Most of the cultures of that era were barbaric in nature, but the people of Israel formed a new nation. The law given by God to Moses was the foundation on which this nation was held. The people of Israel were called to live in a completely different system of values, different from the culture of violence, robbery and death characteristic of other, neighboring peoples. Tattooing their bodies, the Jews would be no different from the pagans, who committed ritual murders, "sacred" violence, massacre and deified passions that are destructive to the human soul. This may be one of the reasons why God gives a commandment against tattoos.
In our culture, tattoos no longer carry the same meaning as in the time of Moses. In the era of grace, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, in which Christ dwells in power. If we look at the motives for which people get tattoos, we see that for the most part they just want to be different from others. But non-conformism, following fashion trends, the desire to shock - all this is alien to the law of love of Christ, Crucified and Risen from the dead.
Some people think that . This speaks of their desire to improve what God has done (cf. Ps. 139:14). Or indicates an inferiority complex and that they are not satisfied with their body, and also indicates the need for a new identity, the search for their other, more interesting "I", which is typical for a person experiencing a crisis; having no merit to demonstrate, they try in this way to impress others (and in the original sense of the word too). Meanwhile, novelty can cause surprise for no more than a second, only to then drown in a stream of platitudes that have already been seen more than once.
 |
Thus, when tattoos do not indicate faith, they are an unsuccessful substitution of personality, culture, erudition, sense of humor, cheerfulness, openness, faith, creative uniqueness. They serve only as an indicator of the desperate search for one's own "I", more and more screaming, searches in those places where it was not and never will be.
Most often, tattoos reflect the inner world of a person: what is close to him, what he believes in. Drawing on the body is our inner world or part of it, which we are not ashamed of and are not afraid to show people. Religion has always been a huge part of the life of mankind in all countries and on all continents. Religious tattoos, whose meaning varies by denomination, can tell a lot about the wearer and are an additional pillar of faith on which the person wearing them relies.
Religious tattoo: girl with a rose
Religious tattoos in Catholicism: where did it come from?
In the catholic medieval Europe religion was given great importance: it was the conscience of a people with low morals and the cause of many wars and crusades. Priests who carried the word of religion often branded themselves in the shape of a cross, as a sign of eternal service to God. But they branded not only themselves: for example, during the time of the Holy Inquisition, the church branded those who were suspected of witchcraft, as well as girls of easy virtue.
Currently, there are a lot of believers who, with the help of a tattoo, want to pay tribute to their religion. Most popular images:
- Rosary, rosary
- Crosses
- Image of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns
- Scenes from the Bible
- Prayer texts
- Picture of the Madonna
It is believed that the inhabitants of Latin America are very pious, and it is among the representatives of this ethnic group that you can meet people with Madonna tattoos in their entire backs or a rosary on their wrists.
This tattoo features a heart wrapped in barbed wire and Jesus
Tattoos in Judaism: is it kosher?
Tattoos in Judaism are considered as wrong as eating pork, working on the Sabbath or breaking one of the most important commandments of the Torah, but this is forbidden in the Orthodox Jewish environment. More secular Jews or people who identify as non-traditional Jews can afford to get a tattoo that relates to their religion and culture. The most common of them are Hebrew inscriptions from the Torah, the Star of David, the menorah, images of other attributes of Jewish culture.
Jesus on the guy's hand
Tattoos in Islam
Religious tattoos in Islam, the sketches of which can vary from the flag of an Arab country to a quote from the Holy Quran, are not prohibited by religion, but they are not allowed either. Since there is no information about images on the body “in official” sources, everyone decides for himself whether to do such a tattoo or not. However, many patriotic men prick designs such as a crescent moon or write surahs from the Koran on the body. However, we would not be in a hurry to classify these representatives of the Arab world as true Muslims. Perhaps such a tattoo, like the Jews, is only a tribute to their native culture.
