Religious Tattoos - Taboo Or Not Taboo?

It does not take a genius for one to realize that tattoos are becoming indelible in our society today. People from all walks of life are getting themselves inked for various reasons. For some, the reasons are merely skin-deep: to increase their "level of sexiness" up a few notches, to identify themselves with a group of tattooed individuals, or to exercise their freedom and be cool. But for some, it involves a deeper, religious meaning.

Religious tattoos are quite common nowadays. We see cross tattoos or religious symbols and images being sported by different individuals around. And, in all truthfulness, a few of these individuals do not fit into the bill of what a religious person should be. But one question remains: Is tattooing of religious symbols recognized as a religious act? It would depend on which religious sector you belong to, and on what your religious beliefs are.

The advent of religious tattoos dates back to the pre-biblical era when the art of tattooing was widely practiced by the pagans as a means of worship until it was forbidden when Constantine became the emperor of Rome. According to Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead; neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks. I am the Lord." This then became the basis for Christians to shun tattooing.

Islam tradition forbids any bodily alterations made as a way to enhance physical beauty, and this includes body tattoos. Generally, the Muslim culture also considers tattoos unacceptable; as well as traditional Jews. However, maybe due to the changing of the times, this body art is now slowly being accepted by these religious sectors, though not as a religious act.

But in some Asian cultures, having religious tattoos is traditional practice. It is common custom for Buddhist monks to wear tattoos that are believed to ward off bad luck and evil spirits, and therefore serve as an amulet. In Hindu religion, tattooing is also common practice as part of their culture. For the Egyptians, religious tattoos such as The Eye Of Horus also serves as protection from evil spirits, to bring good luck, and to gain entry into after-life.

In recent times, religious tattoos seem to be just that: a skin-deep image of a once-revered symbol. The Ankh, Ichthus, the Sacred Heart and the Crucifix of the Christians; the Star of David, Menorah, and Allah symbols of the Islams; the Eye of Horus, Yin Yang, Dharma, and other religious symbols for different religious sectors are seen worn by people who do not practice the religion.

But it is also fairly common for a person to show his devotion by having something of religious importance etched on his body even on this day and age. So the question of whether religious tattoos are taboo or not lies on the personal belief of the wearer. It is no longer dictated by society but by how one chose to show his spirituality. Tattoos, like religion, have become a personal thing.

If you want to know more about religious tattoos and religious tattoo designs, visit body-jewelry-useek.com. Here you will also find information about sun tattoos, dolphin tattoos, and other tattoo ideas.

Get Your Ultimate Buddha Tattoo Designs

Want to know why Buddha tattoos are popular tattoo designs?

Buddhism is one of the foremost religions in Asian countries including China, Thailand, and India. Since I'll be discussing about Buddha tattoos, let me tell you about the foundation of Buddhism and how it came about. 

Buddha

Would you believe that Buddha was a prince? His name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was born a prince and even then one of the philosophers who witnessed the prince's birth already saw greatness in him. He was believed to go beyond any noble power, a 'supreme knowledge.'

The prince was referred to as Buddha, thus, Buddhism was named after him. Buddha introduced the noble truths which he based from on he saw - the truth behind human subsistence and why people have little control of their fates.

Buddha Tattoos

When one thinks of a tattoo with Buddha design, one would instantly think of the Buddha image. It is the most popular among Buddha designs, which connotes faith and loyalty to Buddha.

You can also find colorful cartoon versions, or the dancing and laughing Buddha. You can also look for designs depicting a lion, a begging bowl, Buddha footprints, an empty throne, or the Bodhi Tree (a significant symbol where Buddha accomplished enlightenment).

The traditional Thai Buddha design represents luck, wealth, and blessings.

Although there are various other Buddha tattoos that can be used for the design, still the Buddha image remains as the first choice. No matter how Buddha is represented in a tattoo design including his mood depictions or the colors of his clothes, those who follow the prince will always look at theaw tattoos as symbols of enlightenment, strength of character, and greatness.

Don't Miss This!

If you are looking for a wide variety of tattoo designs to select from, then I strongly suggest you check out this huge collection of Buddha tattoos.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3023832

50 Religiously Inspired Tattoos Show Faith That's Not Just Skin-Deep

For many inked individuals, tattoos are a way to commemorate a spiritual journey or a means of expressing one's internal self. The body becomes the canvas for a diverse array of religious inspiration through this artform.
HuffPost blogger Jacob D. Myers shared his thoughts about the spirituality of tattoos, commenting, "Just as art has always conjoined the spiritual and the religious, tattoos can combine the inward and outward expressions of a spiritual or significant experience, literally, as art on the body."
Though cultures and religions differ in their official teachings with regards to tattoos, it's undeniable that many people find them a meaningful way of expressing their personal faith and spirituality. Judaism and Islam have historically discouraged tattoos, citing scripture and hadith.
Others see tattoos as a unique way to evangelize, proudly showing off their faith with their adorned bodies. Daniel Ostrowski, who founded the Christian Tattoo Association in 1998, told Beliefnet, "Tattooing is a unique way to express your faith. It shows on the outside what you got on the inside -- if it is real."
Check out 50 religiously inspired tattoos here, and tweet us your spiritual ink here @HuffPostRelig:

