Religious Tattoos

The idea of religious tattoos may seem counterintuitive, for several reasons – not only is tattooing prohibited by some religions, such as Orthodox Judaism, but until recently, tattoos were associated with a vaguely disreputable counterculture that seems at odds with religion. However, religious symbols – Christian or otherwise – are actually quite common tattoo designs. Interestingly, Mexican and other Latin gangs have been using Christian symbols in their tattoo art for generations, believing in the protection that these images can give. Nowadays, because tattooing has gone mainstream, religious tattoos are not just for gang members – not by a long shot. Tattoos of Christian symbols, such as the cross and the ‘Jesus fish’, are a common way for Christians to express their faith. And it doesn’t stop there – people use religious tattoos to express a great variety of religious views.

Religious Tattoo Designs

Christian Cross Tattoo

Religious tattoos fall into one of several categories. For a start, there are the Christian tattoos, such as cross tattoos. There are a great variety of images in this category alone, including the Celtic cross, the Egyptian ankh cross, and many others. In some tattoo designs Jesus is pictured on the cross, making the whole design considerably more complex. Other detailing might include a wood grain pattern on the cross, or the crown of thorns in the middle of the cross of hanging off one of the arms. Sometimes lettering is added to the image – such as the chapter and verse number of a certain Psalm or Bible verse. Other times, the cross itself is made of two crossed nails – large ones, such as those that were put through Christ’s hands and feet.

Other Christian religious tattoos encompass a wide variety of styles, from the praying hands and realistic portraits of saints and angels that some people believe will protect them, to more abstract symbols, like the so-called ‘Jesus fish’ – a stylized fish that is the symbol of Christ because of several Biblical references.

Of course, not all religious tattoos are Christian at all, though symbols from the other major religions are rarer. Judaism forbids tattooing, though this is not an edict that everyone follows – occasionally, you might see a Star of David or a menorah tattoo, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

The Indian religions have their own traditional body art, but tattooing is fairly uncommon. On the other hand, Buddhist and Taoist symbols have become quite popular of late.

Among so-called ‘fringe’ religions, religious tattoos are also common. A great example is the neo-pagan movement that has been gaining momentum in North America and Europe during the past couple of decades. Wiccans and other neo-pagans are great fans of tattoos, and many religious symbols can be found among their favored tattoo images. Some examples include the pentangle star, various images representing the four directions and the four elements (sacred in all pagan religions) , and the ‘athame’, the witches’ ceremonial knife. Religious tattoos are, in short, far more common and versatile than you might think, and for many people they are a powerful, personal way of expressing their faith.

Celebrities With Religious Tattoos

Here's an overview of celebrities with a religious tattoo:

• Allen Iverson: NBA player with a praying hands tattoo on his chest accompanied by his mother's and grandmother's names. He's also got a cross of daggers on his left upper arm.

Celtic Cross Tattoos to Sacred Hearts

Religious tattoos have been around for thousands of years but they haven't always been accepted as they are nowadays. During the Roman Empire the practice of tattooing was almost eradicated in so called civilized culture. Barbarians were the only ones that had tattoos, and to be seen with a tattoo was an offence punishable by death.

The Romans believed that the body was to remain in its purest form and tattoos had no place in this belief. Roman soldiers came across many tattooed barbarians in the expansion of the Roman Empire and as a result soldiers began bringing tattoos back into the civilised world.

As Christianity emerged it brought with it the secrecy of an underground religion in a Roman state of intolerance. Christians began tattooing crosses on the underside of their forearms as a secret sign to other Christians. This was a bold statement of their faith, although secret, a Christian caught with a cross tattoo would be killed immediately.

Throughtout history it has become commonplace for tattooed individuals to be set apart or outside society. But times have changed. There is a new breed of modified bodies who call themselves evangelical Christians. More than a millennium after church authorities condemned tattooing as a sin, evangelical Christians are inking their bodies with images of crosses, sacred hearts and angels.

For a small but growing subculture within evangelical Christianity, religious tattooing is becoming more and more a form of expression of individuality, identity and faith. Abiding by the principle that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, conservative Christian churches have often set limits on bodily expressions. As far as tattoos go, the Bible has different decrees open to different interpretation.

For example Leviticus says:

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

In his Letter to the Galatians, Apostle Paul says,

Let no one cause me trouble,
because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus

Other biblical passages from Exodus to Revelation describe divine symbols being placed on the bodies of believers. Since the Emperor Constantine banned the practice in the third century because it violated God's teachings, attempts by religious authorities to prohibit tattooing have met with limited success.

Fast foward to modern times and witness the surge in people getting religious tattoos. Instead of worshipping religious representations displayed on stained glass windows of the local church, people find meaning in inscribing images on their own private temple of the Holy Spirit.

A lot of Christians and non Christians are getting tattooed for both personal and spiritual reasons from getting angel tattoos, Celtic cross tattoos to Mexican gang tattoos or prison style tattoos with the image of the Virgin Mary or praying hands. Or even religous imagery used in the new school style of tattoos that shows the Sacred Heart or other religious representations. There is no doubt that religious style tattoos are here to stay.

Placement of Religious Tattoos

Most people get religous tattoos such as the Virgin Mary or Sacred Heart on their upper arms or chest for both males and females. Another popular style is a Celtic Cross tattoo either on the chest or on the back.