Sometimes a religious tattoo might look like this
Most tattooed religions
Buddhists, Hare Krishnas and other representatives of Eastern philosophies make religious tattoos, photos of which are very numerous on the net, much more often and more than representatives of other religions. Eastern philosophy is not just a faith, but also a lifestyle, and when you live it, speak openly about it, when religion is present in every day, hour and minute and becomes a part of you, then you decide to put images on your body that have for you have a special meaning.
I am a Hare Krishna, it has become not only my way of life, but also the meaning. Even before meeting Krishna, I was fond of tattoos, but now everything that I do on my body is not meaningless, but very expensive and important for me: I have tattoos of my favorite mantras and, of course, a tattoo with the name of my mentor. And I know for sure that I will continue to make tattoos with meaning in the future. After all, once you start, it's hard to stop
Andrey, Moscow
Religious tattoo in the form of three crosses with a man crucified on one of them
Important! If you want to get yourself a tattoo in Hindi or another language that you do not speak and whose writing is not familiar, try several times to check if the sketch is done correctly.
Pagan tattoos: what symbols did the ancient Celts and Vikings adorn themselves with?
The pagan tribes of the Scandinavians, the brave Vikings, the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons believed in different gods, but showed unanimity in the faith of the elements and the power of symbols. For example, the Vikings decorated their body with tattoos of various runes, depending on their meaning, which brought them good luck in battles, victory over enemies, gave courage and strength in fierce battles. The Celts were a more peaceful people, but they strove for knowledge of the world around them through the forces of nature and the elements. They also had their sacred symbols, which are still popular with neo-pagans today: trikver or the so-called triad, symbols of the moon, month and sun, as well as their own script.
Currently, tattoos are popular among young people as a symbol of their kind and roots, depicting runes and Slavic deities, Kolovrat, the sun and the ancients, like the world itself, gods and goddesses.
Religious Star of David Tattoo
Tattoos of the tribes of Africa and South America
In fact, paganism is not only the ancient Slavs, Scandinavians and Celtic peoples: the tribes of Africa, Australia and the Indians can also be called pagans, as they adhere to polytheism. Basically, they decorated their bodies with tattoos that looked more like an ornament and reflected their beliefs: they believed that they would bring them good luck in hunting, increase their dexterity and endurance.
Do you know? Indian tattoos, which at first glance may seem like ordinary pictures - deer, arrows, bows, triangles and much more - are actually their ancient alphabet, and these pictures are a kind of writing that can tell a fascinating story.
Religious tattoo in the form of praying hands
I am an adherent of paganism and have long wanted to get a tattoo that would bring me good luck, give me strength and at the same time remind me of my faith. For me, it's very personal, and I made it in a secluded place. I don't want to say what this image is, but I feel like my life has changed. A pagan tattoo, the sketch of which I drew myself, in principle, cannot work otherwise. This is not just a drawing on the body, it is a charm.
Daniel, Lipetsk
Video: an overview of religious tattoos
Man, according to the plan of the Lord, is a two-part being. He has a spiritual non-material substance - a soul and a material body. The body is also a co-heir of the soul in the Kingdom of God - in the new mountain city of Jerusalem (see Revelation of St. John the Theologian, ch. 21).
After all, the present death, which separates the soul and the body, is not the end yet. At the Last Judgment, when our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the angels and saints, will judge each of us, we will appear before God in all the fullness of our nature, that is, not only spiritually - soul, but also bodily. The dead, for example, will be resurrected in such a way that their structures and members will gather, the soul will enter into them, and the person in his full nature will stand before the Judgment of God (see the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, 37:1-14). And also mentally and physically, after the final over him Doomsday will enter forever either hell or heaven.
Therefore, the Church has always very carefully and reverently treated the body as a co-heir of the soul in the eternal future life of the eighth day. Hence such a reverent attitude towards the bodies of the dead in the Orthodox rite of burial of the dead. That is why the Church has such a negative attitude towards cremation.
Unnatural body jewelry is also undesirable: tattoos, piercings, nail polish, makeup and hair dyeing. After all, man is the image and likeness of God. The Lord initially created it as a beautiful self-sufficient microcosm - the whole Universe. Therefore, it is, of course, a dubious practice to "modify" one's body unnecessarily. It is as if we do not trust God and build our own tower of babel trying to fix the Creator. Such behavior can lead to nothing good.
