Is the huge trend in Tattooing and Body Piercing a sign of the End Times?

Originally posted by worldwatcher
I think there is an increase in tattooing because it is now "safer" and easier to get. Fifty years or so ago, you'd probably have to go down by the wharf or the seediest part of town to get a tattoo. Before that you would probably had to have sailed to the South Seas.... it's not that people didn't want them, it was more of a challenge to get one and then of course the needle issue. Now that it is regulated and there are rules and laws concerning how tattoo parlors practice, people are finding easier to acquire one.

I hate that word pagan, I know it's the word Christians use to describe non christians, kind of how Muslims use "infidel" to describe non christians. Ridiculous.
And are you sure that tattoos are mainly associated with us pagans???? because I have seen an awful lot of Jesus, Virgin Mary and cross tattoos in my lifetime.

[edit on 5-24-2006 by worldwatcher]

LOL! Pagan is a weird word. When I use it I'm not trying to be demeaning. To me, a pagan is one who believes in any other God but God/Christ. So to me, Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus, Jehovahs Witnesses, etc. are all pagan religions. I also think there are Christian pagans (those who confess they believe in God/Jesus....but that's it, no church, no reading, no spirituality.....just lip service with no actions to back it up).

I am not a bible thumper, a born-again, or a fundamentalist.....just a guy that believes in Jesus and makes sure his life is lead as close to God's will as, well, as I can see fit. I'm not an angel. I have lots of bad habits (things you might think are devilish), but I'm not perfect by any means. I do find great interest in the word of God though because the more I read about it, the more I understand it to be true.

As far as the "heavenly" tattoos. To some degree I think this is hypocrisy. I don't know.

[edit on 24-5-2006 by zerotolerance]

Instead of looking at this as a religious phenomena you could look at as a cultural and social phenomena.

As the world moves faster it becomes harder and harder to define ones self. Male and female gender roles are being redefined with every generation, we live in an ever increasing corporate/homogonized cookie cutter world.

Both the movie and book Fight Club explores this on some level and does it very well.

It also has a lot to do with personal symbolism and mythology. Tattooing is a very jungian thing.

I'm not saying everyone who gets a tattoo has this running through their sub-concious I'm just saying it's something to think about.

The only part of the tattoo thing that anoys me are the kids (those under 18) who are getting tattoos.

That's more about lack of parenting than end of times in my opinion.

I have a couple of tattoos, got them when i was in my early twenties. I do not regret them (going on 15 years now) and they are still significant to me.

Which could also mean I'm emotionally stunted.

I wouldn't worry about it, the end of the world is way off...though I'm always open to being proven wrong.

Spiderj

Well, it seems like this end of the world subject comes up alot in these forums and I truly remember reading about this in a Bible that I had. I remember the other thing it mentioned was how the seasons would blur into one another. meaning that we would never know how to dress when we go out anymore because one day it would be snowing and the next hot and sunny and the next snowing again. You have to admit the weather is getting weirder. I'm still wearing a heavy coat to work in the morning and it's almost June here in Maryland. Something is not right.....I'm 42 and I don't ever remember weather being this weird.

Well if you're looking for "signs of the end of times", there is a lot more intriguing events and developments with mankind that more clearly hint that we are living in the end of times as in religion end of times.

For example Hindus also believe we living in the end of times, they refer to it as the age of Kali yuga.

www.vedabase.net...

take a look and compare to the Christian/Catholic signs of the end of times...interesting ain't it....

Yes WW, we are there. However, it is not because the increase in tattooing.

Very interesting is the link. There are other sprotual faiths that also point to similar things of us being there in the end times. Look at some of the American indians doctrines, especially the Hopi.

the "end times" which we are all being slammed with, by preachers, book writers, gurus, new agers, etc etc

some of the above use and bend 'scriptures' to give credence to their viewpoint,
for example, the often stated premise that...As It Was In The Days Of Noah..etc
and then the 'moral leader & icon' leads you to conclude that TATOOS are a symptom of a debased society, indulged in promiscuity and wanton self pleasures who have adorned their bodies in the spirit of pagan ritual,,,etc etc

In no historical record...lets say from 4000BC-2000BC
(when the Noah flood story might/could possibly have occurred)
has there ever been discovered papyrus scrolls or cuniform tablets
which noted that 99.99999% of humanity
(everyone but the Noah extended family)
were Tattooed, anti-god, depraved pagans intent on immoral behaviors.
So, tattoos & body art & piercings being deemed 'evil' by a select few.
and an indicator of 'end times' is just a pretty well fabricated s-t-o-r-y

on the other hand, as most everything goes in cycles...
its just time for these body decorations, and to the point of Extreme decorations
are become accepted in todays society...
when NationalGeographic pictured native peoples with scars, tattoos, piercings,
back after WWII, i think most people & adults went 'tsk-tsk', oh how primitive!

in another 50 years, the fad/craze/rebellion/expression will dim,
replaced by another chic, haute, thing to do

isn't there already a place to Surf The Apocalypse
~zen~, my friend

"Otzi" the Iceman was heavily tattooed, and lived around 3300 B.C. People have been tattooing themselves worldwide for just about as long as they have been people, and maybe even while they were still thick-skulled hominids.

