I've Got You Under My Skin

March 21, 2006 11:18 AM

Welcome to Religious Tattoos: A Web site devoted to Judeo-Christian body art .
posted by hortense (27 comments total)

"My name is Jason Gennaro. I am a married father of three living in Toronto, Canada. I am Catholic. I do a lot of things, but I am not a tattoo artist or even an artist. I'm just a guy who loves Christ and tattoos and who created a site so that people could share their artwork and inspire others."
(from the website) I just think these are some cool pictures and interesting links.
posted by hortense at 11:22 AM on March 21, 2006

Funny all my Christian family members told me I'd go to hell for branding my body with a pagan art ritual. I should show them this website.
posted by afx114 at 11:24 AM on March 21, 2006

Hmm... I'm a little confused. Leviticus 19:28:"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you" seems pretty clear.
posted by Marky at 11:25 AM on March 21, 2006

The Old law and the New Law established by Christ and how Leviticus 19:28 relates to the New Law

blah blah blah same bullshit. Don't say "Judeo-Christian" when you really mean "Christian." This seems to be a popular disingenuity of the "America is a (Judeo-)Christian nation" types who want to create the illusion of broader support of their dominionist worldview.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:27 AM on March 21, 2006

Marky : "Leviticus 19:28:'Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you' seems pretty clear."

Leviticus 11:9-12 "These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."

Yes, not all Christians obey all parts of the Bible. This is well established, let's move on.
posted by Bugbread at 11:34 AM on March 21, 2006

"Reproduced With Permission From Stefan from the German Death Metal Band NOIZ!"
posted by The Jesse Helms at 11:41 AM on March 21, 2006

These tattoos aren't especially religious.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:21 PM on March 21, 2006

Linked from within kirkaracha's link: Yikes!!
posted by Bugbread at 12:24 PM on March 21, 2006

If it's "religious" tattoos, then why aren't there tattoos showing symbols or images from other religions?

It shouldn't be hard to find them. I daresay that prior to the 20th century, the vast majority of the tattoos ever applied to anyone were religious at some level.

Instead, why doesn't this guy just be honest and say "Christian tattoos"?

(How long is it gonna take someone to mention Faulkner?)
posted by lodurr at 12:27 PM on March 21, 2006

Marky -- The linked site (here, specifically) covers that very well.

In short ... you're quoting an OT law in a NT world.
posted by devbrain at 12:39 PM on March 21, 2006

lodurr : "If it's 'religious' tattoos, then why aren't there tattoos showing symbols or images from other religions?"

Most of the Asian ones just said stuff like "Faith" or "God", so I'd say there's a grey area there.
posted by Bugbread at 12:40 PM on March 21, 2006

rxrfrx writes "Don't say 'Judeo-Christian' when you really mean 'Christian.'"

I'm going to start putting down "Judeo-Christian" in the "religion" blank of census forms, etc.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:46 PM on March 21, 2006

to be honest, I find the fuck-you eyebrows tattoo a lot more *tasteful* than this... aagh...
posted by funambulist at 12:52 PM on March 21, 2006

I'm not a Christian, but to this day one of the coolest tattoos I have ever seen was a full backpiece of a crucifix and text. The composition, artwork and lettering were all perfect. Truly astounding. I also admired the conviction of the person who had had it done, both to his faith and to the artform...

And lodurr, yeah, one of my tattoos has definite religious (or, well, spiritual) connotations to it. It's very common in tattoos. I'd imagine because of the (perceived) permanence of the art and how that correlates with a persons faith.

Not sure I necessarily enjoy visiting a site solely dedicated to Jebus tattoos, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
posted by slimepuppy at 12:53 PM on March 21, 2006

Judeo-Christian body art? Tattoos are forbidden by Judaism.

Although wouldn't the Star of David nicely compliment that Chinese character tattoo you were told means "courage"?
posted by JaredSeth at 1:04 PM on March 21, 2006

This is all not to mention that the fact that the Star of David that he has linked off of the front page right now ISN'T a Star of David (although the other two he has listed as Stars of David do qualify).
posted by Inkoate at 1:06 PM on March 21, 2006

Yeah, looking at the list of "tattoo pictures".. Jesus, Mary, crosses... not very Jewish.
posted by Lotto at 1:09 PM on March 21, 2006

I'm a big fan of the one parodying a milk ad campaign. Yeah, that'll look good 30 years from now....
posted by mr_roboto at 1:16 PM on March 21, 2006

OMG I hadn't noticed that "Star of David." Has this guy even met a Jew ever?
posted by rxrfrx at 2:04 PM on March 21, 2006

You're right, rxrfrx, that was a lousy "star of David". And to think the guy had a Jewish word (Yahweh) tattooed on himself. But good Jewish tattoos are in short supply, since "good" Jews aren't allowed to tattoo themselves (or get tattooed, for all you literalists out there). My husband, a "bad" Jew (as I am a "bad Catholic), has four tattoos, three of which are my design. I can't see how tattoos will keep you out of Heaven, but if you say you're really, really sorry for killing someone, they'll let you in.
posted by annieb at 5:17 PM on March 21, 2006

...not that any person observing the Jewish religion would write "Yahweh" on anything.
posted by rxrfrx at 6:16 PM on March 21, 2006

Leviticus was such an asshole.
posted by baphomet at 6:34 PM on March 21, 2006

Leviticus was such an asshole.
Now there's a good idea for a tat.
posted by joe lisboa at 7:30 PM on March 21, 2006

There is some bizarre stuff buried here.
posted by hortense at 8:06 PM on March 21, 2006

really bizarre
mp3
posted by hortense at 8:18 PM on March 21, 2006

Tattoos are forbidden by Judaism.

So, you can suck the blood out of a baby's penis, but you can't get a tattoo?
posted by The Jesse Helms at 9:25 AM on March 22, 2006

Yes. Were you unclear about this?
posted by rxrfrx at 9:31 AM on March 22, 2006