Religious tattoos and the symbolism of the various religions have strangely become popular to secular society. Crosses and pictures of Jesus and praying hands or the sacred heart have been seen gracing the biceps of clearly non-religious individuals.This is partly because any and all kinds of symbolism in the field of tattoo art have been appropriated and assimilated into the mainstream culture. This is true not only of one religion but to all systems of belief. It is why a person can have a mix of Celtic crosses, tribal tattoos, Buddhist imagery, Chinese characters, Japanese symbols, and all kinds of religious tattoos all mixed up in one. Aside from Christianity, Celtic, and Buddhist thought; there are also images from Hindu, Islamic, Maori, and tribal culture.
The phenomenon of the secularization and subsequent popularity of religious tattoos might be due to the breakdown of the walls of meaning in the information age. As all the symbols and their meanings have become readily and easily available to us, we have arbitrarily appropriated them in any manner that we see fit. The meanings have then obscured as the images spread from believers to non believers. It is why this mishmash is found to be acceptable in contemporary times.
These are good points to ponder on before going out to get yourself one of those obviously religious tattoos:
o Does it have meaning for you?
o Will it offend someone else's beliefs?
o Are you aware of its history and true meaning?
o Are you prepared to become identified with a certain group by virtue of your tattoo?
o Are you prepared to defend your choice?If you have read all these questions and still want to go ahead with your chosen tattoo design, then noone is stopping you. If, after reading these words, you come across some doubt in your mind, then stop first and think deeply about it. A tattoo is a permanent body ornament and a very visible statement.
It would be presumptuous for us, however, to assume that all bearers of religious tattoos have appropriated it from somewhere else. Some of the avid tattoo enthusiasts out there do have themselves pierced with images from their own religions. This then functions as a sacred reminder of a person's faith, and a symbol of their spirituality. Inasmuch as the original act of tattooing the body was part of a sacred ritual enacted in rites and ceremonies, so these modern tattoos could also function as such once again.