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Are Skulls an Anti-Christian Symbol?

I posted some pictures of several ceramic skulls in my office, and a fun conversation ensued on Facebook. Later that evening, I received a short letter from a friend:

“Hey, I’m curious! You create art with skulls and enjoy having them as part of your decor. How do you reconcile that with skulls being the antithesis of all that Jesus is? He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. And the skull is a symbol of Death.”

It’s a great question! And for Christians who enjoy skull art, it’s one worth thinking about. Here’s a few brief responses outlining how I reached the conclusion that the skull symbol is not “the antithesis of all that Jesus is.”

Material things are not inherently evil. This includes the human skull. In Romans chapter 14, the apostle Paul addresses dietary and Sabbath laws and the freedom of individuals to decide the parameters of their own conduct. He concludes, “I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean” (Rom. 14:14). Paul followed a similar line of argument when addressing meat sacrificed to idols in I Corinthians 8. He writes,

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.  (I Cor. 8:4-6)

Here, Paul mocks the idea that an idol — an icon, statue, or false god — possesses any real power. So he reasons that eating meat sacrificed to idols is perfectly fine because “an idol is nothing.” Of course, he goes on to appeal to one’s conscience. But my point here is to illustrate that material things, even things employed for evil (meat sacrificed to idols) are not inherently corrupt.

a skull is not inherently evil, but people’s intentions for or depictions of it can be.

Objects are not evil, but people’s intentions for using them can be. In Letters to Malcolm, C.S. Lewis wrote, “It is the stealing of the apple that is bad, not the sweetness.” The fruit of the Garden was beautiful and tasty. However, it was the intentions of the eaters that were rotten. Likewise, the nature of of the human skeleton is neutral. Bones have no inherent power in them. You could even say that, by design, bones are a good thing. They frame the body, providing armature for the muscles and organs. The skull may be the most important component of the entire skeleton as it contains the brain. In fact, skulls (and skeletons) are a common accessory found in biology or anatomy class. Are these skulls evil? Do these skulls represent something antithetical to Christ? Of course not! They are purely an anthropological exhibit. Now, if someone were to steal a skull from a laboratory and use it for an occult ritual, would that make it evil? No more than sacrificing a rack of ribs to Aphrodite would spoil the meat. Again, a skull is not inherently evil, but people’s intentions for or depictions of it can be.

And here’s where we need to make a distinction between cultural symbology and moral law. What most Christians object to about skull art is when it is conjoined with evil intentions and dark sentiments. And this is a very legitimate concern! Truth is, for many, the skull is representative of a morbid, grim, and negative outlook on life. Believers should be able to agree that a bleak disposition, or an unhealthy fixation upon death, is not aligned with a Christian worldview. And here, my friend is right. The Christian life should be characterized by joy and hope. A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms. These objections, however, do not amount to a moral restriction of all skull art. Because some use the skull as a symbol of evil does not mean all skull art is evil.

Which leads to my final point: Skulls can also be used as a symbol for mortality, a reminder of our own death, and a summons to live life to the fullest. Indeed, some Christian traditions embraced memento mori. Roughly translated, the phrase means “remember death.” It was a religious summons, a meditation. In his article Memento Mori: What It Means and Why It Should Matter to You, Matt McCullough, describes it as “death awareness.” Far from a morbid obsession with darkness, memento mori was a call to live soberly, reflective, and with gusto. Indeed, the Bible often calls us to reflect upon our own mortality and live life with purpose and passion. The psalmist wrote, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Ps. 90:12). The Bible describes your life like a “vapor” that appears for a moment and then vanishes away (James 4:14). The apostle Peter said our lives are like grass that springs up before wilting under the sun; all man’s glory is temporary (I Pet. 1:24). In our age of longer life expectancy and medical advances, it’s easy to avoid contemplating death. And pop culture provides plenty of distractions to keep us from those important reflections.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Ps. 90:12

The memento mori tradition employed many icons and symbols. But most often, it was the skull. Many Catholic saints, like Saint Francis, were portrayed as holding a skull or meditating upon one. Older chapels and monasteries actually gathered the bones of dead saints and displayed them as reminders. A church in Rome, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, is famous for its crypts decorated entirely with the bones of friars. Entering the crypts, one passes a sign which reads, “What you are, we once were. What we are, you will become.”

