# Fuck your cross tattoos, and fuck your giant gold/diamond crosses **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281 "2005-11-16T07:25:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/1 "2005-11-16T07:25:27Z")
I am not a fan of tattoos, but no tattoos piss me off more than the fucking cross tattoos of all these frat-guy types. Man, oh man. Is there anything, besides the (also stupid) “tribal” design that could be more cliche and pretentious than your fucking cross tattoo? From Leviticus 19:28 : You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD. YOU STUPID FUCKING IDIOTS! If you don’t care about the Bible, and don’t care about obeying the rules, that’s fine. But isn’t it a little bit insulting to display the primary symbol of that religion via a method that is expressly prohibited in the text of your religion?! These aren’t Biblical scholars getting these cross tattoos, though. They are buffed-up college partyboys who spend every weekend filling their useless bodies with alcohol, and then nailing drunken girls. So maybe they missed that line when they were studying Scripture. I’m not religious, and I don’t let any text guide my behavior in life. I’m just saying that it’s really hypocritical to get a cross tattoo. It’d be like getting a menorah made of pork, or a Koran printed on pig’s hide… Even more disgusting to me are the huge gold or “iced-out” (diamond, for those of you who aren’t cool) crosses that hip-hoppers often have dangling around their necks. Many of these guys also have cross tattoos, but they take it a step further by also wearing these huge, ostentatious symbols of a religion whose founder and god preached a lifestyle of poverty and humility. What’s the purpose of wearing any giant, flashy object made out of precious stones or metal? It is to send a message, and the message is this: LOOK AT HOW RICH I AM! Very Christian, you fucking assholes. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/2 "2005-11-16T07:56:46Z")
1. Few, if any Christians believe that Levitical law is applicable today. 2. Many of the people wearing them are not Christian, nor do they claim to be in anything other than the vaguest possible sense; the cross is merely an iconic symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/3 "2005-11-16T08:01:24Z")
I’m not totally convinced that Leviticus offers a comprehensive guide to modern etiquette and mores, let alone “rules” to obey, particularly for those who don’t count themselves as Christian, as you seem to assume the sporters of said tattoos are. Which bothers you more: that the tattoos are ugly and cliched {I wouldn’t disagree, but hey, it’s their bodies: avert thine eyes if it bugs thee}, or that they’re irreligious? If the latter, why should it bother you if you aren’t religious yourself? ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/4 "2005-11-16T08:12:27Z")
Seems to me it only talks about in memory of tattos for dead people. Unless the person believes Jesus to be dead, then they would be clear…and if they believed Jesus to be dead…well…why would they care? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/5 "2005-11-16T08:15:02Z")
I have a cross tattoo. I’m an atheist, for all practical purposes. It’s on my back and the only time you might see it is on the rare occasion I wear a tank top in public. I didn’t get it to look cool or because I was a Christian. I got it because the cross is a powerful symbol of, IMO, sacrifice in general. I got it as self-inflicted punishment (1 1/2 hours of pretty severe pain) for some crappy stuff I did when I was a really disturbed kid, and as a lifelong reminder to help me as I aged – a reminder to never return to that horrible mental state. Of course I also have both ears pierced full of metal and dress like a teenager, so if you saw me on the street you’d probably just think that I was some worthless punk that thinks crosses are cool. Wish my life was so great that I could give a crap about other people’s tattoos or the kind of jewelery that rappers wear. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/6 "2005-11-16T08:17:50Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > These aren’t Biblical scholars getting these cross tattoos, though. They are buffed-up college partyboys who spend every weekend filling their useless bodies with alcohol, and then nailing drunken girls. So maybe they missed that line when they were studying Scripture. If they aren’t Biblical scholars but drunken students, when were they supposed to be studying scripture again? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to seethe a kid in its mother’s milk. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/7 "2005-11-16T08:22:30Z")
> [@bdgr](#): > > Seems to me it only talks about in memory of tattos for dead people. It’s cuttings in your flesh on behalf of dead people _or_ tattoos. According to Bartleby’s quotes, “cuttings” are mentioned in two other places in the Bible - another is clearly in reference to “cuttings” in memory of the dead - and they seem to be a distinct concept from tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/8 "2005-11-16T08:25:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s cuttings in your flesh on behalf of dead people _or_ tattoos. According to Bartleby’s quotes, “cuttings” are mentioned in two other places in the Bible - another is clearly in reference to “cuttings” in memory of the dead - and they seem to be a distinct concept from tattoos. Ritual scarring, presumably. Or running with scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/9 "2005-11-16T08:29:50Z")
