Posted on 10/03/2007 1:52:26 PM PDT by Daffynition
CBNNews.com - A fresh wave of ink is hitting the U.S. right now: tattoo ink.
Almost half of all Americans under 30 have one, and 40 percent of adults 26 to 40 have a tattoo.
It's big business for enterprising tattoo artists like Chris Bowman who sees a variety of clients.
"You get all the way from the stay-at-home mom who just wants a little tattoo on her ankle, to the businessman, to the biker," he said.
The Appeal of Tattoos
A 2004 Harris Poll shows a third of tattooed Americans say tattoos make them feel sexier.
"It's like people who work out, you want to look good," explained Vaughn Jackson, as a tattoo artist finished work on his fifth tattoo.
A quarter of Americans say tattoos make them feel more rebellious, and a fifth say they feel more spiritual.
Spiritual?
Bowman says many of his customers want to express their faith.
"We do a lot of religious tattoos, a lot of crosses, a lot of virgin mary's" he explained.
Churches across the country are finding more and more people in their congregations have tattoos.
We visited Crossroads Community Church in Kokomo, Ind. -- very much the heartland of the country with cornfields, car plants and conservative values. It's also a church with a number of members and visitors who have tattoos.
"If where they are is with a tattoo, we try to meet them there," Pastor Kevin Smith explained. "Our job is not to condemn or judge them but to welcome them."
Tattoos as Witnessing Tools?
One young father told us after the service about his tattoos. Matt York said his two crosses "are kind of a statement - a witnessing piece, a testimony."
Mike Lupoi says his Christian tattoos keep him accountable.
"I love Christ," he said. "That is what has changed my life. It's given us a good foundation in our home to raise our children, but it also is obvious in front of everyone because there's no hiding it. That's what it's there for."
And it's not just Christian men who've bought in. Amber Lupoi at Crossroads told us that a lot of women in the church have tattoos. You wouldn't know it because they're more discreet about it.
Regret?
But in the bigger picture, a recent Harris Poll shows 17 percent regret their tattoos.
For example, Beth Elser is spending several thousand dollars to get her seemingly non-offensive bit of ankle artwork removed. Her young daughters are the reason.
"When our first daughter was about three and we would try to tell her that you write on paper and not furniture and not on yourself," Elser said. "Then she started to say 'but mommy you drew on your ankle.'"
Dr. David McDaniel uses laser therapy to remove tattoos. It's often painful and requires multiple treatments. But McDaniel says many of his patients feel trapped by their permanent artwork.
"You have a tattoo of a name of a boyfriend, girlfriend or ex-spouse and it's a daily reminder of a mistake or pain from the past," he said.
American Churches' Stance on Tattoos
Not long ago, most American churches frowned on tattoos, but modern times have softened the stance. As church leaders begin to re-think the issue they're drawn to Paul's passages on freedom in Christ and loving our neighbor.
And just how relevant is Leviticus 19:28, which says "You shall not make...any tattoo marks on yourselves," today?
Presbyterian Pastor Joe Mullen says we can't ignore Leviticus.
"I think we need to ask ourselves whether we're trying to create a special identity that marks us -- and really, in Jesus, we have our special identity," Mullen said.
Other Christian leaders worry about tattoos' pagan origins and links with witchcraft.
But Jayme Whitaker sees no problem with his identity in Christ and love of tattoos. As head of the Christian Tattoo Association he works to build bridges between the tattooed and the non-tattooed.
For Whitaker, tattoos are possible because of our Christian liberty. He says he's excited about using them to lead others to Christ. He recently designed tattoos representing the Holy Spirit for new believers Brent and Melissa Cohick.
"What Christ has done to me in my life, it was such a dramatic change, that I I wanted to have a visual expression of him in my life," Brent said.
Ultimately, Whitaker says he wants the Church to reach out to those with tattoos.
"We're called to love above all things, and I think that's what we'd really like to see people get -- where we can get to the point where we can embrace, where heavily tattooed people can walk into a church and feel like everyone just loves them," Whitaker said.
For many Christians, loving those with tattoos is the easy part. But what remains as an issue for some is whether a practice that has offensive pagan roots -- is one that should be encouraged.
Never said you weren't, only that ink stains and elective fistulas signal unhealthiness to a large portion of the population.
Tat’s and piercings, even yer granny has’em ;)
Not my grannies.
I got both of mine to celebrate turning 50 and I plan on getting more as the years pass.
Just curious: do you own pit bulls?
Druggies get body piercings and tats? Have you ever priced the cost of a 8x8-6 color tat? Or some of the better piercing hardware? It’s too expensive for someone with a drug problem!
