A Real Name]

1 hour ago, Nihil Obstat said:

I do quite like the Coptic custom of a small Coptic cross on the right(?) wrist. Obviously there is a lot more behind that than simply as a fashion statement.

I like tattoos like these and your idea of a St. Benedict medal. I love rosary tattoos and I feel if something happened where I was without one, then I could use my tattoo as a reference. 

[PhuturePriest]

1 hour ago, Nihil Obstat said:

I do quite like the Coptic custom of a small Coptic cross on the right(?) wrist. Obviously there is a lot more behind that than simply as a fashion statement.

I was thinking of them specifically, actually. The Coptic cross really is quite beautiful, and this is a very amazing way to "brand" yourself in a way which is minimalistic and doesn't cover up natural beauty.

[4LoveofJMJ]

They are very beautiful. Sometimes simplicity all that is needed. My cousin has a small cross tattoo on her wrist and she says it has definitely helped her witness to what Christ has done in her life. I like this one a lot.

[truthfinder]

4 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

I do quite like the Coptic custom of a small Coptic cross on the right(?) wrist. Obviously there is a lot more behind that than simply as a fashion statement.

I've actually seen a few (older) women here who have this tattooed on their foreheads. I'm not sure which church they belong to but I would assume it's Coptic.

There's been some work done on medieval pilgrims getting tattoos much like they'd also pick up pilgrim badges/symbols.

But broadly speaking, seeing people with tattoos tends to make me think of them just a little differently. I grew up with the only people having tattoos were bikers and truck drivers - anyone who gets sleeve tattoos that aren't in these groups or similar just is wrong to me. 

[Era Might]

Only gang signs and ex-girlfriends are permissible. Roses, Chinese characters, and Looney Tunes are strictly forbidden by the Church.

[Gabriela]

3 hours ago, truthfinder said:

I've actually seen a few (older) women here who have this tattooed on their foreheads. I'm not sure which church they belong to but I would assume it's Coptic.

There's been some work done on medieval pilgrims getting tattoos much like they'd also pick up pilgrim badges/symbols.

But broadly speaking, seeing people with tattoos tends to make me think of them just a little differently. I grew up with the only people having tattoos were bikers and truck drivers - anyone who gets sleeve tattoos that aren't in these groups or similar just is wrong to me. 

In Israel, there are a TON of Ethiopian Christians with those crosses tattooed on their foreheads. It looks quite nice, I think.

[truthfinder]

8 minutes ago, Gabriela said:

In Israel, there are a TON of Ethiopian Christians with those crosses tattooed on their foreheads. It looks quite nice, I think.

In this godless society, it's certainly a witness of faith. But I also think the practice is rooted in a particular culture, and it would be weird for others to start doing this. They always make me smile when I see them. 

[4LoveofJMJ]

Here's an interesting article on the Coptic Christian cross tattoos. It's a nice little read for anyone who's unfamiliar with the practice. http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/06/27/tattoos-arent-just-a-fashion-statement-for-egypts-copts/

[Nihil Obstat]

1 hour ago, Era Might said:

Only gang signs and ex-girlfriends are permissible. Roses, Chinese characters, and Looney Tunes are strictly forbidden by the Church.

Chinese characters are fine if and only if you can translate the character, then use say and write it in a full sentence in such a way that would be understood by a native speaker.

[Norseman82]

On Tuesday, April 05, 2016 1:22:13, PhuturePriest said:

So I might entertain something like a simple "nun" (letter for 'Nazarene'), but nothing else.

For the love of all that is holy...

 

 

Whatever you do....

 

 

Be sure to specify that you want the Arabic letter, not the word or a picture of a nun!!

[Archaeology cat]

Nothing to add except that I just misread the title on the main page as "opinion on tacos"

[PhuturePriest]

Oh, Phatmass.

After all these years, I still don't understand the obsession with tacos.