Posted on Jun 07, 2018
Tattoos and Religion
In some religions, tattoos can be seen as a way to honor your faith. Alternatively, many spiritual beliefs actually prohibit people from permanently altering their bodies. For some, getting a tattoo...
In some religions, tattoos can be seen as a way to honor your faith. Alternatively, many spiritual beliefs actually prohibit people from permanently altering their bodies. For some, getting a tattoo of scripture or a symbol may be the ultimate tribute to your ideology. For others, it's the ultimate sin. We reached out to our followers on Instagram to learn more about different religions that take issue with permanent tattoos, and how inkbox can be an alternative.
“Growing up in a very very strict Muslim household, I never even entertained the idea of tattoos on myself. When I was about 5, I would always tattoo my barbies with the cutest little designs but when my super-matriarchal grandma found them, she scolded me because “tattoos are the ticket to hell”. Once I got a bit older and could understand more, she explained to me that people who get tattoos are not allowed into heaven because they have ‘mutilated the body that God gave them.” Since then, although I’ve had numerous ideas, I’m less religious, and I’m old enough to get tattoos, I’ve never been able to get myself to do it because of the guilt :( The permanence of what my family has taught me is one of the biggest sins in the book terrifies me, but inkbox lets me fulfil those dreams without the weight of guilt! I’ve always drawn on myself in sharpie or henna, so to be able to make it look like a real tattoo through inkbox is amazing. Thanks guys!” Anon
“I’m Muslim and I’ve always loved tattoos but my faith doesn’t allow me to get them. I don’t usually tell people about my love for tattoos because they automatically assume my parents force Islam on me. Many people find it hard to believe that I choose this lifestyle especially because I don’t cover my hair. When I found out about inkbox, I automatically fell in love. I love how genuine the tattoos look and how inclusive the brand is in terms of the tattoos it carries. Inkbox lets me express my love for tattoos and my faith at the same time.” @araza503
“I’m 28 and I grew up Mormon. I’m an artsy person and I always believed that our body is a canvas, but my religion says our body is a temple and we should treat it as a temple. Not going to lie, but I am a faithful Mormon. I follow everything because I believe and made it’s made me the person I am now. But, last year my dad passed and I want my first and only tattoo to be a lighthouse in memory of my dad. He liked lighthouses and he’s my light on my dark days. Thanks inkbox for being the alternative for those who want to be faithful without breaking any rules!” Anon
“As a Jehovah’s Witness, I’m not allowed to get a real tattoo. But, the idea of body art fascinates me! I love the idea of covering my body in art and beautiful designs. However, my family and religion say that I cannot, and I respect that. That’s why I love inkbox! I just recently ordered Dino and it satisfied my need! Thank you so so much.” Anon
“As a Muslim, I can’t get a real tattoo, but they’ve always interested me. They’re so gorgeous and I kind of want one, but I could stick to a realistic semi-permanent one since I can’t get a real one lol. Inkbox is basically everything I could ask for since I really like black tattoos and they look realistic AND they last a while.” @mayishaspamaccx
“In Islam it is forbidden to do any permanent “damage” to your skin or body in general. So tattoos are not allowed, but if they were, I would be covered in them. That is why I’m obsessed with inkbox. They last longer than henna tattoos and they’re easier to apply. My mom gets mad at me because they look so realistic that she doesn’t believe it’s just a temporary tattoo.” @almina_gagula
“I’m Jewish. In Judaism the Torah tells us we are not allowed to alter the body because we are made in God’s image. This means no tattoos, and means we can’t get piercings (but that’s a different thing in and of itself). Thanks to inkbox I’ve been able to express myself and show off my personality in an exciting way without breaking these rules. Thank you for your and I love all our products.” @aryehlevin
“Most of our outfits have to revolve around our headscarf, but at the same time we don’t want to lose our personality. Sometimes a tattoo makes an outfit whole, and our compromise would be henna tattoos which is way too temporary and sometimes too extravagant. We saw the inkbox tats and thought they were perfect! An outfit tells a lot about a person, like tattoos, they send a message about the vibe someones gives. You want a tattoo as a memory, you want it to make your pictures look cooler, you want one to help you feel calmer, etc.” @bilkisakhter
“I’ve thought about trying inkbox tattoos for a long time only because real tattoos aren’t allowed in my religion. I am Muslim, and it is said that tattoos are a form of changing God’s creation and it’s looked down upon. So basically changing/altering your body for beautification isn’t allowed. I feel like it’s so great that you guys are taking all religions into consideration here, you guys are really cool” @tasneemachmet
“I come from a strict household. My parents are very traditional and are against tattoos, hair dye, or anything that will change your appearance or body permanently. We believe God made us perfect the way we are and we shouldn’t change ourselves from him perfect design. With that said, inkbox has provided a great compromise between me and my parents. The tattoos look real but they fade overtime.” Anon
“I’m Jewish and Jewish law doesn’t allow for body ink. When I told my mother I wanted to get a star of David tattoo on my ankle in honour of the victims of the Holocaust, she told me I couldn’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery - which isn’t actually true. There’s a lot of stigma in the Jewish community around tattoos and that’s caused me to be hesitant to get a real one. I’ve had a few henna ones because Judaism allows that, but I’m slightly nervous as to how my family will react when I get one. I’m planning on trying inkbox over the summer.” Anon
“So I’m born Muslim and my parents are strictly Muslim and tattoos, excluding henna, are completely banned. My cousin had gotten one when he was 18 and I remember my family disowned him. I’ll be 19 this year and ever since I’ve become 16 my mom would do body checks to make sure I didn’t get any tattoos, because I’m rebellious and I have a love for tattoos. They wouldn’t even let me draw on my hands. It’s sad really. I’ve seen a lot of my Muslim friends get in serious trouble for getting a tattoo. My parents would never allow me to get one because of my culture and religion. I might be raised in a completely modern community and in Canada, unlike them who were both raised in Puerto Rico and Bangladesh. They believe in old teachings and getting a tattoo is a big no for both the culture and the religion.” @nvfiza
“My religion [Islam] doesn’t allow us to get tattoos but I absolutely love them! My religion believes that you should go back to how you entered this world. But I think you can express yourself and be who you want to be especially with going through a lot in life tattoos can make you feel beautiful. If I was allowed tattoos I think I’d have loads :) inkbox tattoos are so good I’ve tried them out before, especially for summer. It’s the first summer this year I can go out without my scars showing” @bells_28x