So unless you want to extend the "End Times" all the way back to the "Start Times," then I would suggest that, no, this is not a sign of the "End Times."

Besides, there ain't no such thing.

Originally posted by Dock6
.
I always feel sorry for people with tattoos. For some reason I've always associated tattoos with low self esteem.

Never met anyone who hasn't, at some point, admitted to regret about having tattoos, which again, makes me feel sorry for them.

Sorry to dissapoint, but no low self esteem or regrets here, thats why i got my tattoos on my feet. I love my feet, love my tatts and won't ever be in a position where the appearance or location of my tattoo's will be a hinderance or a regret. No-one knows they are there unless i choose. As for the thread topic, not sure about that one. I do know i thought the world was coming to an end whilst having my left ankle done though!

CX.

I cant see jesus (just one of the many religions) being into skating or extreme sports but they are sweeping the world in popularity. You can apply any religious thing to any of todays happenings.

My tattoos have very personal reasons, i have one from 20 yrs ago, and one a couple years old. I dont regret the old one nor the new one, and plan on getting a mural across my back of mine and my daughters footprints in the sand. I dont see where ur low self esteem or any other argument comes across for tattoos. Everyone has there own reasons...they are more popular now, as someone said, its easier, the inks are 10x better and u dont have to risk life and limb to get to a tattoo parlor.

Again...unless you grow everything yourself, raise ur own meat, feed it from your own purely organics, then you are contaminating ur body with hundreds of chemicals a day. thats against the bible too. This applies to way to broad of a range in my opinion.

People have been painting themselves for many centuries. Let's not forget tribes in Africa still painting themselves with different patterns depending on the situation.

Originally posted by zerotolerance
I know years ago (20 maybe?) my Mom gave me one of those new "Living Bibles" where it's written so idiots can understand (gee thanks, Mom). Anyway, I know that book changes some terminology, updating it so the common modern man can understand it.

It bothers me that text from thousands of years ago is being modernized to fit what is happening today. That is almost like saying it is re written so everything it is predicting will come true....

Originally posted by zerotolerance
It just seems like more and more people are becoming tattooed and pierced nowadays.

You could be noticing it more due to many trying to find signs of the "end times". People often notice what they expect to find - especially when it comes to noticing anything that supports predictions in the bible.

Originally posted by zerotolerance
There's nothing worse than a beautiful building with graffitti sprayed all over the outside. The same applies for a human being covered in tattoos.

What about a beautiful building with a mural on it? Is that ugly as well? What you see as grafitti, many others see as art - I am not referring to gang signs being spray painted, however there are many forms of art that are considered "grafitti". Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. What you see as an ugly tatoo scarring someones body, another sees it as a beautiful example of self expression - something the bible does its best to stifle....

Originally posted by zerotolerance
I have a pierced ear that I got about 20 years back (before it became a huge trend). No more piercings for me. Why? It would just feel wrong at this point, and I'd feel like a follower and a conformist (ironic because most people getting tattooed feel they are being non-conformist).

I am going to take a shot in the dark and guess that you are male. So, what about females with piercings? Is that wrong too, or is it ok because it makes them look good?
People have been tatooing and piercing themselves since the dawn of time. Nothing is different now, just more people.

Originally posted by zerotolerance
My youth was spent rebelling with drugs/alcohol and rock and roll.....so I'm no angel at all. But, I just don't get this tattoo/body piercing thing. I don't like pain at all (and both procedures are painful). So, why is everyone clamouring to this trend? Everybody and their brother is getting tattooed! Also, many of these people get creepy, demonic tattoos (demons, skulls, snakes, etc). Not all, but very many. I see tattooing/piercing as a sign of decadence. Embracing primitive ways....going backward. I know it's been around forever, but it's prevalence in modern society has increased ten fold over the last 10 years.

I personally think demons, skulls and snakes are silly things to tatoo, however who am I to judge what another person wants to do with their body? I know quite a few people with "demonic" tatoos and I can tell you they are anything but satanic.
I personally dont have any tatoos or piercings, but I know plenty of people who do. Most of them with piercings are girls - go figure....

Tattooing and body piercing are a sign people are just following the latest fashion, nothing else.

Just to add to the thread.

Concerning ancient tattoos.