> [@furt](#): > > 1. Few, if any Christians believe that Levitical law is applicable today. My second cousin was excommunicated from the Catholic Church for eating the meat of the rockbadger. Honest. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/10 "2005-11-16T08:30:38Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > Ritual scarring, presumably. Or running with scissors. Sounds like something along those lines. I can’t get worked up about this, but there’s a silly irony to it. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/11 "2005-11-16T08:32:07Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > I am not a fan of tattoos, but no tattoos piss me off more than the fucking cross tattoos of all these frat-guy types. Man, oh man. Is there anything, besides the (also stupid) “tribal” design that could be more cliche and pretentious than your fucking cross tattoo? > > From Leviticus 19:28 : > > You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD. > > : : : > > If you don’t care about the Bible, and don’t care about obeying the rules, that’s fine. But isn’t it a little bit insulting to display the primary symbol of that religion via a method that is expressly prohibited in the text of your religion?! Maybe I’m missing something here, but Leviticus is pretty much a source of Jewish law, is it not? I’m far from being a biblical scholar, but a few minutes of browsing Wikipedia indicates that gentiles are not bound by [Halacha but rather by Noahide law.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_law) which doesn’t reference tattoos. So a Star of David would be right out, but I think a cross is perfectly fine. You’re free, of course, to argue that it’s tacky, but your appeal to biblical law seems rather forced. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/12 "2005-11-16T11:38:20Z")
I’m sure most of them don’t obey the law forbidding the mixture of fiber types in fabric, as well. As for the argument against large, flashy crosses and other devotional objects, look at most cathedrals. Not exactly gold with diamonds, but not that far removed, either. ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/13 "2005-11-16T16:20:58Z")
> [@Argent Towers](#): > > I’m not religious, and I don’t let any text guide my behavior in life. I’m just saying that it’s really hypocritical to get a cross tattoo. It’d be like getting a menorah made of pork, or a Koran printed on pig’s hide… No it’s not. Jesus never said anything about tattoos. Christians eat seafood, and meat with cheese, and do plenty of other things forbidden by Leviticus. You’re not religious? No! You sound so informed and intelligent! :wally ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/14 "2005-11-16T18:20:53Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > My second cousin was excommunicated from the Catholic Church for eating the meat of the rockbadger. > > Honest. That badger wasn’t you, was it? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/15 "2005-11-16T18:23:38Z")
I think the OP is pretty silly, but if cross tattoos bother him that much, [he’s gonna really hate this.](http://www.somethingawful.com/articles.php?a=3136&p=11) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/16 "2005-11-16T18:57:18Z")
I have a cross tattoo on my shoulder. Feel free to eat shit if you don’t like it. Cue someone coming in and pointing out what a fine reflection of Christianity the above statement is. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/17 "2005-11-16T18:59:34Z")
“A lot of Christians wear crosses around their necks. You think when Jesus comes back he ever wants to see a fucking cross? It’s like going up to Jackie Onassis wearing a rifle pendant.” -Bill Hicks ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/18 "2005-11-16T23:55:36Z")
Question… why do people always seem to assume that if someone has something trendy (as in this case, we’re talking about tattoos), it is for that sole purpose and no other? I mean, what if a cross has a special meaning to them for a specific reason and not just because it’s hip and/or everyone else is doing it? For example, I have a butterfly tattoo and that’s what I’ve heard said about it. Although, I’ve had it longer than it’s been ‘popular’ and I never freakin’ do anything to fit in anyway. 😛 So, if you LOVE owls because one was your first pet or it was your mother’s nickname growing up or whatever, does that mean you only got a tattoo of one for the ‘cool’ factor? Guess not since, as far as I know, owls aren’t on this year’s IN list. However, if I can remember correctly from my own days spent in the 70s, they once were. Does that mean they’d be ok if you did it _now_ but not if it was 30 years ago? Or is it just possible that all of this comes down to perception and sometimes what we think is the reasoning behind another’s actions is anything but? Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/19 "2005-11-17T01:18:48Z")
It’s an old tradition for Coptic and Ethiopian Christians to have crosses tattooed on their wrists or foreheads. It was a way to permanently mark oneself as Christian in times of Islamic persecution. Of course, I don’t think your average fratboy has to worry about being martyred for his faith anytime soon… > [@](#): > > As for the argument against large, flashy crosses and other devotional objects, look at most cathedrals. Not exactly gold with diamonds, but not that far removed, either. There’s a difference here. Ostentatious religious jewelry is designed to draw attention to the person wearing it, but no one person owns ornately adorned churches and sacred objects. The rationale behind things like marble altars, brocade vestments, and gilded crosses is not for an individual to boast in his wealth, but as a way of glorifying God by offering Him the most precious things we have. Remember John 1:1-8. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281/20 "2005-11-17T01:23:42Z")
Bah, you think the Jesus tatoo is bad, [check this out](http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/entries/the_tattoo_story.phtml#997) Links to pics about 3/4 of the way down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-your-cross-tattoos-and-fuck-your-giant-gold-diamond-crosses/331281.md?page=2)