Sheesh, you need a full time job to afford them-— they are luxuries.
Do you have your car up on cinder blocks darlin’?
And we all know how clean living they are, LOL!
Why would you ask that? I don't have any tats or extra holes.
Yep, until very recently, when a woman had visible tattoos or wierd piecings, it meant that she was probably a slut or a prostitute, with drug addiction thrown in. It was part of the lifestyle of the underclass.
Now, one can adopt the traditions of the underclass, call it art or a new tradition, but don't be surprised when the impression that is made is negative.
It's like a man who wears enormously baggy pants half-way down his butt. He may be a normal guy, but the style has long been associated with criminal low-life, and that's the first thing that pops into people's heads when they see that.
It's not some problem with me, it's a fact of life. I'm just pointing it out.
Seriously,
The list of all my tattooed & pierced friends include—
Two RN’s on a Med Surg unit,
RN in a Peds/Psyche Hospital,
RN in a Nursing Home,
(Come to think of it, just about every RN I know)
Bank VP,
Police Officer,
Wife and co-owner of a multi-mil AC company,
Park Ranger,
Raptor Rehaber,
Criminal Justice Major,
Apartment Manager,
Aerobics Instructor/Minister’s wife,
Radiologist,
Dentist,
Lancome’ Lady,
SAHM/Military wife,
Ball Room Dance Instructor,
And Me (Cranky Old Bat)
Plus a bunch of high school-college bound girls who we’re totally corrupting and who can’t wait until they turn 18 and can get pierced and tatt’ed like us....
Our common interest is our art, so before you slam us for our hobbies and second livelihoods, keep in mind, we all pay taxes, we all contribute to society, our art is ALSO our charity to the community and Oh MY! Most of us go to church!
See my post above,
There was also a time when a woman going anywhere with a man (like on a date) unescorted was considered ‘loose’, wearing a dress without a slip made you a slut and using dark meat in your chicken salad meant your Mama didn’t raise you right.
OK, everything has changed.
‘cept for the chicken salad, which will STILL get you talked about in some circles.
For example:
A man is acquainted with, but does not know well, two single women-one with piercings and tattoos, and one without. If he were interested in casual sex, which one do you think he would be most likely to ask out? And if he were interested in a long-term relationship leading to marriage, (in other words, looking for the mother of his future children), which one would he be most likely to ask out?
Now, perhaps Lydia the Tattooed Lady is pure as the driven snow, Perhaps she respects her body enough not to be sharing it loosely with men. But that's not the signal she is sending with all the stains and holes she has added to it.
You see, life isn't what you fantasize it to be. Life is what it is.
And she looks happy! That’s what counts. One shouldn’t be too judgmental in these matters. It seems to me, that it’s more important what is *under* the skin. ;-D
Bringing up examples from 100 years ago doesn't bolster your argument.
You can believe whatever you want. But men view women with stains and fistulas a certain way. It's Nature, and wishing it were different won't make it so.
What is it with you and ta ta’s.. LOL~
Why not? The very purpose of what she has done is to create an impression. Why deny her the fruits of her labor?
I remember also when I was a teen and I wore jeans to go out to a movie with my father, and he raged at me for dressing like trash (OK....Dad). Now jeans are fashion staples.
Stuff like this also depends on the age of the guy—— if he’s younger, he probably has his own set of tattoos and piercings too and actually sees them differently and doesn’t think ‘trashy girl’ anymore than folks think ‘trash’ when they see jeans. Like one generation sees denim as work clothes and others as fashion.
If he’s older, well....too bad, he’s stuck in the dark ages and it’s his loss.
BTW, most of the women who’ve gotten their navel’s pierced have commented that their hubbies were well, extremely turned on by them..... so maybe there is a bit of overt sex appeal there. Same with tattoos.
As for me, you don’t see mine in regular clothes, and if a guy has your attitude towards tats and piercings, he won’t ever see them either (much less me again for that matter).
So see, it’s a win win!
‘Some’ men view them the way you do.
Like ‘some’ men here on FR think women should still be chattel! Thank God times have changed.
‘Tis your problem, not mine. I judge people by what is between their ears, whether they are kind and not on physical characteristics.
Well, I thought the article was interesting in that it referenced Christianity and tattoos... which no one has touched upon yet. Go figure. ;-D
But we do know about size... Snicker snort... :) ok ok I know, out of context, just couldn't resist.
Easy-— here in town there is a huge billboard for a thriving outreach church....
Showing two arms with full sleeve tats and the caption “Same Bible, different church.”
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