Catholic Church On Tattoos Research Paper
AMDG
Ervin Colston
5/5/16
3rd
Catholic Church's Position on Tattoos
Before you can understand the Church's position on tattoos, it is important for you to understand a little history of tattoos. Tattoos have existed for thousands of years, and has served a variety of purposes of the years. The oldest known example of tattoos comes from the Iceman mummy Otzi, who was found in the Alps near the Italy-Austrian border, and who is dated to be approximately 5,200 years old (Lineberry, 2007). The first tattoos seem to have been for more therapeutic purposes, which is evidenced by the fact that early tattoos were positioned on areas of the body that had degenerated (Lineberry, 2007). Surprisingly, the act of tattooing seems to sometimes be a …show more content…
When British explorers came to Polynesian areas, they found out that the Polynesians practiced the art of tattooing, which they called “tatatau” or “tattau” (Lineberry, 2007). Polynesian tattooing became popular among those who had dangerous professions, such as sailors and miners. Tattoos also started to become associated with gangs, which added a negative stigma to tattoos. In more “westernized” countries, there is a bigger stigma against tattoos. Currently in America, there is a negative stigma against those who have tattoos, versus those who do not have tattoos. In Japan, there is an even greater stigma against tattoos. Having tattoos in Japan is usually associated with being a foreigner, or part of the yakuza (the Japanese mafia). People with tattoos in Japan are also discriminated in terms of getting a job as well, and you can be asked to leave restaurants, spas, and stores if you have tattoos (Westlake, …show more content…
While researching the history of tattoos however, I found out that the way the Maori's tattooed themselves kept their skin young (Lineberry, 2007), as the ink was made from all natural products, such as: burnt wood, fungus-infected caterpillars, and burnt kauri gum mixed with animal fat. Since the tattoos were also literally cut into the body with the materials smeared on the body, the beneficial properties of the materials seem to “soak” into the skin. All in all, this was an interesting project to do, and I do not regret writing this paper, as I learned a lot more about tattooing.
MLA
Lineberry, Cate. "Tattoos The Ancient and Mysterious History."Www.smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 5 May 2016. .
Westlake, Adam. "The View of Tattoos in Japanese Society."Www.japandailypress.com. Japan Daily Press, 29 June 2012. Web. 5 May 2016. .
Scott, Joe. "What Is the Church Teaching regarding Body Piercing and Tattoos?" Www.bustedhalo.com. BustedHalo, 26 Sept. 2009. Web. 5 May 2016.
Ervin Colston
5/5/16
3rd
Catholic Church's Position on Tattoos
Before you can understand the Church's position on tattoos, it is important for you to understand a little history of tattoos. Tattoos have existed for thousands of years, and has served a variety of purposes of the years. The oldest known example of tattoos comes from the Iceman mummy Otzi, who was found in the Alps near the Italy-Austrian border, and who is dated to be approximately 5,200 years old (Lineberry, 2007). The first tattoos seem to have been for more therapeutic purposes, which is evidenced by the fact that early tattoos were positioned on areas of the body that had degenerated (Lineberry, 2007). Surprisingly, the act of tattooing seems to sometimes be a …show more content…
When British explorers came to Polynesian areas, they found out that the Polynesians practiced the art of tattooing, which they called “tatatau” or “tattau” (Lineberry, 2007). Polynesian tattooing became popular among those who had dangerous professions, such as sailors and miners. Tattoos also started to become associated with gangs, which added a negative stigma to tattoos. In more “westernized” countries, there is a bigger stigma against tattoos. Currently in America, there is a negative stigma against those who have tattoos, versus those who do not have tattoos. In Japan, there is an even greater stigma against tattoos. Having tattoos in Japan is usually associated with being a foreigner, or part of the yakuza (the Japanese mafia). People with tattoos in Japan are also discriminated in terms of getting a job as well, and you can be asked to leave restaurants, spas, and stores if you have tattoos (Westlake, …show more content…
While researching the history of tattoos however, I found out that the way the Maori's tattooed themselves kept their skin young (Lineberry, 2007), as the ink was made from all natural products, such as: burnt wood, fungus-infected caterpillars, and burnt kauri gum mixed with animal fat. Since the tattoos were also literally cut into the body with the materials smeared on the body, the beneficial properties of the materials seem to “soak” into the skin. All in all, this was an interesting project to do, and I do not regret writing this paper, as I learned a lot more about tattooing.
MLA
Lineberry, Cate. "Tattoos The Ancient and Mysterious History."Www.smithsonian.com. Smithsonian, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 5 May 2016. .
Westlake, Adam. "The View of Tattoos in Japanese Society."Www.japandailypress.com. Japan Daily Press, 29 June 2012. Web. 5 May 2016. .
Scott, Joe. "What Is the Church Teaching regarding Body Piercing and Tattoos?" Www.bustedhalo.com. BustedHalo, 26 Sept. 2009. Web. 5 May 2016.