For several years now, a new epidemic has swept through our society: tattoos. The invasion of painted human bodies has its roots in a neo-pagan mindset, which seeks to re-enchant the world in accordance with the principles of a post-modernist society. Some proudly call it body art or the art of body modification; others view the phenomenon with a certain nonchalance, regarding it as a passing fad and therefore not worth wasting time discussing. This article aims to highlight the unseen side of what we are forced to see, commenting, from a Christian perspective, this worrying phenomenon, which requires careful analysis and must not be allowed to continue to be treated as a light-hearted or fashionable topic.
1. The premise. The first mistake a Christian makes is to judge a fellow Christian who has got a tattoo, and the second is indifference expressed crudely: ‘But what… did they get a tattoo on my body or at my expense?!’ So if you must not judge, nor remain indifferent, then the only Christian attitude is to explain, with love and gentleness, the reasons why a Christian is neither permitted nor in need of tattooing the body which they have received from God, with the high dignity of sanctifying it and working here, in the body, towards their deification.
Let us reflect for a moment and ask ourselves: is it appropriate for a woman to display the sign of the Cross on her calf or on any other part of her body? Is this, perhaps, the meaning of the Saviour’s exhortation that we should ‘carry our cross’? If a man has had ‘Matthew 1:23’ tattooed on his hand because his name is Emmanuel, does this mean that he reads and honours Scripture? How many chapters of the New Testament does he read each day? Can the image of Christ with the crown of thorns tattooed on a man’s chest ever be interpreted as meaning that we are created in the image of God, or that in this way we participate in the Holy Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ? With all due seriousness and kindness, we must acknowledge that these acts are not only inappropriate, but come dangerously close to blasphemy and the mockery of both God and the human person.
2. The reasons why a person gets a tattoo are expressed very briefly: ‘it’s a personal matter’, ‘it’s something that concerns only me’, ‘I only have one’, ‘it boosts my self-esteem’, ‘I felt the need to have a distinctive mark through which to express myself’, ‘to show others that I’m different’, ‘so that society will accept me’. In addition to these, two in particular caught my attention: ‘I do what I want with my body’ and ‘I wanted to cover up my skin condition’.
If we interpret them in a certain light, all these reasons can be summarised as follows: autonomy and visibility. People want to mean something, to represent something, and end up wanting to wear things that carry meaning. Everyone wants to be expressive. This intention is not a bad one; it is simply misunderstood. On the one hand, there is a failure to grasp the importance and exceptional value of the body, as masterfully taught by Orthodoxy, and, on the other hand, there is today an obsession with this cult of visibility, promoted by consumerist society, which imposes upon you the desire to stand out, whilst proposing that you be distinctive in its own way, leading you to an attitude of self-idolatry.
3. The most serious reason not to get a tattoo is this: a tattoo is a sin before God. Sin means breaking away from God, disobeying Him or falling out of communion with Him. Is a tattoo a sin? Of course it is. Holy Scripture provides us with plenty of evidence on this matter. ‘You must not make any cuts on your bodies for the dead, nor make any marks on yourselves by pricking’ (Leviticus 19:28). Could anyone ask for anything clearer than this commandment from God?! In the time of Elijah, we find a pagan, idolatrous custom, when the prophets of Baal “cried out all the louder and, according to their custom, cut themselves with swords and spears until blood flowed” (3 Kings 18:28).
The New Testament reveals the inestimable value of the human body through the very fact that the Son of God became incarnate. Likewise, Saint Paul the Apostle stands against the slogan ‘I can do whatever I want with my body’, teaching us: ‘Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God, and that you do not belong to yourselves… So glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which belong to God’ (1 Corinthians 6:19, 28). So you are not the owner of your body; you did not buy it from a shop, but you came to life in this body alone; you grew up in it and with it; you practised virtue or committed sin in it; and, most importantly, you will rise again and stand before the Last Judgement together with it.
