Cross Tattoos - The Cross and Human Nature

Many people have cross tattoos and many more consider getting this particular kind of body art. The usual perception is that they just get this kind of tattoos out of casual and shallow reasons. This is not necessarily true. The cross is a very relevant, universal and meaningful symbol. Having it inscribed into one's flesh is not just about having a tattoo. There is significant symbolism behind it. People get cross tattoos for various but deep reasons. This means that they have a concept or idea in mind when they opted for it.

The cross has many versions and much more definitions than that. Each variant in itself represents many ideas. This makes the cross a meeting point of philosophies, doctrines and ideals. The relevance of this symbol is shared by many cultures and religions. A cross tattoo is meant to embody this reality. People who get this are not all the time Christians. They use it to represent ideas that transcend a particular faith.

Unknown to many, the cross represents ideas such as health, life, immortality and even the union of heaven and earth. All of these concepts are humanly relevant and are held dear by every culture in almost every period in history. It can be said that the cross is the culmination of millennia of human development. This means that the cross tattoo on an arm or a person's back signifies all of the possible meanings of the cross aside from what the bearer intended it to mean.

The appeal of the cross has been established as a psycho - social phenomenon. This also means that cross tattoos are something people identify with and are drawn to. This appeal goes beyond the framework of culture and religion. It can be argued that this symbol is a potent manifestation of human nature. The diversity of its meanings as well as the multitude of variations all attest to attributes that are very human. Furthermore, it can be said that this icon is a good representation of human nature.

The paradox of human nature is that diverse and rich individuality co - exists with shared traits in an indistinct manner. The same can be said of the cross. A cross tattoo may have general meanings which everyone can relate while still having a relative meaning for the person who got it. The Christian cross symbolizes triumph over sin while the hammer and sickle, which is also a cross, represents the triumph of revolution. Beyond these general meanings each person would have a different idea about each version.

The cross and cross tattoos are more than just forms of body art. They represent the sum of human nature as well as the extent of civilization. The complexities as well as diversities that pervade it are closely similar that of the nature of man. The diversity in meaning while still being universally known is the same human personality.

Everyone has it but one is never the same as the other. The cross tattoo on a person's body is not just an expression of what a person believes in but also of his or her humanity.