Madison Boboltz (STH ’23) Publishes Opinion Piece with Baptist News Global
The following is an excerpt from the Baptist News Global article “Tell me about your Christian tattoo” by Madison Boboltz, published on November 22, 2023.
As someone very interested in the growing field of religious and spiritual trauma, I began to wonder if 
individuals with these experiences find their Christian tattoos triggering, just as Harry Potter fans did theirs. As my own faith has matured and evolved, I sometimes get emotional or uncomfortable when memories of my past religious experiences emerge. What would it be like if I could not escape those reminders? What if they were visible signs on my body for everyone else to see and interpret? What would it be like to look in the mirror at my most naked and vulnerable state and still see markings associated with a community that taught me I was unworthy?
In seminary, I chose to explore this topic for a Theopoetics class project. Theopoetics is a craft and discipline that values the potential for creativity, aesthetics and imagination to enhance theological reflection and inspire social transformation. My project explored tattoos as artistic expressions that reflect an individual’s embodied experiences, values and beliefs. It argued that tattoos, and the stories surrounding them, are a valuable site for theological engagement and pastoral consideration.