The body participates in all of man’s spiritual activity because there is a perfect union between the two components that make up human nature: soul and body. ‘Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you may obey its desires; nor present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as those who have been raised from the dead, and your members as instruments of God’s righteousness!” (Romans 6:12–13). In Orthodoxy, care for the body is not limited to a mere concern for fulfilling its needs, but rises far higher to the understanding of the reality that through the body we are ‘sealed with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 1:13); it is not merely an object, but possesses a spiritual dimension, having been created in the likeness of God. This likeness is realised through virtues, and these are cultivated in both soul and body. ‘I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, as your spiritual act of worship’ (Romans 12:1). Orthodoxy recognises the higher destiny of the human body, namely that Christ, at His Second Coming, “will transform the body of our humiliation to be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). For this reason, we are exhorted to “keep our bodies blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). As can easily be seen, God tells us through His words in Scripture that there is no justification or encouragement for us to scar our bodies.
Nor does the reply I received hold water: ‘I am not religious, I am spiritual’. The truth is that human nature consists of soul and body; the spirit is not something distinct from the soul, but rather represents ‘the higher functions of the soul, devoted less to the care of the body and more to thought, which can rise to the level of the thought of its Creator’1). A tattoo is proof that the person is not ‘spiritual’, for they are more concerned with the material, displaying a hedonistic inclination and a narcissistic shaping of the body, which they treat as an object. Body art is a relationship with a finite reality, and man will never be satisfied with anything limited.
‘Yes… I know it’s a sin, but I’ll take responsibility for it!’ What does it mean to take responsibility for sin? It certainly does not mean displaying it to people as if it were an ornament and taking pride in it; rather, taking responsibility implies regret for this fall, sorrow, and a return to God in repentance. It does not mean adding the sin of pride to it.
4. A tattoo is, in fact, an act full of contradictions. On the one hand, the tattoo originates from nature-worshipping religions, which deify nature, natural phenomena and animals, and maintain that man is merely a body reduced to what is visible, without any spiritual or religious dimension, and can therefore be disposed of as one pleases. On the other hand, the narrative suggested by a tattoo aligns with a spiritualist conception, which views the body as an avatar of the soul, a temporary prison for the spirit, thus once again becoming an object that commands no respect.
If we look at the origins of tattoos, we will find that they stem from pagan cultures and religions: Polynesia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Thailand and Mexico. The Vikings were known for their tattoos, which indicated social status and warrior skills. It seems that the very term ‘tattoo’ derives from ‘tataw’, meaning ‘to adorn’ or ‘to inscribe’, inspired by the sound of that sharp stick (ta-ta-ta) that was tapped by a shaman when applying the design to the body. In most cases, the designs depicted symbols inspired by nature, intended to express on the body a rite of passage into adulthood, or animals considered to bring good luck and other objects that offered ‘protection’ against evil spirits.
In Christian history, we find only two instances of believers bearing an inscription on their bodies, but the reason was entirely different. During the first three centuries of persecution against Christians, they would make a distinctive and concealed mark: a small cross drawn on the hand, between the thumb and the index finger. This was done neither for good luck (which does not exist) nor for pride (which one must avoid), but so that they would not be caught by the pagans and persecuted. Then, in the 7th and 8th centuries, some Christians marked a cross on their hands, this time out of fear of the Muslims; again, not to stand out or as an ornament, but because they knew that, if discovered by the Muslims, they would be killed; but at least they would be given a Christian burial if their bodies were found.
5. From a psychological perspective, the tattoo expresses some people’s need to conceal their individual identity. They wish to be unique, but end up losing their individuality because they follow a conformist model. The tattoo becomes an act of conformity, which erases the person’s uniqueness. This type of communication within the social space of one’s own story, using the concept of the ‘narrative-body’, reveals an unfulfilled need for affiliation. In fact, a tattoo is done for others, so that others can see that you have had a cross or a flower inscribed behind your ear or at the back of your head. You are not meant to see it there; others are meant to see it.