This does not exclude the natural care of your body and the treatment of diseases such as disabilities.
In addition, often a young guy or girl does not understand the true meaning of tattoos - their historical significance. In the ancient pagan world, where there were no printing technologies, tattoos could, among other things, be something like a seal or a passport. They carried information about a person: belonging to a particular tribe, clan, clan, social status.
There is another subtext here. A modern young man sometimes imagines that a tattoo is a kind of symbol of his personal freedom. But in the pagan world (where its origins come from) - this is a symbol of the exact opposite. There, a tattoo is often a symbol of submission, a sign of belonging to someone or something. So, for example, it is still happening in closed subcultures such as army units or bandit formations.
Sometimes a person, when applying a tattoo, does not even think about what informational meaning this or that symbol carries. After all, a tattoo is not just an ornament, it often has a philosophical or religious background. And a person running from reality into a fictional dreamy world (where he often tries to “drag in” his body, including with the help of tattoos), can, without realizing it, revive neo-paganism, and after it (if you call things by their own names) idolatry and service to demons.
This is all the more frightening for an Orthodox Christian. Since the holy supreme apostle Paul said about us, Orthodox Christians: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him: for the temple of God is holy; and this temple is you” (1 Cor. 3:16). That is, we are a living church, a temple. Each of us.
An Orthodox Christian has one belonging - to Christ. And the symbol of this has long been pectoral cross on the neck. God blesses such a person, and the holy angel protects. And with a tattooed person, everything can be diametrically opposed. Those who have inflicted frankly pagan tattoos on their bodies, of course, should confess this sin, and the Lord will surely forgive them and restore the lost spiritual and bodily harmony.
Priest Andrei Chizhenko
Orthodox Life
Can tattoos be done on the body?
Question:
V Old Testament there is a place where it is said about the prohibition of drawing images and inscriptions on the body (in the book of Leviticus). Can this passage be correlated with the current tattoo? That is, is it a sin? And are there other places in the Bible that talk about this?
Priest Afanasy Gumerov answers:
“For the sake of the deceased, do not make cuts on your body and do not prick writing on yourself. I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:28). This prohibition is repeated twice more: Lev.21:5; Deut. 14:1. In the above verse, indeed, it is forbidden to apply images to the body by piercing or rubbing paints, as was common among pagan peoples. The attitude to the body in the God-inspired Old Testament religion is fundamentally different from paganism. The miraculous connection of the body, soul and spirit forms a single person, created in the image of God.
Virtues bring good not only to the soul, but also to the body: “A meek heart is life for the body, but envy is rottenness for the bones” (Prov. 14:30). The human body testifies to the wisdom and omnipotence of the Creator. The Bible speaks of the damage of human nature by sin, but does not express a single disparaging word about the body, as God's creation. Plato called the body "the dungeon of the soul", and St. the apostle Paul speaks of "the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23). Therefore, the Law of Moses forbade the adoption of pagan customs. The special disfigurement of the body created by God is an insult to the Lord. “For you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Pravoslavie.Ru
Viewed (18128) times
Man, according to the plan of the Lord, is a two-part being. He has a spiritual non-material substance - a soul and a material body. The body is also a co-heir of the soul in the Kingdom of God - in the new mountain city of Jerusalem (see Revelation of St. John the Theologian, ch. 21).
After all, the present death, which separates the soul and the body, is not the end yet. At the Last Judgment, when our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the angels and saints, will judge each of us, we will appear before God in all the fullness of our nature, that is, not only spiritually - soul, but also bodily. The dead, for example, will be resurrected in such a way that their structures and members will gather, the soul will enter into them, and the person in his full nature will stand before the Judgment of God (see the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, 37:1-14). And also mentally and physically, after the final Last Judgment over him, he will enter forever either into hell or into paradise.
