Natalie+Sanchez


 * We have all heard about Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. They are three of the major religions that are followed world wide. We know the basics about them; that they believe in one God, they believe in a creator, and they consider Jerusalem a holy land. We know all of these things, but we don't know one of the most important things that there is to know about these religions. In this world we can choose from a lot of things to do to help us soothe our minds or find acceptance. We turn to things like drugs, tattoos, and plastic surgery to get us through these worldly fads. We follow the trends of the world to fit the mold that we are expected to fit, but we never take the time to think about what God has to say about it. That is the purpose of this page. The purpose of this page is to compare the different points of view of the three major religions of this world and how they look at our body, what is its deeper meaning, and how we should take care of it. **

**Christian, Islamic, and Jewish perspectives on... ** 
 * In the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, they have a similar belief of the body. They believe that the body serves as a temple or something to that extent that should be kept clean so that god could have a clean place to dwell.

Christianity: Biblical stand point: "//Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.//" (leviticus 19:28) in this passage, God is telling his people that they should not cut themselves for the dead. During those times, in their witchcraft ceremonies, they used to cut themselves to talk to the dead. God forbade that because witchcraft was totally against his holy ways. He also did not want his people to mark their bodies. A priest's stand point: “There he tells two things about our bodies: first, that they are members of Christ, and secondly, that they are temples of the Holy Spirit.” (O'Callaghan) Here it states that Christians believe that their bodies are temples of the holy spirit. therefor, since it is the holy spirit's dwelling place, the soul must be cleansed and pure. That means that the body cannot be tattood or marked by a person's will at all. Think about it. It's sort of like putting graffiti on the house of God. Our body is not our own, it is God's because he is our creator.

Islam: The Quran's stand point: “//May Allaah curse the women who do tattoos and those for whom tattoos are done, those who pluck their eyebrows and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and alter the creation of Allaah.//” (al-Bukhaari, al-Libaas, 5587; Muslim, al-Libaas, 5538). This text from the quran is basically saying that tattoos are not allowed in the Islamic religion. They also believe that humans are creations of Allah and if you tattoo your body or do anything to change it, you are altering or changing the original creation that was made by Allah. like the Christian religion, they too believe in the similar concept that our bodies are not own, they are Allah's. Muslim's stand point: “Tattoos are usually considered forbidden in Sunni Islam. According to the book of Sunni traditions, Sahih Bukhari, "The Prophet forbade [...] mutilation (or maiming) of bodies." (wikipedia.org) In this quote, stated by a Muslim, it says that tattooing your body would be the same as mutilating (deforming) your body, and consequently, the body that Allah has created. You can sort of compare this to making a scratch on a beautiful sculpture or a vase.

Judaism: Jews have a very similar belief to the points of view of the religions already mentioned, infact, the primary source of this section is the same as the source used in the Christianity section; Leviticus 19:28. (This is because the Christian bible is an extension to the Jewish bible. The Jewish bible (Torah) only contains the old testament, whilst the Christian bible contains both the old and the new testament). Torah's stand point: "//You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord.//" (Leviticus 19:28). Much like the Christians believe, Jews believe that we should not mark our bodies or make any cuts on them intentionally because our bodies are the Lord's and we must take care of them. An researcher's stand point: " The prohibition is explained by contemporary rabbis as part of a general prohibition on body modification that does not serve a medical purpose (such as to correct a deformity).” (wikipedia.org) This quote states that the rabbis consider any cut or mark that is not medically excused a deformity to our bodies. **

 Christians primarily don't encourage Christians to take any sort of drugs. Biblical stand point: " ****//Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras//." (Deuteronomy 32:33) In this passage of the bible (Deuteronomy 32:33), we learn that God considers wine as harmful as the venom of serpents. It also says in the bible in the book of Proverbs chapter 23, verse 32, that "In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper." This quote is referring to wine and God's perseption of it. In the beginning of the text, it alludes that when you first try wine, or any other harmful drugs for that matter, you find it pleasurable, but then it goes on to say that in the end, it'll poison you. **** A researcher's stand point: ****“ ** **Most ** [|**Christian***] **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;"> denominations disapprove of the use of most drugs ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> " (wikipedia.org) This quote from a secondary source (a Christian) is stating that most Christians disapprove most drugs. Technically, nowadays, this is one of those situations where there isn't a certain answer as to how a religion looks at a said topic. Different branches of what is considered Christianity look at drug use limits very differently. For example, a Catholic might at times be allowed to ingest a small portion of wine or beer or smoke 1 or 2 cigarettes. If you look at the Pentecostal church (a branch of the Protestant Christian church) however, you will notice that we are not allowed to use any drugs at all. Again, all of this has to do with the basic belief that our body is the Lord's temple. Taking drugs would be like throwing a smoke bomb into God's house, and then burning the walls of the temple.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Christianity:

