Tattoos have been spiritual and religious for ages, and with the banning of them as Christianity arose during the ancient Roman Empire, they have just recently taken a stand once more. But the idea of an un-clean body has ruined the spirituality of tattooing for many Christians and Muslims alike. Nan McNab in the book Body Bizarre Body Beautiful, talks about how, “People are supposed to be made in God’s image, and they didn’t want mere mortals adding graffiti [to them].” The Christian Church has always set a negative view on tattoos and for years tattoos have always meant gang relation, jail time, or plain old rebel. But with recent popularity and a new way to express your self through this art form it has been opened up to the general public. Clinton R. Sanders from his book “Customizing The Body” concurs that “the most important change has been the transformation of tattooing from the ostensibly ‘deviant’ practice…to the popular cultural phenomenon it is today.” From young college girls to beefy biker dudes flaunting their ink, whether it be fairies or nakey chicks, it all represents the person who wears it.
Ashley Bradley, my sister, and advice go-to, shared with me the other day about her thoughts on tattoos that she has yet to try out. She states, “Tattoos are personal memorials that represent your own life journey.” The young, spry, girl sitting next to you at Baskin Robins bearing a flower tattoo upon her left foot could share the same design as the older woman in the car next to you in traffic but they each have one of a kind stories and emotional connections to the similar ink patterns on their bodies. “And that’s what tattoos are all about; the experience, the emotional connection and the commitment, which are all the ingredients of a healthy spiritual life”, she concluded. It’s not a matter of good vs. evil but a matter of the voyage you take in life.
So with this new idea in, Christians around are struggling with the good vs. evil aspect of tattooing. This recent fad is practically against anything the Christians stand for and more Christians seem to be branching out to get tattooed, me being an example. As I rummaged through the bible I could only really back up the idea that God created our bodies and they are temples that we must care for. I understand reasoning on not supporting tattoos in the devil’s favor, but I struggle with the fact that a tattoo can take away from the people we truly are. They may change our physical appearance but they don’t change our hearts or the Lord’s so it’s hard for me to believe that a beautiful piece of artwork strewn across your body could affect your religious beliefs in such a fashion as she discussed.
Once you look past the restrictions churches hold upon our society, you will see the great freedom there is within this form of expression. But you must keep in mind that it is all permanent, leaving you with your ex’s name on your forearm for life. So always be sure to think before you ink. These days they have come out with ways to “fade” the tattoos but things will never be the same once you’ve been inked.
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I like how you clearly presented your opinion, and respected the opposite stance but still kept flowing with yours. Your paper is great, maybe try and add more to support your opinion after you mention the opposing views so that the reader can have the same perspective as you as they are reading your Op-Ed. Awesome job overall =)
ReplyDeleteGood. And i think you can get more people's opinions about the tattoos and put it in your paper.^^
ReplyDeleteGreat job on writing this Op-Ed. I could tell by reading this that you had a strong stance and opinon on the art of tattoos. You do a good job by explaining what you think tattoos mean to people and yourself and how in your opinon its not an evil or un godly thing to do but you still show that your respect others points of views. Good job on introducing your sources, as you used them very effectively in this Op-Ed to deliver your argument and the information.
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