The Influence of Religion and Culture over Tattoos and Body Piercings
For decades, tattoos and body piercings have been one of the most controversial concerns among religion such as Christians. According to a statement made by the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) in their website, they declare “The Synod has no position on this subject. It should be kept in mind that the prohibition in Leviticus 19:28 ... For Christians, matters such as this lie in the area of Christian freedom and wise judgment” However, for cultures and societies this controversy has become a more accepted issue because of the behaviour and the lifestyle of new generations.
It is known that Indians, natives and warriors all around the world have used body painting for a long time. But according to Jennifer Viegas, in her article for Discovery news - Discovery Channel, tattoos date from 5300 B.C. based on the discover in 1991 of Otzi “the iceman”, who died frozen and was found in the Similaun Glacier of the Alps. Moreover, Professor Maria Anna Pabst from the Institute of Cell Biology at the Medical University of Graz and some colleagues analysed several of Otzi’s tattoos. They concluded that there were “groups of... tattoo lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and so they’re parallel to Chinese acupuncture meridians”. This seems to show one of the ends of using tattoos beyond the look or the appearance of the people in the pass.
Body piercings, on the other hand, seem to be less ancient than tattoos, but they are still as ancients. Based on anthropologist discovers, a mummy from about 5000 years ago was found wearing earrings. However, “Nose piercing is documented as far back as 1500 BC”.
Tattoos and Body piercings have had many different stages across history, from tribes’ traditions and war adornments to mark of undesirable societies (in the case of Jewish people during the Nazi revolution) and prisoners; from rebel behaviour to a particular lifestyle such as hippies. Nevertheless, these traditions, lifestyles or any other term used to
It is known that Indians, natives and warriors all around the world have used body painting for a long time. But according to Jennifer Viegas, in her article for Discovery news - Discovery Channel, tattoos date from 5300 B.C. based on the discover in 1991 of Otzi “the iceman”, who died frozen and was found in the Similaun Glacier of the Alps. Moreover, Professor Maria Anna Pabst from the Institute of Cell Biology at the Medical University of Graz and some colleagues analysed several of Otzi’s tattoos. They concluded that there were “groups of... tattoo lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and so they’re parallel to Chinese acupuncture meridians”. This seems to show one of the ends of using tattoos beyond the look or the appearance of the people in the pass.
Body piercings, on the other hand, seem to be less ancient than tattoos, but they are still as ancients. Based on anthropologist discovers, a mummy from about 5000 years ago was found wearing earrings. However, “Nose piercing is documented as far back as 1500 BC”.
Tattoos and Body piercings have had many different stages across history, from tribes’ traditions and war adornments to mark of undesirable societies (in the case of Jewish people during the Nazi revolution) and prisoners; from rebel behaviour to a particular lifestyle such as hippies. Nevertheless, these traditions, lifestyles or any other term used to