Tattoo artist turned monk: not your typical art story

Oregon Dotnewz ^ | November 9, 2014 | Tom Mayhall Rastrelli

[Mrs. Don-o]

Cool.

[GeronL]

That ain’t art

[Mrs. Don-o]

He doesn’t do tattoos now. He does icons.

[GeronL]

graven images, because God loved those so much

[GeronL]

John Lennon glasses and a 3-inch goatee distinguish him from the others.

he still has issues

[Tax-chick]

Very interesting story. I especially liked how he has, in effect, rescued the monastery’s collection of art and artifacts.

[Salvation]

[defconw]

Very interesting story. I bet he’d really be interesting to talk to.

[defconw]

Every time I read your tag line, I laugh! Thanks!

[Tax-chick]

You’re welcome. I find it a comforting thought, but some people might not ...

[Campion]

God became visible to us in Christ, the ikon (the Greek uses that word) of the invisible God.

Incidentally, the word translated "graven images" in your Bible means "idols", not just any images. God commanded "graven images" of angels on the tabernacle and "graven images" of oxen under the bronze sea in the temple. Look it up.

[defconw]

He kind of reminds me of this priest I knew. He spent 20 years in the Navy and then became a priest. He had some really interesting stories, I’ll tell you!

[defconw]

LOL! Spiders eat other things that I dislike more, so they are OK as long as they stay off me. :)

[Tax-chick]

People come to the priesthood or religious life from all kinds of backgrounds. My pastor was an engineer before he went to seminary.

[defconw]

I knew an engineer and a dentist that became priests. The dentist was also a wood worker and he made the most beautiful nativity scene. The next year he added the entire village of Bethlehem. It was awesome.

[Tax-chick]

Fine motor skills!

[defconw]

Yep. The engineer was always joking that all the parishes called him. He was very mechanical. He also was engaged. He tried to hide from his vocation, but God finally got him!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Excuse me? Are you saying God doesn’t like art?

[GeronL]

I didn’t say that

[Mrs. Don-o]

Your definition of "graven images" seems to go way beyond the Biblical term denoting idols, i.e. images of would-be rival gods. If it's "images" you object to, you may as well stop getting on the Internet because the Internet is pure image.

And if it's "graven" you object to, sorry: no coins, no gravestones, and no Mr. Potato Head for you.

But I don't think this ant-art opinion of yours matches up with God's. If it did, most church windows would be smashed out in a flash.