Faith-based tattoo: as a result of one, did you ever talk with someone? (Poll included)

[Naomi25]

@Naomi25 Well, sooner or later they nearly all seem to go to the parlor now, to have it done. The point is, I guess, if it's in a faith based design, the motivation behind getting one: is it being injected with a view to wanting faith based conversations to ensue?

For a lot of young Christians now, it seemingly is.

As GodsGrace says,

Well, I suppose it could be to start a conversation...but...I always thought IF I were to get one, it would be more in the order of 'flying ones flag'...if you get the imagery. Art, or even simple words, can display, even to ourselves, what represents our inner hearts...what we wish to portray outwardly. Sometimes Christians do this by wearing jewellery, or shirts...I suppose tattoos would be the next level...and one you'd better be sure you'll like for the rest of this life!!

 

[farouk]

...I still hear the expression "tramp stamp" used...

@michaelvpardo Arm or wrist is probably a more suitable placement for a faith based tattoo (whether Bible verse or ref., Christian fish sign <><, etc.)

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the wording of John 3.16 painstakingly tattooed on her wrist area: as a placement, thoroughly modest and also conspicuous enough to make conversations about John 3.16 likely with some regularity.

 

[farouk]

Tasteful.

@Ron Coates

I think you got a new avatar picture...

So are there any good parlors near you? around here they are opening up again, anyway.

 

[Truman]

@Ron Coates

I think you got a new avatar picture...

So are there any good parlors near you? around here they are opening up again, anyway.

Hi, Farouk. Yeah, I felt like a change. Did I tell you that last Fall that God finally got it through to me that I'm descended from Levi? My ancestors were kicked out of Israel for worshiping devils. He said He'd wake us up in the last days, starting with Levites. Which is where I come in. It's still sorta new and I'm still learning. I was able to connect the exiles to my family tree. Amazing.

 

[farouk]

Well, I suppose it could be to start a conversation...but...I always thought IF I were to get one, it would be more in the order of 'flying ones flag'...if you get the imagery. Art, or even simple words, can display, even to ourselves, what represents our inner hearts...what we wish to portray outwardly. Sometimes Christians do this by wearing jewellery, or shirts...I suppose tattoos would be the next level...and one you'd better be sure you'll like for the rest of this life!!

@Naomi25

Yes, I do take your point. I guess some would say that a desire to start witness conversations and a wish to 'fly one's flag' are really two sides of the same coin, so to speak, really, being all about personal testimony.

My wife and I talked to a young lady with the whole of John 3.16's wording tattooed on her wrist area; it was her favorite Bible verse and mine also; and I'm sure that other conversations have arisen as a result of her willingness to have it done.

I can quite imagine her having thought and prayed about it a great deal, spent time planning the placement and visiting parlors both to check out inking styles and artist quotes, and - indeed, as you say is very necessary beforehand - making sure in her own mind first of all that she wanted it for the rest of her life. Really nowadays it's not the preserve of people of radical, avant-garde tendencies to receive a bit of inking; as GodsGrace says it's now what really conservative young women and others do.

The picture below (I coudn't get it any smaller) may well reflect - even in the small size - what really is in the wearer's inner heart (like you say), and she might have reflected that what was in her inner heart was most definitely worth a sharp pricking for a very short time, for something permanent, if this makes sense?

tattooshunt dot com

 

[farouk]

Hi, Farouk. Yeah, I felt like a change. Did I tell you that last Fall that God finally got it through to me that I'm descended from Levi? My ancestors were kicked out of Israel for worshiping devils. He said He'd wake us up in the last days, starting with Levites. Which is where I come in. It's still sorta new and I'm still learning. I was able to connect the exiles to my family tree. Amazing.

@Ron Coates Interesting; and I have a relative that is into genealogy. Really I do think that in Christ now it's for all to search out the enjoy the blessings of Scripture; it's not limited to race.

The small tattoo in the photo above is a bit like the design on your avatar now.

 

[Truman]

You're really into tattoos, eh? There's a popular tattoo parlor downtown. It's not a big deal to me. I know too many young people who are searching for value and significance.

 

[farouk]

YThere's a popular tattoo parlor downtown. It's not a big deal to me.

@Ron Coates I suppose you've not been inside to look at the portfolios of artwork?

There is a lot of faith based artwork about, anyway.

 

[Truman]

@Ron Coates I suppose you've not been inside to look at the portfolios of artwork?

There is a lot of faith-based artwork about, anyway.

Yeah, I have. There's some neat stuff there. I liked the one where God makes the 2 sticks into one. I'm a Levite because that's who God made me. Just like you are who God made you.

 

[farouk]

I have never considered getting a tattoo anywhere ...

@Giuliano Of course one doesn't need to get one to be able to appreciate the faith based artwork in parlor portfolios or on other ppl, right?

 

[farouk]

... me and others that have tattoos ...

@Rita Just briefly to mention that your comment ties in with what GodsGrace says,

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

There's maybe been a sea-change in recent decades but it's certainly true that the most conservative ppl in many ways decide to get tattoos (hence arguably the scope for faith based ink).

 

[Giuliano]

@Giuliano Of course one doesn't need to get one to be able to appreciate the faith based artwork in parlor portfolios or on other ppl, right?

I have never even seen one. The people I know with tattoos have other things.

 

[farouk]

Yeah, I have. There's some neat stuff there.

@Ron Coates Well, it wouldn't be unusual to find in tattoo parlors Christians who are checking out faith based designs.

 

[Truman]

I wouldn't think so. My generation wore bell-bottoms, this one gets tattoos. They gotta be different. I know I was when I was younger.

 

[farouk]

Thanks to all who voted so far in the poll!

NB: If you have not voted yet in the poll, please vote now! :)

 

[farouk]

I wouldn't think so. My generation wore bell-bottoms, this one gets tattoos. They gotta be different. I know I was when I was younger.

@Ron Coates Well, it's certainly widespread, FYI:

I got my first and only tattoo when I was 25. I was told it was addictive, but for me it was not. .. Probably 75% of the congregation have tattoos, including myself and the Pastor

(from this forum)

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

 

[farouk]

I have never even seen one. The people I know with tattoos have other things.

@Giuliano Well, maybe you're not in the Bible Belt; the previous post with a quote from the Bible Belt seems to show just how widespread it is, anyway...

 

[Truman]

@Ron Coates Well, it's certainly widespread, FYI:


(from this forum)


forums dot thewelltrainedmind dot com

I think tattoos are the least of their problems. If you want to know how they think and you are thick-skinned, listen to Staind's song, It's Been Awhile.

 

[farouk]

I think tattoos are the least of their problems. If you want to know how they think and you are thick-skinned, listen to Staind's song, It's Been Awhile.

@Ron Coates Thanks. I agree that they can be superficial; and I guess from a skin perspective, inherently so, to some extent. But also because of their permanency, the commitment implied by a tattoo can also be a matter of someone weighing up seriously what is in his or her heart (and this is where faith based designs also come into the question).

 

[farouk]

I just had a recollection of the one time that I actually asked somebody about a tattoo that he carried on his arm.

@michaelvpardo Well, arm (or wrist area) is one of the more widespread placements for faith based tattoo designs. How conspicuous the placement depends I guess on how strongly the wearer wants to use it to stimulate faith based conversations, really (if this makes sense?)