Moreover, the tattoo reveals either an obsession with biological self-control or is an expression of heightened sensuality, through which the individual unconsciously enters into a competition for visibility. At other times, this New Age-style body modification is seen in people with depressive tendencies, who are trying to cry out or hide their pain. Behind these designs there must lie something else: a masking of suffering or an emotion. This may explain why some parents get tattoos of their children’s names or their children’s birthdays. Something strange is happening: what parent would forget the name or the day on which their life was completely transformed by receiving an immeasurable gift from God in the form of a child?! Among people of faith, the child’s name is chosen by the parents, who pray to God and consult with the godparents, so that, eight days after the birth, the priest may read the ‘Prayer for the Bestowal of a Name’ as a sign that God takes you seriously from the very beginning and establishes a personal relationship with you for eternity. That is why a child’s name should not be tattooed on the arm, but is recorded on the birth and baptism certificates, and above all in the heart of the loving and responsible parent who stands before God for the child’s salvation.
The phenomenon can also be viewed from the perspective of the age of those who have had tattoos done: young people barely out of their teens, who want to look ‘cool’ in front of their peers; usually adults who realise what they have done and respond with a certain amount of embarrassment: ‘I had it done when I was young, when I didn’t know much.’ Sadly, however, I have also observed people over sixty who do not want to accept their age and associate tattoos with youthful behaviour, when, in fact, behind this action lies a fear of ageing and a fear of death. The same motives underlie other trends in consumer society, such as cosmetic surgery, the pursuit of a fit and athletic physique, an obsession with health through the use of medication, and the hope of remaining in the man-made earthly paradise 2.
6. Medical concerns. The PubMed website publishes specialist articles highlighting doctors’ warnings regarding various complications and skin reactions caused by tattoos. Much has been written on this subject, but these medical concerns are not sufficiently publicised 3.
Adverse reactions affect quality of life. Firstly, tiny particles of ink can penetrate deeper into the dermis and be taken up by the lymphatic system. Laser tattoo removal causes scarring and, in fact, does not remove the ink from the body but breaks it down into nanoparticles, which are transported through the body and stored in the lymph nodes.
Repeated pricking traumatises the skin; then, by injecting the ink to a depth of 1–3 mm, the skin barrier is destroyed and an inflammatory reaction occurs (as a defence against a foreign agent). This disruption of the epidermal barrier leaves the tattooed person susceptible to infection. Infectious complications (caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi) have led doctors in several countries to prohibit blood donation by people who have had a tattoo for a period of between 4 months and 1 year, precisely to prevent the spread of possible infections.
Reactions to the ink have been observed, which can lead to dermal necrosis. Furthermore, there are acute allergic reactions, which occur immediately, and chronic ones, which persist over time; a tattoo may also trigger the onset of a patient’s chronic skin condition, causing it to spread to other areas. It is precisely for this reason that covering skin conditions, moles, birthmarks or haemangiomas with a tattoo is very dangerous. Tattooing increases the risk of sarcoidosis, a rare condition characterised by an increase in the number of inflammatory cells and the formation of granulomas in the lungs and lymph nodes. Sarcoidosis occurs when the immune system is overburdened by repeated exposure to infections.
Papulo-nodular reactions and various forms of inflammation, differing histopathologically, have also been reported. A few cases of an association between tattoos and skin neoplasms have been described. Although a clear causal link between cancer and tattoos has not been established, is it worth taking the risk of developing skin cancer? The area covered by a tattoo may mask certain skin conditions or prevent the timely detection of some forms of cancer, simply because changes in skin colour can no longer be observed.
Tattoos pose long-term medical difficulties. MRI scans can be affected by tattoos, causing localised burns due to the metallic particles in the ink, whilst the accuracy of the results in tattooed individuals is also called into question.
It is very important to warn people not to expose tattooed skin to the sun, but this is in flagrant contradiction to the very reason why someone gets a tattoo: to show off the designs on their body to others all summer long.
All this information shows that medicine supports and confirms theology. Otherwise, it’s all a contradiction: you go to the gym, then go out for a smoke; you become obsessed with ‘organic’ food, but you get tattoos. It is not illness that should frighten you and persuade you not to get a tattoo, but a clear conscience before God and respect for the gift of life and health. Passion is irrational, and this is evident from the fact that not even the numerous warnings on cigarette packets stop people from buying them. The body is finite, and when there is no more skin left to tattoo, where will that passion turn next?!