Islam: The Quran's stand point: " **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal;"> **O You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such abominations) that you may prosper.//"//** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: small;">(5:90) This verse in the Quran explains that Allah wants Muslims to stay away from drugs because drugs are the bait that are used to reel the Muslims away from salvation. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> A Muslim's stand point: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">"Allah Ta’ala has described intoxicants amongst other things as being appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan and he has commanded us to abstain from them"(www.inter-islam.org) This student from Darul Uloom is stating that Allah forbids Muslims to take any type because if they do they will fall into Satan's plan to destroy them. You can compare this to a fox that is trying to find food. He finds his food, but he has to go past a trap to get it. He knows this but he goes for the food anyways. That food is the drug. The trap is Satan's plan to destruct Muslims. That is why drugs are prohibitted to Muslims. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Judaism: Jews typically don't condone the use of drugs. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**The Torah's stand point: As I said before, the Jewish Torah is the first division of the Christian bible, so the primary source for the Jewish point of view on drugs is the same as the one used in the Christian reference. It states that** **"****//Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras.//" (Deuteronomy 32:33). This means that the Jews have the same point of view about drugs as the Christians do. They also want to keep their bodies clean so that god would have a clean place to dwell. A Jew's perspective: “Judaism maintains that people do not own their bodies - they belong to God. As a result, Jews are not permitted to harm, mutilate, destroy or take risks with their bodies, life or health with activities such as taking life-threatening drugs.” This quote states that Jews believe that their bodies are the Lord's and that they cannot do anything to risk the harming or altering of god's creation.**

Christianity: Biblical stand point: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12px;">**<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"> "//Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;//" (1 <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: normal;">Corinthians 6:19) This verse in the bible explains that our body is the temple of the holy spirit (The Lord), and that we are not our own.Think of it like this. You are living in a house, and out of nowhere, someone starts making adjustments to it without your permission. You would get mad, of course and stop the person from reconstructing your house. That's how the Lord feels when you get plastic surgery without getting his permission. Now, if it something that you have prayed about, and both your physical and spiritual self agree to getting this modification in your temporary body, than it is okay. As long it is not something that is born out of vanity, than it is okay for a person to get plastic surgery. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> A Christian surgeon's perspective: " ** <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">While there are no clear directions written in the Bible concerning cosmetic surgery, there are several references to rewarding the beauty within the heart and as well, the beauty of one's physical features and the desires for adornment. " (Lerner) This quote explains that, though there is no direct stance on plastic surgery in the bible, it does refer to us being able to enjoy the reward of beauty and adornment. Basically what this woman is saying is that, our physical appearance is not the firs thing that should be on our priority list, but it is okay to sometimes fix ourselves up, especially if we are not confident about our appearance.
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Islam: The Quran's stand point: " <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">// Then ask them (O Muhammad): Are they stronger as a creation, or those (others) whom we have created? Lo! We created them of plastic clay. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">" (11) My interpretation of this verse in the Quran is that Allah has created man. Allah's formation of man is much stronger than anything man can become because of internal or external influences. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> A muslim student's stand point: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">" ** <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Islam welcomes, however, the practice of plastic surgery as long as it is done for the benefit of patients. Even if it clearly considers 'changing the creation of Allah' as unlawful, Islamic law is ambiguous regarding cosmetic surgery." (Atiyeh) Islam believes that Allah created every man. They believe that every man should be pleased with their appearance because Allah created them his perfect way. Since the Islamic law about plastic surgery has many view points, they also believe that if a person is not pleased with his/her appearance, they are allowed to get plastic surgery, so that they would later appreciate how Allah has created them.