While some could see this as grotesque, contemplating death, especially one’s own, can be a deeply biblical — even lifegiving! — practice. Indeed, the very road to eternal life leads through death. Jesus was crucified on Golgotha — the Place of the Skull. The irony is that the road to life leads through the Place of the Skull. Jesus conquered death and said that His followers no longer needed to fear it. In this way, the skull can be a signpost, a symbol or reminder that our bodies will whither and be reborn in glory. Or as the apostle Paul put it, “O death, where is your sting?” (I Cor. 15:55).

So in conclusion, Skulls are neutral; they’re just human bones, an important part of our anatomy. Yes, some use skulls for evil purposes and as a depiction of dark, unhealthy obsessions. As Christians, we should avoid creating or displaying skull art that is attached to, or conveys, such spiritual darkness. Nevertheless, displaying skulls is not automatically evil. While some use the skull as a symbol of morbidity and evil, others can use it as a symbol of mortality and a reminder to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom. When judging skull displays, we should make sure to see past the symbol to the owner’s intent. Is the skull being displayed as a symbol for evil or darkness? Is the skull being displayed as a celebration of life and/or to “remember death”? Or is the skull simply being displayed as a generic cultural icon?

{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Teddi Deppner November 30, 2020, 10:57 AM

    Thanks for sharing this, Mike. Especially appreciated both the biblical references and the historical Christian practices related to meditating on mortality for useful spiritual purposes!

  • Bill White December 4, 2020, 6:00 PM

    This seems like a good example of the foggy and shallow reasoning so many Christians use to condemn art of various kinds. Heavy metal is not satanic, but “Highway to Hell” is. Science fiction is not atheistic, but Dune is. Skulls don’t inherently mean anything. They are assigned meaning by the artist. That meaning can be Godly or evil.

  • Shallow Brooks December 15, 2020, 12:47 PM

    Wow Mike, very thoughtful answer. “The antithesis of all that Jesus is”. I wouldn’t even know how to respond that.

  • Gab January 10, 2022, 3:20 PM

    I am both a Christian and an owner of several skulls for display/decoration. I appreciate the reminder of mortality, but I also think skulls look cool. I see them as wonderfully designed objects by God. And I use them as flower vases, which is a delightful contrast of life and death.

    My dad, also a Christian, abhors skulls and my penchant for liking them. Long story short, they freak him out. He finds skulls as an antithesis to Jesus similiar to your friend. We’ve had many psuedo-arguments about skulls and their place in a Christian home, and I am looking forward to bringing forth points in your article on our next discussion.

    But ultimately, I hide them away if I know he is coming over, both out of respect because he is my dad and a fellow believer. His expression of his faith isn’t mine to mock or challenge, and it’s just as easy for me to move the skulls so he is comfortable.

    • Kari Martinez November 9, 2023, 2:47 PM

      I hear what you saying about having respect for your dad, but why would you hold on to something that could cause a fellow brother in Christ to stumble?

  • AshumSmashum January 24, 2022, 7:33 AM

    I wish I had seen this before I went down the rabbit hole and threw everything in my house away. I hadn’t been focused on God for a long time because when I am I stress more over everything. I loved my skull decor. I never liked real skulls, though, and never had any. I literally had everything with a skull on it. Dishes, dish towels, clothes, pictures, blankets, pillows, decor, etc. The neighbor boy even called my house the halloween house. It wasn’t my intention but it was just something I was interested in and collected. I ended up throwing away so much stuff that I could have just given away, some I’m still paying off on, but I didn’t want to give others “evil” stuff. I didn’t view it that way but during my freak out, reading all this crazy stuff online, I felt I needed to get rid of it all. Now, I’m stuck feeling bad that I’m butthurt over materialistic things when I should be completely focused on God. Mental health is a b****.

    • Linda December 14, 2023, 4:45 PM

      You didn’t go down a rabbit hole, maybe God led you to get rid of them. Some things we should rid of if they were ever used for things God is against. Most people will justify keeping things even tho inside they know it’s not pleasing to God. If one wonders IF God may disagree them. Side on caution to please Him. That’s never a bad thing. I believe in doing as one wants but I got rid of such things as a full obedience because when I justify, well they are just ornaments..,there is always a chance of opening the door to a dark side. I’d prefer not to take any chances whatsoever ever. I want to make sure I am pleasing God and my crystals and things like skulls were just a tad iffy. So out they went. I love the less junk in the house now. Minimalist on the way. It’s just stuff. Life is not about stuff. So pls don’t regret getting rid of anything you thought was not pleasing Him. Betting He is very pleased with your gesture for Him.

