Body Modification (soul, missionaries, choice, attend, America)

[Monat]

I was just wondering what the Bahai teaching about body modification was. Such as tattoos and piercings. Is it strickly forbidden, just not recommended, or is it totally ok.
Thanks

[arthra]

I don't think there's anything in the Writings about tattoos, piercings, etc. but there is a cautionary statement about not allowing ourselves to be the "playth9ings" of the ignorant:


The seventh Glad-Tidings 17The choice of clothing and the cut of the beard and its dressing are left to the discretion of men. But beware, O people, lest ye make yourselves the playthings of the ignorant.


There may be some health issues also related to some body modifications. For instance some tongue fixtures can impact on your teeth and piercings can get infected and be uncomfortable...

There's a general recommnedation from Abdul-Baha that could apply here:

"Make ye then a mighty effort, that the purity and sanctity which, above all else, are cherished by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, shall distinguish the people of Bahá; that in every kind of excellence the people of God shall surpass all other human beings; that both outwardly and inwardly they shall prove superior to the rest; that for purity, immaculacy, refinement, and the preservation of health, they shall be leaders in the vanguard of those who know."

The question would be do these "modifications" promote the "purity and sanctity" and "excellence" of the people of God? Or are they less so..

- Art

[Monat]

I can see where the teachings on health and purity of the body could apply here. I guess that it is just left up to the judgement of the individual whether there is any danger to one's health or purity when getting tattoos or piercings. One reason I was asking was that one my good friends who is a bahai has a tattoo of a nine pointed star on his shoulder and I've had some other bahais comment on it like it was forbidden or something.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Monat

I can see where the teachings on health and purity of the body could apply here. I guess that it is just left up to the judgement of the individual whether there is any danger to one's health or purity when getting tattoos or piercings. One reason I was asking was that one my good friends who is a bahai has a tattoo of a nine pointed star on his shoulder and I've had some other bahais comment on it like it was forbidden or something.

There is nothing in the Writings or any directive from the Guardian (Shoghi Effendi) or the Universal House of Justice on the subject that I've found yet.

There is a tendency to avoid tatoos, as many regard them as being disrespectful to the body, and we are to be respectful of the body, even after death when the soul is no longer attached.

It might be worth your friend's time to contact National or the House on the subject. If they have no official position, then he will be able to inform the Friends who are saying these things of the facts.

I have found some subjects where the Friends have mistaken a common point of view among Baha'is for something that is actually "official." It's possible this might be one of them.

I am always the annoying person in the room who then asks for a citation.

The Institutions spend a lot of time and take great care in the written correspondence with the Friends. It behooves us to pay attention to those things they have given us rather than just make it up as we go along.

Reading from the same page is an aid to unity.

Going by personal opinions is an invitation to disunity, strife and hurt feelings.

[Booko]

There are 2 references I can find to tattoos in Ocean.

The first is a story from the Formative period of the faith:

As we cast about for a befitting venue for this great Congress planned by Shoghi Effendi we found that the unique and beautiful Royal Albert Hall, in the heart of London, famous as a centre for concerts and conferences, which accommodates about 7,000 people, could be rented for our great occasion. Bahá'ís from all over the world, including Hands and administrators, Knights of Bahá'u'lláh and pioneers, were present, and the audience was addressed by members of the Institutions of both the Hands and the Universal House of Justice. In this wonderful fulfilment of the Guardian's own plan for the culmination of his World Crusade my greatest joy was the words addressed to us by various indigenous tribesmen from the continents and islands of the globe, whether the much-loved "Uncle Fred", an illiterate Australian Aborigine, who said, after describing his journey from Australia as being carried across the ocean in a great new flying kangaroo" and being set down in London: "Yes, dear friends, I am glad to see the people here, like flowers of all colours ... Bahá'u'lláh has given me a good life ... I have joy in my heart", or the cheerful Bahá'í from the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, who assured us that if we could see him minus his European suit of clothes he was tattooed from head to toe! For all of us -- largely sophisticates from Asia, Europe and North America -- it was a revelation to witness the aplomb, wisdom and highly appropriate sentiments expressed by these fellow Bahá'ís from areas often referred to as "the developing countries".

There was an unprecedented feeling of happiness and oneness of spirit in this great Congress and the attendants lapped their first, newly-elected Universal House of Justice, presented to them by the Hands of the Cause, in a great wave of welcome and love. I am sure all the Hands of the Cause felt that Shoghi Effendi's desires had been fulfilled.

Haifa, Israel November 6, 1957

(Custodians, Ministry of the Custodians, p. 21)


(No one seems to have been particularly upset by the tattoos. )

[Booko]

This is a story of a Persian pioneer to Africa. "Pioneers" are sometimes viewed as the same as missionaries, but there are some significant differences. This story is about an early pioneer called Rahmat:

"He was the government doctor there and he used to walk through the jungle, very deep jungle, and visit his patients in villages all over this rocky island. He said that the people were naked and they were very heavily tattooed. It was an art in that part of the world. I said, 'Well, what did you do? Did you tell them to put on clothes?' He said, 'No, why should I? I didn't go there to tell them to put on clothes. I went there to tell them about Bahá'u'lláh.'

(Compilations, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 101)

[Booko]

The above are the only references I could find.

I'd be interested to hear if your friend finds out anything on the subject, as it does come up from time to time.

There are many things in the Faith that are currently left up to indivudual conscience. Some will remain as individual matters. Some, eventually, may change and there will be some further directives.

But we are in a period of swift growth right now, and trying to make a world where people from all cultural backgrounds will be a part.

You can't do that if you're spending your time trying to wipe out long-held cultural practices. It just wastes energy and disunifies people, when the whole point of the Faith is for humanity to come together as one people.

The members who serve the Universal House of Justice know this.

That's why, despite what a few disgruntled ex-Baha'is might have to say on the matter, they are anything but micro-managing and dictatorial.

[Monat]

thank you for your replies booko, I'll be sure and tell my friend to look further into the subject. I'll post his findings if he finds anything more.

Thanks again

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Monat

thank you for your replies booko, I'll be sure and tell my friend to look further into the subject. I'll post his findings if he finds anything more.

Thanks again

Thank you, Monat! I'd be interested to hear anything he finds out.

[jmaster78]

is the body not just a carrier for the soul, like all worldly things discarded in death? therefore should it matter what we do with our bodies, if altering your physical appearance provides mental satisfaction, then would this not be a positive action?