I just saw the Prince tattoo thread.

Recently at the One Nite Alone concert in Detroit, Prince brought a woman onstage (a woman that had proudly displayed her tattoo to him) and proceeded to open the Bible and read a passage to her. She was escorted backstage, Bible in hand.

The exact passage was Leviticus 19:28 . . . "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

So for all you with tattoos, I wondered what your opinion of this Bible reference is.

(Seems like old P. doesn't approve, and doesn't reward them with closer seats or camera time anymore.)

JimmyNothing said:

The bible is full of silly crap that should be ignored...

You might as well read comic books.

I suppose Prince doesn't like tatoos. Well what does that mean now? Should we all laser them off? If he wishes to pay for our lasering than whatever members want to have them removed should feel free to do so. Most fans do have tatoos and a lot have piercings now Ani Di Franco has plenty and Prince likes her. So I say just be yourself if Prince likes you he likes you if he doesn't he just doesn't and nothing will ever change that. I think he is a cool individual and I think he can't possibly have this many old judgemental beliefs. Now I know it's just an Act! Good 1 Prince. Very Good! Time for DMSR! Time for How Come U don't Call me! Time for 319 and Billy Jack Bitch. It's really time to show your ASS!

IceNine said:

LOL

Vagina said:

Calm your ass down, already! Prince is 44 and a 44 year old man running around in assless pants is just not cool. Even for Prince.

Dear Prince,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people
regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your beliefs, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone has a tattoo, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 19:28 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the
Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I
wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? -Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

LoveAlways,

C.Taze Russell
[This message was edited Sat Jul 13 19:35:00 PDT 2002 by CTazeRussell]

I've met a lot of Christians who shrug off Leviticus as outdated. Could this be a case of picking and choosing for the sake of convenience, or has Leviticus actually been "retired" as relevant to most Judeo-Christian faiths? If it hasn't, I have to wonder how many God-fearing folks out there eat shellfish, Levitican no-no that such an act is...not to mention scads of other bizarre and random acts and so called "transgressions"...thoughts?

Anxiety said:

How can one be expected to live by rules (silly ones at that) that have no relevance to 21 century life. As the world changes religion should change reflect that times and what's going on around us today.

The basic tenets remain the same of course..but what connection do people today have to a set of rules laid down 4000 years ago?!

Oh yes...if Prince did that shit to me (bring me on stage and show be the bible); I would have laughed in his face.
[This message was edited Sat Jul 13 19:54:46 PDT 2002 by CmputrBlu]

Firstly Prince can still wear that sexy clothing he's in great shape. Secondly, some people ARE MORE RELIGIOUS THAN OTHERS. I don't think anyone should push their religion on us. WE ARE LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY. IF A PERSON WANTS TO EAT SHELLFISH OR MEAT OR PORK LET THEM EAT IT. IT'S REALLY THAT PERSON'S PEROGATIVE ! LET THEM CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES. SHOW THEM WHAT OPTIONS THEY HAVE BUT WE DO INDEED HAVE FREE WILL.

Vagina said:

SOME PEOPLE ARE CRAZY RELIGIOUS FANATICS AND NEED TO SEEK PSYCHIATRIC HELP. I HAVE NO PATIENCE WITH NUT-JOB FANATICS.

Vagina said:

err... well said... Vagina.

The passage refers to the pagans in those days. When someone would die they would make tatoo marks and cut themselves when they mourned someone. God just gave that law to Moses for the Isrealites so they don't follow in the practice of the Pagans. If Prince wants to point that out to someone because of there tatoos then he needs to stop wearing 2 different kinds of materials at the same time. That law is also in the same chapter. Praise God that Jesus did all the work for us.
Peace and Love!

the americian heritage dictionary states that a tattoo is a "mark or design on the skin".i remember when prince had a " mark on the skin". it read "slave".

No tattoo for me.

Do you think Prince would have tattooed on his body? Does Mani have a symbol permanently affixed to her ass? Did Mayte?

Did Fred, Aaron, Kirk, Mr. Hayes, Takumi or anyone around Prince have tattoos?

Jesus Himself said that He didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. It is finished. No more Law. All that's left... I mean, all that's RIGHT is to Love God and love one another.

You got that right and the whole thing is that Prince just don't want us to be Fanatical around or about him cause he's just a man not God Almighty. He's only Human. But a Gorgeous 1 at that. But if I want to hear some Preacher I'll go to Church. At a concert I just basically want to hear some cool grooves so I can enjoy myself and have some fun. I don't want anything getting to intense or deep. It should be more Carefree and Light in Spirit. Not so damn Philosophical that it needs an interpretation, cause I don't want to interpret or analyze anything. I know I for 1 can be very much of a person who lives in their head. Mercurial. I gotta stop and be more into my Neptune spirit. Those damn fishes.

Bottom line is, this Scripture is part of the Mosiac Law and was in effect only specificly to Ancient Israel under that law. It is the only time any mention of it occurs in the Bible and is not a statute repeated to Christians. There was a specific reason for it at the time, it no ,longer applies since the Law was fulfilled. Or, as Russell said (go figure, I agree with Taz on this one) all the rest of the Law would be in effect.

