Ultimately, much of the Christian debate around body piercing, tattoos, and other modifications boils down to personal interpretation of scripture and concepts. Some see piercings as self-expression and not “marking your body,” whereas others see piercing as a sin that goes against the Bible's teachings.
For virtually everyone today, though, piercing is mainly a fashion statement. The Bible describes a tradition of piercing ears, but that was not done for protection or fashion reasons. In Exodus 21, we find a rule requiring that after seven years, a Hebrew servant was to be set free.
Catholic Teaching
In terms of moral guidance, the Church's teaching authority doesn't say anything explicitly about tattoos or body piercings. Neither practice is strictly prohibited, nor considered intrinsically evil.
Genesis 24 tells how the adventures of our foremother Rebekah began with a nose ring.
Having a pierced nose has been a sacred ceremony in the Hindu religion. The tradition of wearing nose rings has been based on certain principles present in the Indian culture.
Within the Christian community, there are debates around interpreting passages of the Bible to either allow or forbid body piercing. Some Christians who are against body piercing use the “Book of Leviticus” to support the view that body piercing is a sin, arguing that you “should never mark your body”.
The Church of Body Modification is a non-theistic religion with approximately 3,500 members in the United States.
In Catholic tradition, the Five Holy Wounds, also known as the Five Sacred Wounds or the Five Precious Wounds, are the five piercing wounds that Jesus Christ suffered during his crucifixion.
It signifies womanhood, elegance, and for some even a sense of rebellion. In Indian nose piercing is as much a part of tradition as bangles, a mangalsutra or a bindi.
Left nostril piercings are thought to protect against bad luck. Having your left nostril pierced is believed to ward off negativity and keep you feeling uplifted. Plus, if you love your new piercing, your self-image is sure to skyrocket, making you feel more secure and confident in yourself.
Paul makes it perfectly clear that the ceremonial law is no longer binding. I'll cut to the chase: There is nothing immoral about tattoos. Mother Church has never condemned them, and neither can I. It is one of those areas where a Catholic must follow his or her conscience.
He also encouraged priests to not be scared of and use tattoos as a way to encourage dialogue. “With young people one should never be scared. Never. Because always, even behind the things that are not so good, there is something that will bring us to some truth.”
Generally, Catholics are taught socially to avoid body modifications while the Pagan community embraces them. The connection is that members of both religions learn what is acceptable in terms of the body modifications based on their interactions with others in the religious group (Turner, 1999. p. 15).
Some Christians take issue with tattooing, upholding the Hebrew prohibition. The Hebrew prohibition is based on interpreting Leviticus 19:28—"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you"—so as to prohibit tattoos. Interpretations of the passage vary, however.
The definition of piercing is “the insertion of jewelry into various parts of one's body.” Historically, in may societies piercing has been considered a symbol of royalty and elitism or even virility and courage; some even believe that pierced ears can ward off the evil eye.
Many women get tongue piercings because it makes oral more stimulating, look good, and as a way to honor their culture or religion. But, some use it to improve their confidence. However, note that you should do all your piercing from a certified piercer to avoid complications.
There is no right or wrong side of the nose to get a piercing, it is up to you. A good idea is to pick your best 'selfie side' of your face whether that be the left or right side!
In traditional Chinese medicine, the left side was believed to be the female side, and right the masculine side. Some people use this as a reason to choose their facial piercings on the left side for females or right side for males. However, in modern culture, there really isn't a male or female side.
However, the Vedas say that women should wear nose pin on the left side as it is connected to the reproductive system. There are lots of nerves close to the opening of the nostrils. Ayurveda states that these nerves are stimulated when the left side of the nose is pierced.
The Holy Lance, also known as the Lance of Longinus (named after Saint Longinus), the Spear of Destiny, or the Holy Spear, is the lance that is alleged to have pierced the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross during his crucifixion.
Jesus poured all 5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His body; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest.
Brazilian Elaine Davidson holds the Guinness World Record for most piercings in a lifetime. (PHOTO: Getty/Gallo images). With a staggering 11 003 holes in her skin, this Brazilian woman holds the record for most body piercings in the world.
Like tattoos and other body modifications, piercings express a variety of spiritual and moral meanings. In fact, the Māori, the people of Africa, Aztecs, Indians, and Asians decorated their bodies with piercings to represent fertility, strength, protection, and wealth.
Septum piercing is an important feature of Hindu dancers (Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam) and among certain Native American peoples in history; the Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, for example, had such piercings. The septum piercing is popular in countryside of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
In ancient cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans, septum piercings were often worn by spiritual leaders and shamans as a symbol of their connection to the spiritual realm. The piercing was believed to enhance their ability to communicate with the gods and access higher states of consciousness.