I live in Thailand and tattoos here have very deep religious significance. Thais are Buddhist and probably the gentelest people I have ever met. It is a very ancient Buddhist tradition here in Thailand as well as in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma). Given by Thai monks, the prayers are written in Pali Sanskrit (the original language of the Buddha). Some of the designs already existed in Hindu India and were adapted by the Thais as Buddhism arrived from neighbouring India. Some predate Buddaha by a few centuries. The tattoos are worn by people from all levels of Thai society, right up to the level of Important Politicians, Police commissioners, Judges and Civil servants. On special days as many as 10,000 young men will come to get tattoos from the monks.

Neighbouring Khmer (Cambodia), has magic tattoos, and a Sacred Alphabet to write them with (Known as “Khom Agkara”) They have been common with the Khmer race for thousands of years.

There are millions of people in the world that don't "regret" thier tattoos in the slightest. sakyant.com...

Tatoos and piercing comes right from indigenous societies from many places in the world (mainly the Pacific and South America, where people never gave a flying $&%? about the self-centered religions of the Jews and Europeans, and not from Hell or from some satanist conspirators.

Culture is a human creation, not a spiritual perversion.

Tattooed Jesus



While the link above is a modern depiction of a tattooed Jesus, there is a belief that Jesus himself had tattoos.

Was Jesus a magician?

Morton Smith argues that Jesus fits easily into the contemporary pattern of miracle-working magicians, healing by 'casting out demons'. The Talmud identifies him with Jesus the Egyptian, who studied magic in Egypt and had magical words tattooed on his skin. (Smith thinks this possible, and points out that Paul may also have had these tattoos.)
Link to Article

Gal 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

( In Galatians 6: 17, Paul claimed to "bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was Paul claiming to be a stigmatic, bearing--metaphorically--the same wounds as Jesus, or was he claiming to have the same magical tattoos as Jesus on his flesh?
Link to article

Of course these descriptions of a tattooed and sorcerous Jesus come from the Talmud and pagan philosophers like Celsus. Parties that have had much interest in ridiculing Jesus Christ.

[edit on 24-5-2006 by Beelzebubba]

No it really is not, tattooing will never go out of fashion, I myself have a tattoo down my arm that i designed myself, i didn't copy anohters design at a tattoo artists, I do not look at someone else with tattoos and think they are better or worse than another with tattoos. IMO I prefer tattoos, I like the fact people, in effect wear their views when applicable.

The problem with tattoos in my eyes is old stereotyping, of say sailors. I have friends with skulls on their arms. I wouldn't personally choose a design for my arm, but in my eyes that does not alter my conception for them as people, infact I respect them in being able to get such a tattoo and wear it because they, as an indivudual like the design. I think too many people get hung up on fashion, I respect those who get the tattoo on an individual basis.

As for end of times as many have stated above, tattoos have been around for aslong as we can remember, the majority of UK truibes in the past were covered in such designs, fashion is nothing to do with an individuals choice to get tattoos. If I were to be judged on any tattoo I ever got I would respectfully tell the the acuser to 'go away'!

People have been tattooing and modifying their bodies for thousands of years. This "uptrend" is only in the west. Every other society has been engaging in tattooing and piericing of some form have been quite common in just about every other culture. It was even quite common amongst northern Europeans, both the Celts and Germans before Christianity came along.

I dont remember anything in the bible about tattoos and piericing meaning the end of the world. Thats a new one to me.

I like tats and piericing. I have some. Tattoos are not painful. Most piericing arent painful either. I think they can beautify the body when they are well done. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My body is not the property of some Hebrew tribal god, and thus, mine to do with as I please. people get piericed and tattooed for all sorts of reasons, and it is becoming more and more popular as people are claiming control over their bodies.

People dye their hair, cut it, style it, perm it, ect. I find plastic surgery to be more revolting and painful than tats and piericings.

Well I have always wanted to get a tattoo (scar marks to indicate torn off wings) on my back, but as a Catholic I have always had one worry from scripture to keep me away, in Revelation it states in very clear words that at the end of times everyone will have a mark on thier foreheads, I don't particularly feel it has to just be on thier foreheads but it may represent showing something off. Just a thought. However, I think we all must take a look at something else, were human, and since the begining of time, every generation has felt their living in the end of times.

When God took the Israelites out of Egypt they were to be different and stand out from the rest of the world. Tatooing and piercing were things they were supposed to stop doing, because the world was doing it. Never researched the reasons but I also believe rebellion is the root of the problem.

I read this from someone else in a book. With all the peircings and tatooing taking place and the general acceptance of it, it will be easier for the mark of the beast to be implemented. If the mark is an actual physical act of placing something under the skin then society is being preconditioned to accept it easier because of the piercing and tatooing fad.

Meaning what's one more prick under my skin.

...however.....

The mark is something that you will need to buy and sell with.

I doubt my firefighter tattoo or any of the others can be used to buy anything - well except my kids love, since I have their names too.