To have or not to have a tatoo is a personal decision based on conscience for a Christian. Yes, there are factors to consider in making such a decision, but the long and short of it is, it is up to the person. I, for one, have a tatoo. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is in a discreet place that I can cover when I need to as not to detract from my ministry etc. but I do have one. Would I advise anyone else to get one? No. Would I advise against it? Not necessarily, but maybe. There is no hard & fast rule guiding such a thing for Christians. Instead, certain principles need to be applied. This may be a case of Prince's conscience letting him try to decide what another should do. We need to be cautious of this. Just because you may feel strongly about a certain thing, doesn't mean it is your place to decide for another to come to the same conclusion you arrived at. Each one must carry his/her own load. I hope that makes enough sense to those not Biblicly inclined.

I agree with you Bible teacher. You seem very bright and not at all fanatical. That is cool. I can listen to your JW dogma as long as it is not Preachy. I have an open mind and don't put anybody or anything down before knowing the facts. You must always have the proper perspective on things. And a positive attitude.

Makes sense to me. I see the "tattoo" topic come up a lot when discussing differences between the Old and New Covenant or Law versus Grace. You've pretty much said it the way I believe God views it today.

Vagina said:

Oh, that's funny as hell.

Do you hear everybody laughing?

:::gulp::

Great post, C.Taze Russell, very well done IceNine's comic book comment gave me a laugh as well.

Well I have 2 small tattoos, and one of them is a purple symbol and I think it looks lovely I really couldn't care less what Prince or the bible thinks on the subject.

To be honest, IF that story was true - if Prince really opened a fucking bible on stage at a concert, I'm not sure I'd stick around for the rest of the show. If I was the person on the receiving end of Prince's self-righteous sermonizing, I'd tell him to shove his silly opinions up his arse. You hear me Prince? You hear me!?

Ian

I'm bannished!

Ian-

To be more specific, this happened at the Detroit ONA soundcheck . . . but it did happen. Still, there were hundreds of people there, and at first I think she was very hurt (disappointed).

He motioned for her to walk onstage (he was at his piano - far right stage) and he opened the book to show her the passage. He pointed to it, and she read it . . . then she nodded as if she agreed. He handed her the book, and she went backstage.

The whole scenario felt contrived, like he had the page bookmarked and was going to show it to the first person who flashed a tattoo.

JimmyNothing said:

:eek:uhlala!

I want a symbol tattoo, has anyone got any links for symbol tattoo's. Much obliged.

A question--how do you know what passage he read to her from the book?

I'm sorry but I dont see the difference between getting a tattoo and other forms of permanent body modification which are considered acceptable.

How come they dont complain about facelifts, nosejobs, removing moles, and other stuff like that. Many of these are simply for looks,just like a tattoo.

What about tribes who cover themselves in piercings and tatoos, are they all going to hell?

I have 3 tattoos and I don't regret any of them. They are all points in my life, reminders to myself if things I went through.

Prince is probabbly leary of people tatooing his name on themselves because he cant seem to make up his mind what his name is in the first place.

Not only did he have slave written on his face, but lets not forget the henna tattoos he was sporting on the Emancipation cover photos.

Vagina said:

I sincerely thank you very much for your honest evaluation. No, I am not fanatical at all. Most who are JWs are not, we are largely very reasonable people. What I see here is something I have seen more than a few times, though. Someone newly baptized as a Jehovah's Witness, you must remember, was not unlike most here. Not a JW. They are not, for the most part, teachers and tactful in the art of teaching for they are babes to this new experience, and even though zealous and mean well, sometimes come across as, well, a little fanatical, for lack of a better term. This fades with time. Not that their zeal fades, but more accurate understanding of the Scriptures and instruction designed to make teachers out of us, helps us to gain a progressive understanding of things and season the things we say with salt, as it were. To make it more palatable. So next time you get that impression from one of us, just remember, odds are not so long ago they were not a JW. They were just like you. But they've learned some things they feel really great about and want to share it with everyone. Like I said, the longer they are JWs, if they apply what they learn, the better teachers they will become.
Thank you again, vagina. That meant a lot to hear that from you.

Bibleteacher89 said:

JAH knows why I have my tatoo. My heart is cleen!

With all due respect, I get VERY sick of all the self-righteous, religious types quoting bible verses and trying to act like they have "the truth" at their disposal. This kind of crap starts wars in the "real" world and pisses people off on the internet as well.

Drop all this stupid fucking bible thumping and talk about something else. Prince is a complete ass for what he did and he had NO right whatsoever to try to push his views on someone else.

People have the right to be atheists.
People have the right to be christians.
People have the right to be jehovah's witnesses.
People have the right to be Buddhists.
People have the right to be Hindus.
Etc.

People have the right to be self-important, bigoted, religious assholes as well, but they should try to keep their opinions to themselves.


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[This message was edited Sun Jul 14 8:29:58 PDT 2002 by IceNine]