Therefore, the Church has always very carefully and reverently treated the body as a co-heir of the soul in the eternal future life of the eighth day. Hence such a reverent attitude towards the bodies of the dead in the Orthodox rite of burial of the dead. That is why the Church has such a negative attitude towards cremation.
Unnatural body jewelry is also undesirable: tattoos, piercings, nail polish, makeup and hair dyeing. After all, man is the image and likeness of God. The Lord initially created it as a beautiful self-sufficient microcosm - the whole Universe. Therefore, it is, of course, a dubious practice to "modify" one's body unnecessarily. It is as if we do not trust God and build our own Tower of Babel in pride, trying to correct the Creator. Such behavior can lead to nothing good.
This does not exclude the natural care of your body and the treatment of diseases such as disabilities.
In addition, often a young guy or girl does not understand the true meaning of tattoos - their historical significance. In the ancient pagan world, where there were no printing technologies, tattoos could, among other things, be something like a seal or a passport. They carried information about a person: belonging to a particular tribe, clan, clan, social status.
There is another subtext here. A modern young man sometimes imagines that a tattoo is a kind of symbol of his personal freedom. But in the pagan world (where its origins come from) - this is a symbol of the exact opposite. There, a tattoo is often a symbol of submission, a sign of belonging to someone or something. So, for example, it is still happening in closed subcultures such as army units or bandit formations.
Sometimes a person, when applying a tattoo, does not even think about what informational meaning this or that symbol carries. After all, a tattoo is not just an ornament, it often has a philosophical or religious background. And a person running from reality into a fictional dreamy world (where he often tries to “drag in” his body, including with the help of tattoos), can, without realizing it, revive neo-paganism, and after it (if you call things by their own names) idolatry and service to demons.
This is all the more frightening for an Orthodox Christian. Since the holy supreme apostle Paul said about us, Orthodox Christians: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him: for the temple of God is holy; and this temple is you” (1 Cor. 3:16). That is, we are a living church, a temple. Each of us.
An Orthodox Christian has one belonging - to Christ. And the symbol of this has long been a pectoral cross around the neck. God blesses such a person, and the holy angel protects. And with a tattooed person, everything can be diametrically opposed. Those who have inflicted frankly pagan tattoos on their bodies, of course, should confess this sin, and the Lord will surely forgive them and restore the lost spiritual and bodily harmony.
Priest Andrei Chizhenko
Orthodox Life
Can tattoos be done on the body?
Question:
In the Old Testament there is a place where it is said about the prohibition of drawing images and inscriptions on the body (in the book of Leviticus). Can this passage be correlated with the current tattoo? That is, is it a sin? And are there other places in the Bible that talk about this?
Priest Afanasy Gumerov answers:
“For the sake of the deceased, do not make cuts on your body and do not prick writing on yourself. I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:28). This prohibition is repeated twice more: Lev.21:5; Deut. 14:1. In the above verse, indeed, it is forbidden to apply images to the body by piercing or rubbing paints, as was common among pagan peoples. The attitude to the body in the God-inspired Old Testament religion is fundamentally different from paganism. The miraculous connection of the body, soul and spirit forms a single person, created in the image of God.
Virtues bring good not only to the soul, but also to the body: “A meek heart is life for the body, but envy is rottenness for the bones” (Prov. 14:30). The human body testifies to the wisdom and omnipotence of the Creator. The Bible speaks of the damage of human nature by sin, but does not express a single disparaging word about the body, as God's creation. Plato called the body "the dungeon of the soul", and St. the apostle Paul speaks of "the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23). Therefore, the Law of Moses forbade the adoption of pagan customs. The special disfigurement of the body created by God is an insult to the Lord. “For you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Pravoslavie.Ru
Viewed (18128) times
Tattoos wearing religious meaning quite a serious art form. After all, such tattoos expose the inner world of a person to others, talk about his beliefs and the power of faith.
Unlike generalized drawings, religious tattoos show not only the confessional commitment of a person, but also forever determine his ethnicity for those around him. In a sense, the application of such tattoos requires more courage and constancy of the worldview from the wearer.
