Poll: Faith-based tattoo: Have you ever talked to someone with one?

[Indentured Servant]

On 12/12/2024 at 8:42 AM, Katie Rose Müller said:

If you wouldn't take spray paint and go to the Temple in Jerusalem and graffiti it, why would make marks on your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit? I hate tattoos and faith-based ones seem even more vile to me because it's a slap in the face to God to take His temple, mar it, but claim you're doing it for Him. I have rather strong feelings about this one and would probably offend others, so . . . to put succinctly, I view this topic negatively and that's how I will conclude my post.

I, unfortunately, have a tattoo that is 38 years old. I see it, and refer to it, as an old scar... From my years before Christ. 

I also know people who have riddled their bodies with tattoos that they claim reflect their "faith." I find this to be superficial, and that this faction of believers choose to decorate their bodies rather than openly live a life that portrays the meanings of their tattoos... 

But, when I was a young Christian, (two years after the tattoo), I had a nightmare that I was afraid I wouldn't be allowed into heaven with it... In my dream my friend told me to "look again." The tattoo flaked off before I went to heaven. 

It's not the best choice to make, but as long as it isn't the mark of the beast, it won't be a part of your eternity.

[Scott Free]

9 hours ago, farouk said:

This may be true in some cases.

A better way to put it is that people with tattoos are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues. Behind the pride I see a compensation for feelings of inadequacy. Good candidates for the love of Jesus and spiritual healing. My attraction toward them is more out of compassion than admiration.

[farouk]

21 hours ago, Indentured Servant said:

It's not the best choice to make, but as long as it isn't the mark of the beast, it won't be a part of your eternity.

@Indentured Servant You are indeed right that the best form of testimony is a consistent walk before the Lord and others and the cultivation by the grace of God of inward and spiritual qualities which are consistent with Christ revealed through the Word.

As regards getting tattooed, it used to be predominantly a male thing among sailors and the military and bikers.

Now GodsGrace's observation is likely quite accurate:

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GodsGrace said:

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

christianityboard dot com

 

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Even the most conservative of young ppl do seem to find their way as clients into a tattoo parlor; sometimes for something that reflects faith-based conviction, widely thought to be an age-appropriate way of expressing it.

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll.

If you have not yet voted in the poll, please vote now.

[Indentured Servant]

44 minutes ago, farouk said:

among sailors and the military and bikers.

Guilty, as charged... I was a sailor, and associated with a bikers club, hahaha. The biker group was a stronger influence than being a sailor regarding the tattoo.

[farouk]

39 minutes ago, Indentured Servant said:

Guilty, as charged... I was a sailor, and associated with a bikers club, hahaha. The biker group was a stronger influence than being a sailor regarding the tattoo.

Hi @Indentured Servant Well now it's gone a long way beyond bikers and military as a seemingly established custom. FYI, these quotes from the Bible Belt:

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..in the rural Bible Belt. Just about every person in three of the four sides of my family (bio parents, step parents) have multiple tattoos. Most of them are biblical (crosses between the shoulder blades are the most common ones) getting tattoos when your old enough is pretty much expected in the family.

source: reddit

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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

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[Indentured Servant]

50 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @Indentured Servant Well now it's gone a long way beyond bikers and military as a seemingly established custom. FYI, these quotes from the Bible Belt:

..............

  Quote

..in the rural Bible Belt. Just about every person in three of the four sides of my family (bio parents, step parents) have multiple tattoos. Most of them are biblical (crosses between the shoulder blades are the most common ones) getting tattoos when your old enough is pretty much expected in the family.

source: reddit

...................

  Quote

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

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The interesting part of all that, to me anyway, is that more than twenty years ago, a technology was created that merged cellular signals with tattoos that vibrated as an alert to incoming calls, texts, etc. 

That technology can conceivably track anyone with a tattoo, which can hold all their personal data, etc

[farouk]

On 1/12/2025 at 1:30 PM, LaurenMay said:

 I don’t know how I’d decide a faith based one so many lovely to choose from!

@LaurenMay PS: You've talked about your mom a bit; presumably she would have given you impressions about tattoo designs; though maybe any she may have are not faith based...

[farouk]

Hi @NConly

I say if a tat is painful that person has lived a shelter life..I think once a person gets a compliment on their tat they get a good feeling about having done what they thought about maybe quite a while..

This is I guess why a tattoo on turning 18 is regarded as a coming of age thing; proves if nothing else that the person is willing to endure just a bit of pain, right?

Christian young ppl often plan for a Bible verse/ faith-based one.....

[NConly]

16 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @NConly

I say if a tat is painful that person has lived a shelter life..I think once a person gets a compliment on their tat they get a good feeling about having done what they thought about maybe quite a while..

This is I guess why a tattoo on turning 18 is regarded as a coming of age thing; proves if nothing else that the person is willing to endure just a bit of pain, right?

Christian young ppl often plan for a Bible verse/ faith-based one.....

I have not spoken to many on why they get or got a tat.