  • Ralph Harmon April 14, 2022, 12:27 PM

    You guys can be delusional and dabble in the occult if you want. If you Google satanic altar you’ll find that most of them have a human skull. Google Catholic or Christian altar or pick any major religion and there will not be a human skull. Satan doesn’t care what you focus on as long it isn’t Jesus.

    Are any of you truly serious Christians that don’t fear death because you know where you’re going? And absolutely accept the finished work of Jesus Christ as your Redemption for your sins?

  • Ben Kreis February 10, 2023, 5:50 AM

    Mike,

    I agree with what you said. I would add my own observation. Often I see skull art as a tattoo or a bumper sticker. And I would guess that the majority of them aren’t using it as an occult symbol. I think they are using it as a statement of being tough or a rebel. The idea being something like, “I ain’t afraid of death!”

    p.s. Now I need me some skull art.

  • Mike N April 20, 2023, 7:28 AM

    My stand against most all tattoos, art, and anything dealing with skulls and the like, follows more the fact that in Society in general, we see the use typically associated with un-Christian beliefs and practices. While I know we are all living in this “World”, we are also told to “separate” ourselves from the “World”. As a Christian I understand that the skull holds no power over me, but I also do not want to promote a view or image that might give someone else a false impression as well. We have to ask ourselves the question, does wearing this tattoo help to edify GOD?

    • Linda December 14, 2023, 4:50 PM

      Very well stated. I agree 109% with you, Sadly many people will justify something they should not. If we want to be in the right side of Jesus, then why dabble in , “ I have them because I like them” attitudes. We are to be humble. We are not to be fooled. Why would anyone take a chance with their salvation if they claim to be follower of Jesus?!

  • Ralph E Harmon April 20, 2023, 11:31 AM

    Lol go with it if you want. I totally disagree. Remember when Israel lost the battle after Achan disobeyed God and brought some plunder home and buried it. It wasn’t even an idol and God punished all of israel. Once again Google satanic Ultra what do you see Google Christian altar what do you see. Who has the skulls the symbol of death? I am questioning whether your are true Christians or not.

    • Mike Duran April 20, 2023, 2:00 PM

      Ralph, God expressly forbade the Israelites from plundering Jericho. Achan was judged for disobeying God, not because the items were inherently evil. Regarding Satanic altars, they usually contain candles. So are candles evil? Sometimes they contain goblets or chalices. So are goblets and chalices evil? They may also contain incense or flowers or stones. So are incense, flowers, and stones evil? I know a science teacher who has a skull in his biology class. Should I tell him it’s evil? On what grounds is it not evil?

      • Ralph E Harmon April 24, 2023, 2:15 PM

        Why can’t I reply?

        • Ralph E Harmon Jr April 24, 2023, 4:44 PM

          OK now. I went to the auto parts store and the guy waiting on me had a tattoo that covered his whole forearm. He didn’t try to hide it, quite the opposite. It was the horned goat head that represents Satan. Now that is just a tattoo but what was this guy’s message?? I saw this biker he had a tat of a skull with a dagger rammed through the top dripping blood. Evil looking skull to boot, let alone the dagger. His message? My brother in-law had a big ornate cross on his shoulder and claimed his name was in the Lamb’s book of life, salvation guaranteed. When his marriage failed (adultery) he blamed God. He got that cross covered with a BIG black skull and says he no longer subscribes.

          I could go on and on but what’s the use. None of these things is an unforgivable sin. I won’t put such markings on my body or allow them into my house. The Lord knows I have enough things using the Blood, I don’t want to possibly use more. There is symbolism there. Jesus said there is one unforgivable sin. But all journeys start with the first step.

  • FTW June 3, 2023, 10:57 PM

    Idolatry? Worship God or worship the dead? Skulls are usually associated with the ritualistic tradition called day of the dead celebration where communing with dead loved ones is encouraged. This is a biblical red flag for me. To not appear to be associated with or promoting such practice; I abstain from glorifying skulls and the dead (Romans 14:16-19), until further notice. 🙂

  • RICK HOYT August 24, 2023, 4:23 AM

    Um, we all have one and carry it around everyday on top of our necks. It houses the AMAZING brain that God created. If a skull is an idol just by having it, then out with your 65″ Flat Screen, throw away your Black Scrying mirrors that you summon answers with everyday (cell phone), Unfollow and unfriend all social media contacts, because they can all become idols that you worship more than God and Jesus and Holy Spirit.