The origins of the direction. Catholicism.
Historians suggest looking starting point religious tattoo European branch of Catholicism. It was the adherents of the faith of Christ that were the first to celebrate human bodies the sign of the cross. True, they did this not with the help of paint, but with the help of a brand.
Today, the medieval brutality of the Catholics is left behind, and the art of depicting religious motifs has reached perfection. Express your sympathy catholic faith today it is possible through images such as:
- Combination of rosaries and roses;
- Face of Christ with a crown of thorns;
- Madonna;
- Scenes from the bible;
- Bible texts in Latin.
The most common such tattoos among the inhabitants of Latin America. Here you can also find the most large-scale paintings and sketches with many references to biblical themes.
Orthodox branch.
Christian tattoos are reflected in Orthodox faith. Most often, Orthodox believers decorate their bodies with stylized crosses and crucifixes. And they are usually placed on the shoulder. Of the larger works, you can find images of Jesus Christ. Unlike the Catholic version, in Orthodoxy he is depicted not with a prickly crown, but with a shining halo.
The image of the Archangel Michael is quite common. Many stuff portraits of patron saints. There are also images of churches and domes.
However, it is worth considering that these tattoos are perceived exclusively in a prison context.
Mexican tattoos.
The religious themes of tattoo art in Mexico are inextricably linked with the Chicano style. Mexican religious tattoos have absorbed the ideas of faith that have developed in the American Catholic environment. The bulk of the sketches contain variations on the theme of the rose and the Madonna. Sometimes the Holy Virgin is depicted with a baby.
Features lie in the style of the Mexican depiction of familiar images. Invented by the Mexicans, the Chicano-style tattoo has become popular all over the world. But in Mexico itself, the style is closely associated with the religious and gangster world. Intertwined, both storylines gave rise to a new recognizable direction. In addition, you can distinguish Chicano by such nuances:
- In sketches, the theme of religion is necessarily combined with the theme of crime;
- The paintings express suffering and hope;
- Madonna's face always has colorful Mexican features.
Chicano style images can be either monochrome or full color. The main emphasis is on drawing details and clear lines.
Muslim tattoos.
Muslims, like Buddhists, do not prohibit, but do not encourage tattoos. There are no references to the need to decorate your body with tattoos in the holy book of Muslims. But at will, representatives of the Islamic world fill themselves with images of a crescent moon or quotes from the Koran.
However, they cannot be fully attributed to the category of religious tattoos. Since it is rather a tribute to the ancient Arab culture. And the desire to emphasize the feeling of patriotism.
Judaism is Orthodox and secular.
Tattooed Jews can be found much less frequently than representatives of other faiths. This is due to the fact that tattoos in Judaism are not encouraged in the same way as working on Saturdays or eating pork. Among Orthodox Jews, wearable drawings are not found at all. But the Jews, leading a more secular lifestyle, can afford to deviate from the rules.
Sketches of religious tattoos in Judaism contain excerpts from the Torah, made without fail in Hebrew. The image of the Star of David and other cultural and religious attributes are also common.
Tribes, Eastern peoples and lost beliefs.
A separate line is worth mentioning the tattoos of representatives who share the views of Eastern philosophy. Today they are among the most tattooed in the world. At the same time, the vast majority of drawings have a spiritual, sacred meaning.
In part, tattoos of African tribes and Indians have religious significance. As a rule, they draw on the skin of totem animals that are significant to them. Also often found patterns that bring good luck.
One of the most popular trends reflected in polytheistic religions today are images of Slavic and Scandinavian motifs. Runes, ornaments, stylized images of gods - all this is regarded as a tattoo amulet and is actively used as independent plots or parts of more complex paintings.
How to understand: will the kitten be fluffy?
What kind of light alcohol can be drunk for pregnant women: the consequences of drinking
Why do the legs swell in the ankles and ankles of the feet in pregnant women: causes and methods of treatment
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: scandalous and secret details of the marriage (photo) The future marriage of Prince Harry year NTV
How to close white plums for the winter