Your faith, your tattoos

In Summary

INK AND FAITH. It could be just small holes with ink but what do tattoos have to do with one’s beliefs. Beatrice Nakibuuka finds out.

Mary Tumwikirize, a presenter at UBC television has a number of tattoos. To her, tattoos are like cosmetics. “No one just wakes up one day and they feel they want a tattoo. It takes time to come up with the idea and muster the courage of getting your body inked. In my case the tattoos are notes in my notebook (read body). They stand for important events and people in my life,” says Tumwikirize, adding, “ Tattoos are an expression of what is on someone’s mind.”
Tumwikirize believes the body rots and so she will not appear with the tattoos on judgement day. “I do not think there is anything wrong with having tattoos. I’m a Christian and I know that when I die, my body will rot and my soul will await judgement. Why then make a fuss about the tattoos when the body decomposes?”

“The tattoo does not go deep into the skin and you may have it erased if you wish too although I have never thought of removing any of my tattoos because they all have a meaning in my life,” she adds.

Different religious views
There are several commentaries on whether Christians should have tattoos and the verse concerning cutting the flesh for the dead and tattooing is just part of a full unit of thought prohibiting this practices. In Leviticus 19:28; “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, or any tattoo marks on you: I am the Lord.”
Although tattooing is absent from the Seventh Day Adventist baptismal vow, they reject tattooing on the grounds that the body belongs to God and it is to be maintained and appreciated. They therefore abstain from unhealthy practices such as alcohol

consumption, smoking, wearing jewellery as well as tattooing.
Pastor Micheal Kyazze of Omega Healing Centre, Zana says, “This is not the right way to show emotions. If I’m passionate about flowers, I would rather have them planted in a pot at my home than on my body. I believe that the body is the temple of God and it is supposed to be kept clean. It is not a writing board.”

Maybe for love or commitment
“The Catholic Church has not made an official decision on the matter of tattoos but I do not encourage people to have tattoos although it may be understandable if they are doing it for a good cause such as love or commitment,” says Fr George William Ssentamu, parish priest at St Jude Catholic Parish in Wakiso.

The Reverend Henry Ssentamu, a priest at Anglican Martyrs Shrine, says he would not consider a person with tattoos unChristian because there are cultures that do tattoos. “If however someone did it for other reasons, I still would not judge. I would leave such people to do personal judgement and can have the tattoo removed when they feel like.

It is unacceptable
Islam does not accept tattooing. “Tattoos strongly interfere with one’s faith. When one dies, they are not supposed to have anything else on their body except the three of five clothes. If one dies with a tattoo, they will be asked why they got it. Also, the pain that comes with tattoos is prohibited in the second chapter of the Quran verse 195 where God says … Do not attempt to harm yourself…,” says Sheikh Mahmood Badruddiin at Masjid Taqwa in Mutungo.
Medical tattoos may be used on people who have a serious medical condition such as diabetes that they need immediate help in case of an attack and are not able to communicate their problem verbally.

Skin expert says
Some people may acquire tattoos in order to fit in society for example people with permanent scars that result from burns and vitiligo. “When a person has vitiligo (a permanent depigmentation of the skin), they can get a tattoo to cover the depigmentation but they can only do it after the recommendation of a skin specialist,” says Malik Ssempereza, a dermatologist at Unity Skin Clinic, at Acacia Mall in Kampala.

He however adds that, people with allergic reactions may develop granulomas which are small bumps that can appear on the skin as a result of an allergic reaction.

“As a result of direct irritation of the skin caused by the deep tattoo ink, a person may develop dermatitis a condition of the skin in which it becomes red, swollen, and sore, sometimes with small blisters,” says Ssempereza.
However, some medical conditions can prevent you from getting a tattoo. These include; hemophilia (a disorder in which blood does not clot) pregnancy, diabetes and epilepsy.

Do tattoos interfere with one’s faith?

“ Yes, because it is an act of deforming the body and changing one’s nature thus undermining God’s work of creation. We do not need to add anything. I hear they are marks and signs for Illuminati agents.

Herman Nsinda, Social worker

“ As a Christian, tattoos are bad and they are against my faith because they are considered satanic symbols but the world has diverse cultures and tattoos are part of a particular culture. To them it may signify loyalty to their cultures.
Robert Kasawuli, lecturer

“ I do not think tattoos can affect my faith. My faith is in the heart and the tattoo is on the body. Everyone is free to do whatever they want with their bodies.