is it against the lutheran religion to get a tattoo?
346860
IF IN DOUBT ASK PASTORAL ADVICE.........GOOD LUCK......
646264
I think that it is totally outrageous, and an violation of their constitutional rights to deny any serviceman or woman the right to have the accepted icon for their religion displayed on their headstone.\n\nThat having been said, I must also admit that the Government [bless it's black little heart] IS making some progress.  \n\nI have been Wiccan since 1968.  I was enlisted in the Navy between 1972 and 1976.  For those four years I found it necessary to be Buddhist.  \n\nIt was a requirement that I declare a belief system, even if it was Agnostic or Atheist ... however, they would NOT allow me to declare Wicca as my religion.  \n\nThe reason it was mandatory was so that they could put it on my dog-tags.  So that I would get the appropriate religious rites should I be killed in the defense of my country.\n\nI chose to declare Buddhism because it was the only religion on the "approved" list besides Hinduism that was not connected to the Christian/Jewish/Muslim god Yahweh/Jehovah and because Buddhism is closer to the tenents of Wicca than is Hinduism.\n\nNow, Wicca is an acceptable religion as far as the U.S. Armed Services is concerned.  There is even a "U.S. Army Chaplain's Handbook on Wicca" which informs Army Chaplain's about the basics of Wicca and gives them guidelines on how to handle things should they have to handle a Wiccan death.  \n\nI was much impressed to see that they even had a section where it informed the Chaplain's about the fact that Wiccans sometimes practice their rituals in the nude, and that the ritual knife used [the Athame] was a religious icon, not a weapon.  {The way it was phrased indicated that the M.P.'s were encountering a religious ritual, not a naked nut with a knife}.\n\nIt must logically follow that if a religion is accepted as valid for dog-tags and that the U.S. Army is printing guides for its Chaplain's on how to handle the last rites, etc., then the serviceman or woman must be allowed to display the accepted icon for their religion on their headstone.\n\nSo, things are changing, though slowly.  It is only right and proper that it should change - because you are totally, one hundred percent correct when you noted that the U.S. Government is denying Servicemen and women their Constitutional right to freedom of religion by adhering to the puritanical, christian oriented structure that has been in place for so long.
240975
http://www.native-languages.org/tattoo.htm\n\nThis book may have some:\n\nhttp://www.hesseltvandinter.com/
1163504
I am not qualified to make that judgment - though some things such a Yeshu idol in a manger at Christmas with 2 people who in all likelihood don't much resemble Mary & Joseph clearly are. Same for statues of Jesus with a halo or representing Mary - etc.\n\nIMO it depends how it is used. Pictures used for illustration - I would say no. Crosses - not by themselves - it is a symbol which can be used in a favorable way. Put a dead Jew on it and it becomes an idol of sorts.
734463
Jesus was made Jewish by his family and was the Jewish eqivalent of Luther. Hence he was a Protestant !\nBesides why do christians think they own the right to brand others Pagan. I'm sure all others see christians in the same light, as non believers.  Now would ultimateprogrammergod please give it a rest. We are sick to death of hearing Jewish people declare every utterance against them as anti-smite  or Neo-Nazi. How dare you ! Get a life. You won,t win friends around the world that way.
1069712
The odds are that there is more to this issue than just the tattoo.  I did a quick search and all of the branches just relaxed their standards.  What still holds is that it (a tattoo) can not be offensive to others in any way, it cannot be discriminatory to any person or group, it can not be gang or hate group related, and it can not be placed in a location that would bring discredit to the military.\n\nI don't know the Navy/Marine Corps or Air Force, but the Army policy is stated in AR 670-1, Chapter 1, section 1-8, sub section E, items 1-7.  It outlines all possible circumstances and how they are to be handled.
544852
The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). So, even though believers today are not under the Old Testament law (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15), the fact that there was a command against tattoos should cause us to question. The New Testament does not say anything about whether a believer should or should not get a tattoo.\n\n \n\nIn relation to tattoos and body piercings, a good test is to determine whether we can honestly, in good conscience, ask God to bless and use the particular activity for His own good purposes. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Bible does not command against tattoos or body piercings, but it also does not give us any reason to believe God would have us get tattoos or body piercings.\n\n \n\nAnother issue to consider is modesty. The Bible instructs us to dress modestly (1 Timothy 2:9). One aspect of dressing modestly is making sure everything that should be covered by clothing is adequately covered. However, the essential meaning of modesty is not drawing attention to yourself. People who dress modestly dress in such a way that they do not draw attention to themselves. Tattoos and body piercings most definitely draw attention. In this sense, tattoos and body piercings are not modest.\n\n \n\nAn important Scriptural principle on issues that the Bible does not specifically address is that if there is room for doubt as to whether it pleases God, then it is best to not engage in that activity. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). We need to remember that our bodies, as well as our souls, have been redeemed and belong to God. Although 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 does not directly apply to tattoos or body piercings, it does give us a principle, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do and where we go with our bodies. If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear "permission" before we "mark it up" with tattoos or body piercings.
