AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post Virgil Briles, 52, of Cape May Court House, shows off his tattoo of the crucifixion.

By KIM MULFORD
Courier-Post Columnist

Peter Wik wears his faith in shades of gray and black.

On the 21-year-old's left arm, the archangel Michael faces Satan in a heavenly battle scene from the book of Revelation. A cross covers his right arm from nearly his shoulder to his elbow. "Solo Deo Gloria" is scrolled across his back. Translated from Latin, it means, "To God be the Glory."

Once, tattoos were associated with bikers, gang members and military men. Not anymore.

Wik, a Pine Hill resident, is among a growing number of Christians going under the tattoo needle.

"It sets you apart and you can't get away from what's on your body," said Wik, a plumber and a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Cherry Hill. "I have to watch what I say and do because I'm always an example for Christ, because of what's on my body." Growing numbers

While there are few hard numbers on how many Americans have tattoos, the body artwork is growing in popularity as it becomes more socially acceptable, said Erin Stallings of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, a national educational organization based in Arizona.

Religious tattoos are among the most common requests, said tattoo artist Bob Montagna, owner of Fusion of Styles Tattooing in Malaga. Tattoos are a physical way of marking stages in people's lives, he said.

"Certain things become significant to them," he said, "and they want to outwardly wear a statement of faith."

About 20 percent of tattooist Mike Siderio's work is religious in nature. Throw in crosses of all sorts and the number increases to as high as 60 percent, the 42-year-old artist said. Has two tattoos

Siderio owns Rebel Image Tattooing in Rio Grande in Cape May County. A faithful Catholic man, Siderio has two religious tattoos: the head of Christ on his right deltoid and a cross with his name written beneath it.

He is the only New Jersey tattoo artist affiliated with Christian Tattoo Association, a national ministry for tattoo professionals and enthusiasts.

Besides crosses, the most requested religious tattoos are the head of Christ or the Blessed Mother, Siderio said.

"There's such a wide variety," he said. "I just did a 19-year-old kid with a pretty good-sized (Christ) portrait in the center of his back."

Virgil Briles is one of his regulars. The 52-year-old Cape May Court House resident requested religious-themed "sleeves" (tattoos covering the arm from shoulder to wrist).

Among his tattoos is a portrait of Christ, a scene featuring Moses, a crucifix and the archangel Michael.

Briles said he has had tattoos since he was 13. Although he does not call himself a born-again Christian, he said he underwent a spiritual transformation about 14 years ago and decided to add religious artwork to his body's collection.

"I just think God gave me another chance at life," said Briles. "I did a lot of drugs and alcohol. I was in Vietnam and I lost my faith. When I got cleaned up, I went crazy with the spiritual, with the belief in God."

Besides marking the inner spirituality of a person, religious tattoos "open a whole line of communication with people," Siderio said.

Briles agreed. "How many tattoo shops can you go in and talk about God?" Briles said.

Wik gets a lot of questions, too. Even if he doesn't want to witness about his faith, his tattoos do it for him.

An inspector recently caught sight of the artwork, he said. "So, you're a religious guy?" the man said and the two began a religious discussion. Another inspector saw the artwork and grabbed a Bible out of his truck for a chat with Wik.

"That was pretty cool," said Wik. If it weren't for his tattoos, he said, "I don't think it would ever come up."

Wik's 19-year-old sister, Rebekah, recently got a small icthus tattoo on her back with the inscription "Psalm 1" in the middle of the Christian fish symbol.

"I wouldn't be anywhere without God," the Downingtown, Pa., resident said. "No one's asked me why I have it, but when I first got it they said, `You know, in the Bible tattoos are evil,' and all that stuff. But I don't think that's relevant for this day and age."

She referred to Leviticus 19:28, which says, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord."

The same book prohibits the wearing of clothing woven of two different kinds of material, homosexual relations and sorcery.

Still, the passage has given Peter Wik, a grandson of Presbyterian missionaries, pause about getting any more religious tattoos. He also advises young Christians not to get a tattoo if it would upset their parents.

"Sometimes, I feel down and bad about getting the tattoos, but I don't regret it," Wik said. "I'm thinking about getting another, but I want to be absolutely sure about it."

If you go
Rebel Image Tattooing is at 1071 Rt. 47 S., Rio Grande. Call (609) 889-2422.
Fusion of Styles Tattooing is at Route 40 and Route 47, Malaga. Call (856) 694-3699.
For more information about the Christian Tattoo Association, visit www.xtat.org .
For a gallery of religious tattoos collected by a Toronto enthusiast, visit www.religioustattoos.net .