The Man with the Buddha Tattoo

An Englishman well known for his tattoos

A few weeks ago a British man was refused entry to Sri Lanka because he had a large visible tattoo of Buddha on his arm. Sri Lankan immigration officials took the view that it would cause offence and concluded that he should not enter the country.
Initial reports suggested that the visitor had also voiced disrespect towards Buddhism although the man later declared that he was himself a Buddhist and that far from being an insult, the tattoo demonstrated his affiliation to the religion. Whatever the truth behind the conflicting reports, this is a good example of how tourism can result in cultural misunderstandings.
Of course, part of the reason that we travel is to experience different cultures.
That entails being sensitive to the communities we visit and ensuring that we are aware of different cultural norms. On the other side, countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives which open themselves up to large scale tourism need to be prepared for the fact that people with very different perspectives and values will visit their shores.
Glossy marketing and the relative ease of global transport can mask the fact that tourist destinations often have very different customs to those found in liberal western cities.

 Traditional Stilt Fishermen in Sri Lanka

Had the visitor read our Travel Advice he would have seen that we caution against causing perceived insult to Buddhism. This advice has now been updated to include a specific reference to tattoos. The man with the tattoo of Buddha claimed that he was exercising his right to free expression.

That’s a right strongly promoted and defended by the UK government. We also recognise that such freedoms are necessarily limited where such expression has a negative impact on others (e.g. racist language).  Arguably a better informed traveller might have had the awareness to cover his tattoo while visiting a country with strong views on Buddhist iconography.

Eid Celebration in Maldives

But while visitors need to be better informed and respectful of the countries they are visiting, a degree of understanding and tolerance is also desirable on the part of the hosts. In Maldives, for example, this means having to balance traditional Islamic customs which outlaw alcohol and revealing clothing with providing a relaxed environment for tourists who pay a lot of money for a well-earned holiday in paradise.

This has been managed in Maldives through a clear separation between resort islands and those inhabited by Maldivians, but the cultural differences have nevertheless given rise to tensions.

In Sri Lanka, while many see the economic opportunities offered by increasing visitor numbers, there are also concerns amongst some local people that traditional livelihoods and cultures are coming under threat. And while many tourists enjoy exploring new destinations and cultures, they also need to feel that they are safe and protected in areas less accustomed to foreigners.

It’s been reported that the decision to deny entry to the man with the Buddha tattoo was made partly on the basis that his safety could have been at risk.

That could well be the case, but if so, it tells a sad story about the growing levels of religious anxiety in a country usually famed for its hospitality towards visitors.

Briton Denies Buddha Tattoo Was 'Disrespectful'

A British tourist is "shocked and upset" after being deported from Sri Lanka for displaying a Buddha tattoo on his arm, he says.

Antony Ratcliffe, 42, from Nottingham, was turned back at Colombo's main airport on Friday for allegedly showing a lack of respect for Buddhism.
The authorities are tough on perceived insults to Buddhism - the religion of the island's majority ethnic Sinhalese.
But Mr Ratcliffe says the "inoffensive" body art was meant as a tribute.

 Mr Ratcliffe got the tattoo in Burma, and says it was not something he took lightly

'Officer went crazy' The Briton, a former infection control officer for the ambulance service and a keen amateur photographer, was stopped as he tried to leave Bandaranaike International Airport during a 12-hour stop-over en route from London to Malaysia.
Despite having a valid two-day tourist visa, Mr Ratcliffe said he was frogmarched to a detention area after immigration officials spotted the Buddha's head tattoo poking out from the sleeve of his T-shirt.
"As soon as he saw it the chief officer went crazy. You could see it on his face, he looked really angry and said I would have to go back to London," Mr Ratcliffe told the BBC.
An unnamed immigration official told a local newspaper that when questioned about the tattoo, Mr Ratcliffe had spoken "very disrespectfully" about Buddhism.
But the Briton says he remained calm throughout the proceedings.
"They took my passport and held me there for an hour and a half. All the time they were bringing people in to look at my arm, and they were shaking their heads.

"I was explaining my case, pleading basically, and the chief officer just told me to 'shut up, shut up' and he refused to talk to me."
"I like the artwork in tattoos obviously and, due to my belief in Buddhist philosophy which I have followed for many years, I thought a quality tattoo of the Buddha was rather apt.
"It wasn't something I took lightly or did on the spur of the moment."
Eventually, Mr Ratcliffe was allowed to continue his journey to Kuala Lumpur, but faced further questioning when he landed.
"The whole experience has been a shock - it has been upsetting and a waste of my time. I'm not taking it further, but when I saw they had accused me of speaking disrespectfully about Buddhism, I had to put my side of the story", he said.
More than 100,000 British citizens visited Sri Lanka in 2012, accounting for 10% of the total number of tourists. The UK is also the country's second-largest trading partner after India.
Last year, three French tourists were given suspended prison sentences for taking photographs that showed them pretending to kiss a statue of Buddha at a temple.
In 2010, the American R&B star Akon was refused a visa after protests over one of his music videos, which featured scantily-clad women dancing in front of a statue of Buddha.
The UK foreign office offers the following caution for travellers to Sri Lanka: "The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is a serious offence and tourists have been convicted for this."
It also advises that travellers "don't pose for photographs by standing in front of a statue of Buddha".