| The opinion of the church has always had a major | | | | other hand, practices the art of tattoo using Henna. |
| impact on almost every issue. Ever since time | | | | The Shi'a faction of Islam allows tattooing. |
| immemorial, religion played a very important role in | | | | Judaism forbids tattooing based on Torah. As with |
| shaping society as it is today. While it is true that the | | | | Islam, the prohibition is based on anything that |
| church position is almost always at odds with | | | | changes the original state of creation. The exception |
| practices that are not traditional, it is important to | | | | on body modification is if the modification serves a |
| bear in mind that religion has withstood time and | | | | medical purpose to heal the body or to correct a |
| therefore her stance carry significant weight to | | | | disability or deformity. A scholar on Jewish law |
| society. | | | | explains that the prohibition is meant to disassociate |
| Christianity has been in recent times the most liberal | | | | Judaism from other pagan religion which uses tattoo |
| of modern religions. With regards to tattoo, the | | | | in their faith. |
| Christian church does not seem to have a consistent | | | | The religions of the east like Shintoism and Buddhism |
| stand for or against tattooing. In fact, you will find | | | | does not expressly prohibit tattoos. In fact, one will |
| many tattoo designs that are Christian of origin like | | | | find many members of these faith and even the |
| the cross and images of the saints. However, a silent | | | | priests have tattoos in their body some even on |
| minority holds a negative stand on the practice of | | | | shaved heads. The accepting and passive nature of |
| tattooing. | | | | these religions seems to be a thriving ground for the |
| Islam on the other hand, frowns on the practice of | | | | art and practice of tattoo. |
| tattoo and considers it forbidden. The Prophet | | | | Indeed, religion has influenced so much of the world's |
| Mohammad, Peace be Upon Him, forbids any form of | | | | culture. The church proves to be a deterring force in |
| mutilation of the body including but not limited to | | | | the emergence and growth of social and cultural |
| tattooing because tattooing involves changing the | | | | phenomenon when she is against it or a patron when |
| original nature of creation. The Sunni book of | | | | she supports it. In the case of tattoos, all of the |
| traditions shows strongly worded prohibitions on the | | | | world's religion seems to have differing opinions but it |
| one who wants to be tattooed and the one doing | | | | seems that tattoo is here to stay whether or not |
| the tattooing. The Muslims of North Africa, on the | | | | the world's religion give its stamp of approval. |