    • Lin woods November 3, 2023, 12:33 PM

      Hallelujah, a voice of reason

  • Chryselle October 24, 2023, 4:08 PM

    I made a few earrings for fall and Halloween out of clay. Out of them a few are that of a skull , witch hat and pumpkin with a face. Are these considered evilish. I’m a catholic and would not want to encourage anything associated with evil. Although those earrings look cute than evil, I’d still like to confirm before giving them to anyone.

  • Ralph E Harmon October 24, 2023, 6:39 PM

    Rick are you serious is that your argument? Google satanic altar tell me what you see. Google Christian altar tell me what you see.

    You made those jewelry items for All Hallows Eve right?

    • Chryselle October 24, 2023, 6:56 PM

      Yes. They are more of cute cartoon type than the scary ones as in tattoos and stuff.

  • Anthony Vialpando November 2, 2023, 1:43 PM

    Thank you Mike for sharing this great post! As a skull artist myself I’ve struggled with the inner feelings of what I am creating being in some way anti God? But this really helped me finde that perfect center point. I use the skulls ( not real ones, that’s illegal! Lol ) to symbolize the raw unfiltered version of us humans.
    Not by ethnicity, color of our skin or gender, but as a symbol of a human in the piece. That’s all it’s ever been for me.
    Thank you again, and to be honest I had been praying for this answer for a whiles now, and today I found your article.

  • Beth December 14, 2023, 6:29 AM

    We are certainly living out what the Bible clearly says –
    ‘ in the last days there will be a falling away’
    People will call evil good –
    And find every excuse possible to justify it .

    Just look up skulls and they are satanic symbolism .
    PERIOD !
    As for me and my house we will serve the Lord !

  • MrRight December 14, 2023, 6:23 PM

    Beth, don’t you want to tickle their ears and condone this obviously unacceptable behavior? I wash my hands of this, good luck satanists…

  • Gary Lee Corns January 5, 2024, 11:08 AM

    The aim of art is to project and evoke emotion and contemplation. When one uses any object as an artistic expression, the questions should be, “What am I seeking to communicate and what do I want others to feel and think?” Personally, I find it very difficult to imagine that skull artists are seeking to promote contemplation about the brevity of human life. The scriptures use images of fading flowers and wispy vapor to accomplish this. They never point us to observe human skulls.

    As to the references used in I Cor. 8:4, the insight Paul is providing is that there is no REAL God behind the image of Jupiter or other deity COMPARED to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Later in the letter to the Corinthian believers he plainly states that those who are participating in these sacrifices to idols are in fact sacrificing to demons (see I Cor. 10:20).

    In the Hebrew scriptures God’s instructed His people to grind Ashera poles, alters and any artifact that was used in the worship of other gods into powder! Acts chapter 19 is perhaps an easy reference for anyone with questions about this subject. Those who had made the decision to follow Jesus took all of their questionable works of art and scrolls and burned them.

    For me it is simple. If the thing, in any way, pulls my heart or emotions away from the truth, then it is better to remove it from my life. That goes for good luck charms, skulls, knocking on wood, etc.

  • Don Reed January 20, 2024, 7:07 PM

    I believe that tying a skull or skeleton to evil is merely a culture thing or merely worldly thinking.My wife and I so disagree on this subject it is nothing but evil to her.I tried to convey my thinking to her that we were made in Gods image and that skull is Gods image and created by God so it alone is not evil.I used the rainbow as a reference all Christian’s know the covenant of the rainbow but the world has made it a symbol of lbgt does this mean I cannot have rainbow art because of the worlds view, of course not.needless to say I had to concede to my wife because she was so adamant about it lol

  • Charlotte Menister March 21, 2024, 7:33 AM

    Personally, I could argue on both sides. Wearing a skull could be evil and the bible clearly states one should not hold any other thing in value that is above God. However, I could try to understand the perspective of the other side. For example, if you had a Nintendo switch you were on 24/7 and paid no attention to God (basically worshiping it) and someone told you to get rid of it because it was an idol, there would be a 45/100 chance you would because that’s just how addicting it is. What I’m trying to say is, as long as skulls are associated with satanism or any other evil emblem, there is no excuse reasonable enough to justify them and I personally would advise not wearing them if you wanted to get close to God because skulls have so many different meanings it’s impossible to tell the message you could potentially project by having one on.

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