Kaitlyn Parmely-- Tattoos as religious art

Religious tattoos have become more and more common, but is that why people are getting them done? After the presentation given in class the other day I wanted to see if tattooing religious images in your body was considered a religious act or soley done for personal reasons. According to Leviticus 19:28 "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead; neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks. I am the Lord." Since this biblical reading is in the Bible, strong Christian believers shun tattoos. My grandparents absolutley hate my tattoos and have no idea why I would get one. They believe that God made you a certain way and that you should not alter yourself, because you were made a certain way for a certain reason. Believers of Islam also believe that you should not alter or enhance your beauty in any way, shunning tattoos as well. However, some religous sectors have become a little more accepting to the idea of tattoos due to the changes in culture over time. However, religous believers of Christianity and Islam are not getting tattoos as a religous act. In some religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism tattoos are used as symbols to ward off evil and protect them from evils spirits; this was mostly a ritual commonly practiced by monks. Looking at the tattoo that covers this girls back, do you think she would have this done a self expression or was it done as a religious act? The elephant in Buddhist religion is a symbol of mental strength to overcome the challenges of life. In Hinduism the elephant is one of the five prime Hindu dieties that is the Lord of success and the destroyer of evils and obstacles. If this tattoo was done to help her succeed and ward off evils and harships in her life then it would be considered a religious act if she was Hindu as well. I do not think that this tattoo was done for personal reasons because the elephant that is most likely the Ganesha to this girl has symbols and is decorated elaboratly covering her entire back. This girl I think got this tattoo as a religious act to protect her from evil and help her through life and give her the strength in her mind to overcome challenges that come into her way so that she can destroy obstacles