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Faithful wear tattoos to reflect beliefs |
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Written by Knight Ridder
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Wednesday, 24 May 2006 |
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Arana, a 24-year-old Wichita State University social work student, recently had a cross wrapped with a vine and two roses tattooed on her right ankle. It was her first tattoo.
Her 21-year-old sister, Maria Arana, got the same tattoo at the Elektrik Chair, a tattoo parlor in Wichita, Kan.
“Whenever we’ve gone through stuff, the only thing that gets us through is our faith,” said Martha Arana, a Catholic. “So we both decided to get something that symbolizes our faith.”
The two are among countless people of faith nationwide who have tattoos that reflect their spirituality and religious beliefs.
But is a tattoo an appropriate way to display faith?
Some religious leaders say tattoos — faith-based or not — are sinful because they deface a person’s body. But people who get them and give them say the artwork is a way to show and even share their faith with others.
“I don’t see pigment being stabbed into your skin changing who you are on the inside,” said Matt Headley, artist and owner of Red Sea Tattoo in Wichita, Kan.
Raul Tanguma, an artist at the Elektrik Chair, figures about one-third of the tattoos he does are spiritual symbols and art, including crosses and detailed images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
“A lot of first-time tattoos are religious ones,” he said. | Only registered users can write comments.
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