Expert: Vincent M. Wales - 3/28/2009

Question
Hi there. I am not sure whether or not this is within your range of expertise, but I thought I would give it a shot. I was raised in a devoutly christian home, and started to rebel around the age of seventeen. I am now in my mid twenties, and a devout atheist! I have always had a big problem with the idea of my fate being in someone else's hands, and having to answer to someone else. I mean, christians aren't even entitled to their own thoughts! Normal human emotions like jealousy for example, or lust, are considered "sinful" and we are supossed to repent for them. In my home, my parents were very strict about what we listened to, watched, read etc They didn't want us exposed to anything "non christian". My parents were especially hard on us girls when it came to how we dressed, dating etc My parents paid for all three of my brothers to go to college/university, but I had to pay for my own schooling. They said that my focus should be on finding a husband, starting a family etc and that it was up to my husband to provide for me. I didn't agree. I am now living a life my parents totally disapprove of. I have a career that I love, live with my boyfriend etc

That's a little background for you! I am really into tattoos, and use them as a way to express myself. I already have an upside down cross on the back of my neck, which expresses the contempt I have for christianity. I want to get something a little more subtle this time around(but equally powerful), and wondered if you knew of any other "anti christian symbols"?

A friend of mine told me that vampires are supossed to be REALLY anti christian, but I'm not sure why? Do you know? That could be an idea, since I love horror movies AND vampires! I was thinking maybe it had something to do with them being immortal, and hence not having to answer to a "god". I hope this isn't too weird of a question. LOL Thanks.

Leigh

Answer
Hi, Leigh...

First off... sorry about the strict home life.  That's unfortunate, but an all too common story.

Vampires... oh, who knows the "logic" behind the anti-Christian aspect of that.  Someone's imagination, that's all.

I don't particularly know of symbols that are specifically "anti-Christian," but there are plenty of symbols that have been used to represent atheism, some of which would make nifty tats.  Here's a link to a page featuring several of them:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist6.htm

On the other hand, you might want to go with a symbol that represents what you ARE, rather than what you are NOT.  Most atheists are, essentially, humanists.  The "Happy Human" symbol of humanism is also pretty cool:

http://www.iheu.org/happyhuman

Hope that helps.

V.