Another reason people regret their piercings and tattoos is the negative response from their religious associations. Certain Christian sects believe that it is morally wrong to get tattooed or pierced. They believe that the body is a gift from God and should not be desecrated. This view is based on Leviticus 19:28 of the Bible, which states, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

Other Christians believe that the act of getting body art is not necessarily a sin, but the reason a person gets a tattoo or piercing may be against the church’s beliefs. For example, the Catholic Church does not forbid body modifications. However, church leaders do believe that if a person gets a tattoo or piercing as a way to rebel against his or her parents or other people, the action is not in the spirit of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the church.

In addition to Christians, many Jewish people believe that the practice of tattooing or piercing is in violation of Leviticus 19:28, which is part of the Torah, the books of Jewish law. When comparing tattooing and piercing to cosmetic surgery, Rabbi Mark Washofsky writes, “Tattooing and more extreme forms of body piercing, when not undertaken as part of a regimen of medicine or reconstructive surgery, are most difficult to reconcile with Jewish tradition, which commands us to strive for holiness and to treat our bodies with reverence and respect.