7. Advice and conclusions
- You are already unique! Stop struggling to become what you already are! Do not spoil the uniqueness and importance that you have received from God! Since He created us, we have significance in God’s eyes! He created you unique out of love and freely, and yet you want to be different at the cost of sin and sickness?!
- Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, a Christian’s body is consecrated to God, and through the Sacrament of Chrismation, it is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and marked with the sign of the Holy Cross; therefore, it belongs to Christ. We must sanctify ourselves; our bodies must become holy relics; our calling is to become living icons, saints painted with deified bodies.
- Do not desecrate your body! Be sensible and realise that a tattoo is not a fashion trend! It is merely a great illusion. The proof lies in the fact that fashions come and go, but you are left with the designs. We all know that fashions come and go, that flared trousers and ripped jeans are no longer in fashion. What do you do with them? You take them to be recycled. But the body is more than just a garment: skin cannot be recycled. Yes, it’s true: tattoos can be removed, but it costs a lot, the procedure is very painful and leaves scars. Knowing this, you’ll back down and give up on having it removed because it’s already cost you a lot of money and you don’t want to put up with the pain of removal as well. So, you’ll be stuck with it for the rest of your life – looking so outdated, with sagging skin and a design whose message is no longer clear. You’ll feel the consequences ‘on your own skin’. Fashions come and go, but you’re left with the scars, because your skin won’t return to the same beauty it had before the tattoo. The designs won’t look the same as your skin ages, and you won’t even recognise the image you had tattooed when you were twenty. So it is not a fashion trend; it is a sin, an act that brings disease, a sign of immaturity and evidence of an irrational love for the body.
- Distinguish yourself with something useful to society, objectively beautiful and necessary for salvation! The human body lacks nothing; it is not a mere object, but subjectivised matter, worthy of respect and love, which we have a duty to care for, protecting it from degeneration and keeping it pure and healthy.
- Caring for body and soul is a Christian duty: we must have a pure soul in a transfigured body, not a disfigured one. When the soul leaves the body, what use are the large piercings in the ears, the nose rings, the lip fillers and the tattoos on the body?!
- In fact, it doesn’t even matter here that you don’t know Latin, yet you get a Latin saying or some Japanese ideogram tattooed on you, which you suspect means something.
- The tattoo is done by you, on you, with your own money or your parents’ money, but not for yourself, but for someone else. The proof is that even in winter, the tattooed person walks round the shopping centre in shorts and a T-shirt, so that others can see the result of their autonomy imprinted on their skin.
- Take a look and consider the cultures and religions from which tattoos originate: they come solely from pagan religions, to whom we, as Christians, have a duty to reveal Christ, the Light of the world, and the divine life which He brought to mankind.
- We have role models to follow, namely the saints of the Church. Let us choose as our role model in life someone who can no longer sin, someone who has known and loved God and who helps us too to avoid sin and to stand before Him with a body transfigured by divine grace.
- If you have already had a tattoo done, whether small or large, my advice is this: if it is small, have it removed and wipe from your body and from your mind any deed that displeases God. True life is only that which is lived in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If the tattoo is large, you can have it removed. If it covers your whole body and cannot be removed, repent and pray as King David did in Psalm 100: ‘For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me’. Every time you look upon your own body, bow down in repentance for the sin you have committed, go to confession, return to God and remember your sinful life, so that from now on you may avoid it, both you and your fellow human beings.
- 1
Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, the Confessor, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, vol. 1, Bucharest, EIBMBOR, 2003, p. 396.
- 2
Rev. Prof. Dr Cristinel Ioja, Homo economicus – Jesus Christ, the Meaning of Creation and the Shortcomings of Pure Biologism, Doxologia, Iași, 2021, pp. 150–160.
- 3
Between 2020 and 2025, 288 specialist articles were published, which I came across simply by searching for ‘tattoo complications’