437740
People associate it with witchcraft, which they (incorrectly) associate with devil worship.  Therefore they assume its a santanic symbol, even though it isn't.
944558
it's not that which goes into the body that defiles a man.\n\nLev 19:28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD. \n\nnational geographic did a study on this and believe that this was the act of people cutting themselves and rumbing dirt in it to make scares.  they were doing this for the dead.  they would also ink so that it would leave tattoo marks for the dead.  the verses before and after refer to worship of anything else other than God and so therefore i assume that is what this verse is refering to also.  just like when it says do not trim the corners of your beard.  what some of the pagans were doing is trimming their hair and beards a certain way to try to harness power from the stars (wierd i know).\n\nif i read correctly Jesus told people to follow the law in a non legalistic way.  so follow the spirit of the law which is worshiping God alone.   i don't think it's what you do but why you do it.  God will judge the heart right\n\nwe are to be good stuarts of the things we have including our health so don't eat to much candy.
43084
I suppose he could have been refering to this verse:\n\nRevelation 19:16 - And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.\n\nIt says written. I don't think that it means ink inside the skin but a topical written statement. It may be more spiritual than physical. I would ask the pastor to show you where in scripture that he bases that statement. \n\nIf God said not to mark your skin, Jesus surely would obey. He came to fulfill the law.\n\nLev 19:28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
41712
Basically it says do not be like the heathen that engage in such things. You need to set yourself apart from the world. If you already have tats, no problem. If you are thinking about getting a tat, my question to you is, why? What is your motivation? And don't say to witness to people with tats, because it is the Holy  Spirit that witnesses, not your skin art. Use your freedom in Christ to live a holy life, not one that pushes boundaries to see how far you can be in the world and still be a Christian.
323693
The U.C.C. policy is to welcome everyone.\n\nThat is true in the Lutheran (ELCA) church as well.
423165
Yes. Christmas is a National holiday that is celebrated by 98% of Americans.  Most non-Christians who celebrate Christmas put up Christmas trees and tell their kids about Santa Claus.  So Christmas decorations should definitely be allowed.\n\nThe Easter Bunny and Easter eggs are also secular traditions.  These are not part of the religious traditions of the holidays.  In addition, many public schools that talk about and display examples of the traditions of non-christian religions refuse to talk about or display examples of Christian tradition.    \n\nLoss Leader\nDo you believe that symbols of non christian religions should also be forbidden? \nAdded later: By allowing the display of non-religious symbols representing holidays nothing is being imposed upon anyone.  Such decoratations do not compel anyone to celebrate those holidays.  By your logic, we should not display pictures of elected representatives, because in some religions (including some sects of Islam) taking a picture steals the subjects soul.  You have yet to answer my question.
458237
Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran religion, was German.  Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights advocate, was American.  Sheesh!
164228
"Is it ok to give a dog a Tattoo?"
174719
((((   wow, cool, with this answer, i achieve level 5 status here on Answers.Yahoo.com !!!  )))\n\nThis piece of MIS-information gets repeated over and over again, and it is simply not true.\n\nYes, Gd in the Bible commands us not to get a tattoo. But Gd also commands us not to do many other things, and the idea that the cemetaries would single out this one commandment and then say that if someone violates this one, then he or she wont be buried here, is just stupidity. \n\nAnd if you dont mind my saying so, the first time i read this was in Readers Digest, when they interviewed Geraldo Rivera. He is a Jew. He told the story of how, when his gang were all getting a tattoo of a cross between the thumb and the forefinger, he got a tattoo of a Star of David, even though 'it meant i could not be buried in a Jewish cemetary.' That alone started everyone, Jew and non-Jew thinking that what he said was true.......WRONG!\n\nso, now i am at level 5, here.....that and a dollar will be buy me a candybar!
807913
I go to Pentecostal church now. So, it's more like a non- denominational service, only we have the prayer team, before the shermon. So if anyone need prayer or encouragement, they can go to the front and pray with the prayer's counselor. They also have altar call, for people that want to receive Jesus. \nI believe that when we sing and pray, it's for the glory of God. We sing from the heart and dance from the heart (Just like David). \nI grew up in Lutheran church. No one 'dare' to raise their hand or even move their finger, and (sorry) some funeral service are more lively than they are. It's like people in the church said to God "Bless me if you can" ... But that's just my church, I know that not all Lutheran church are like that.