Judaism: Torah's stand point: ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">" ** **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">" ( ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Proverbs 31:30) This verse of the bible explains that the flesh that we so constantly take care of, perfume, and fix, is going to fade away, but the beauty of the spirit, will always live on. In lemans terms, it's saying that we shouldn't be so caught up in our appearances. We should first worry about how our relationship with God is doing first. Think about it, you can compare a this to a trash bag full of of filthy wastes. You can spray as much Lysol as you want on it, but the smell will continue to be there. The trash bag needs to be emptied out first, full of fresh smelling things, and then you can add the Lysol spray in it. After you have cleaned it from all of its impurities, the bag will finally smell fresh. **
 * A Jewish Rabbi's stand point: "He concluded** <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 21px;">**6** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> **definitively that plastic surgery for aesthetic enhancement is a form of arrogance and vanity (particularly for men) and is forbidden unless the patient meets certain criteria." (Eisenberg)** <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**This Rabbi that Eisenberg mentions in his website, Rabbi Jakobovits, was stating that if a person wants to get plastic surgery because of vanity or out of arrogance, it is forbidden. The only way that it is possible for a person to get surgery is if it is to fix a birth defect or something to that matter. It it not okay, however, to get plastic surgery because you find a part of your body funny looking and want to fix it.

To sum it all up... Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all come from a common ground. In fact, Islam and Christianity were born out of Judaism. That is why Christians, Muslims, and Jews all have very similar perspectives of the body. They all believe that the body is the creation or the temple of god, and that it should be treated as such. Consequently, things like tattoos, drugs, and plastic surgery are not encouraged in the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish religion. All of these things are born out of the desire to blend in with this temporary world. We see that all of the models in the magazines we read are perfect and lean. I've got a news flash for you all, even those "perfect" models have to be covered with buckets and buckets of make up just to hide the blemishes that they have on their bodies. NOt only that, but almost all of the pictures that are displayed on fashion magazines have to be altered to that the models' faces would look correctly portioned. Christians, Muslims, and Jews don't worry so much. They believe that god wants us to blend in this world. He wants us to embrace what he has given us as our creator and to be happy with ourselves. So, the next time that you are thinking about altering your body because it doesn't look "right", remember that you are a creation of God.** "<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">** //So// **** //God// ** ** //created// ** ** //man// **** //in his own image, in the image of// **** //God// **** //he// **** //created// **** //him; male and female he// **** //created// **** //them.// " ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12px;"> **(Genesis 1:27)**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Bibliography: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Other helpful URL's:**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">UK Transplant, . "General leaflet on religious viewpoints." www.organdonation.nhs.uk. UK Transplant, Web. 20 Oct 2009. <http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/religious_perspectives/leaflets/summary_leaflet.jsp> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px;">[|**http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/religious_perspectives/leaflets/summary_leaflet.jsp**]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">O'Callaghan, Paul . "A Christian View of the Body and Health." www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org. April 1989. Web. 20 Oct 2009. <http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/misc/ocallaghan_christian_view.htm>. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px;">[|**http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/misc/ocallaghan_christian_view.htm**]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., . "Tattoo." Wikipedia. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo#Religious_perspectives>. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px;">[|**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo#Religious_perspective**] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">  **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., . "religion and drugs." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_drugs>.  ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px;">[|**http://citationmachine.net/index2.php? lastName%5B1%5D=Wikimedia+Foundation%2C+Inc.&firstName%5B1%5D=First&titleArticle=religion+and+drugs&titleWork=Wikipedia&edition=&volume=&pubCity=&publisher=**][|**Wikimedia+Foundation%2C+Inc.&yearPublished=&pageNumber=&medium=Web&dateRetrieved=21**] **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|+Oct+2009&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FReligion_and_drugs&reqstyleid=1&mode=form] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 26px;"> [|&minimode=citation&nameCnt=1&more=&reqsrcid=MLAReferenceOnline] **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 1pt; line-height: 19px;">[|B. Lucas, Alan. "Tattooing in Jewish Law."] <span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 1pt; line-height: 19px;">[|//My Jewish Learning//] <span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 1pt; line-height: 19px;">[| n. pag. Web. 21 Oct 2009. <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ethics/Our_Bodies/Adorning_the_Body/Tattoos.shtml>.] **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: 1pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; letter-spacing: 1pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: 1pt;">** a.) ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|**http://www.muslimconverts.com/cosmetics/tattoos.htm/**]** b.) http://mediwire.skyscape.com/main/Default.aspx?P=Content&ArticleID=452849 c.) http://www.springerlink.com/content/3k32150118081340/ d.) http://www.aish.com/ci/sam/48955041.html e.) http://www.inter-islam.org/Prohibitions/drugs.htm **