Signs and Wonders of Snake Handling – What Skeptics and Atheists Can Never Grasp
In the lush hills of Appalachia, small community churches beckon visitors to come worship. The weathered signs near the entrance show no indication of the slithery liturgy. Few signs will welcome all to “Come worship with us!”
From Pennsylvania to Georgia, in the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains, serpent handling remains a steadfast form of Sunday worship and praise. Only six states deem serpent handling a legal form of religious tradition. The practice came into fashion during the early part of the 1900’s and shows little sign of falling out of vogue with the sect. Although most churches are family affairs and seem to be unsuccessful and uninterested in a robust program of evangelism in the US, the practice abides. Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Ohio- as well as some provinces of Canada – recognize and allow the use of venomous serpents in religious services.
Signs of Faith
The practice of snake handling is scripturally supported in the Book of James and the final chapters of the Book of Mark.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.“ – James 1:22
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” – Mark 16:17-18
While many mega evangelical Pentecostal churches practice the driving out of demons, speaking in tongues and the laying of hands, very few if any will establish the drinking of poisons and handling of vipers as outward signs of faith. These light wing evangelists will hide behind Baptism in Jesus’ Name- Acts 2:38.
For those small churches that do ‘take up the signs’, the action deepens the individual’s faith in God. It is a communion of scripture and faith based action. From a non-practitioners perspective, to observe this first hand is to witness something beautiful, terrifying and alien.
Signs of faith are only an observable reflection of the deeply rooted beliefs of this sect. Observation is not an understanding of scripture with participation, which is why it is the second least reliable form of data to support skepticism. The least reliable would be simply reading an account without observation and subsequently dismissing the sign of faith as fakery or sideshow dalliances.
Growing up in Appalachia I have a profound respect for those that choose to test their faith with these Biblical signs. While not my brand of faith expression, this respect has more to do with my faithless, tinkle inducing fear of poisonous snakes than geographical bias. I have never understood the ‘fun’ of playing chase with a fat, glistening black racer either. While non-poisonous, I just don’t like that challenging look in the eye that says “Com’on, let’s see who’s faster.”
My faith and bladder are not strong enough for these tag matches. I am weak. I have attended a snake handling service, but I don’t have the will to handle. The response from some in the serpent handling faith is a clear condemnation, “The Bible does speak of a reprobate mind.” Amen, that’ll have to do.
Persecution of and by God’s Children
The serpent handling churches are tightly knit because of a history of persecution. The established families that carry on the faith are viewed by outsiders as ‘inbreds’, which in turn magnifies persecution and exclusivity as a reaction. Name calling is probably one of the least onerous forms of persecution endured by the sect.
It is their exclusivity that can prompt limited protest against efforts to ban the tradition through legal means. Community efforts to drive out the practice have included the exclusion of church member interment from community cemeteries. This seems the cruelest form of persecution in a country founded on freedom of religion. For families clinging to faith and enduring loss, to have the privilege of burying Mom next to Daddy snatched away at a vulnerable point seems merciless.
Occasionally, the local news would report the arrival of a New York sociologist bent on studying, analyzing and perhaps returning home with a few members from the congregation in bell jars. This would always make me cringe in anticipation of the broad swath of comments and erroneous claims about Appalachia in general. Some churches will tone down the handling to manage these visits and avoid greater persecution. Visitors, in my experience are treated kindly and are respected. There is little chance an observer will be bit. No one is forced to handle. The risk and faith is fully carried by the handler.
Other Pentecostal churches will persecute those that handle serpents. They will hide behind Baptism as the only requirement of faith. Snake handlers, even without their slithery witnesses of faith are unwelcome in many churches. For some this creates a greater abyss of suspicion and exclusivity.
The handling congregations near my hometown do not practice ‘cousin marriage’, 13 year old child bride indoctrination or have intelligence quotients below national norms. One of the ‘handlers’ I grew up with is a mechanical engineer and no longer lives in the area. While her well founded fear of drowning leaves her open to mockery amongst co-workers, the unbitten hand capture and release of a copperhead at a work site as well as effective project planning and execution makes her legendary in the minds of witnesses. Another friend of this faith is a nurse. I don’t think either includes their church experience on their resume or shares this secret openly with associates. When they return to the hills, they go home to the faith.
Skeptics and Atheists – Y’all Just Put that Lampshade on Your Argument
Some skeptics will note that as a snake becomes used to handling it will become more docile. One commenter, “busterggi” recites the common skeptic argument that these snakes are pets and no real danger exists for handlers.
Granted that snakes aren’t cuddly nor are they brilliant intellectually, but as someone who has owned snakes (including wild ones which I caught) I can testify that most of them calm down enough to be handled as soon as they learn they aren’t in any danger & that their handlers are supplying them with food.
No miracles necessary for handling pets.
Busterggi’s stupidity seems to depend on the religion of Cain rather than understanding. While some will keep snakes in boxes, on any given Sunday near my hometown one can see the faithful walking beside the road with a sack and hook. Some out of towners will mistake them for the poor collecting soda cans. (Shout out to the cousins from New Jersey for that nugget!)
While correct in saying the practice of serpent handling isn’t a miracle (it is a sign of faith for believers), these are not pets. The practice is part of a communion with scripture in the mind of the practitioner who believes the word of God to be true. The handling is a scripturally based sign of that faith. Who would want a snake as a pet anyway? Calling this practice ‘pet handling’ seems unreasoned. It’s like calling kittens biscuits just because the cat gave birth in the oven.
While Busterggi can ‘testify’ the snakes calm down, I question if he/she uses the same handling techniques. I’m not aware if it is common practice amongst pet snake enthusiasts to dance around and swing the venomous snake up and down like a rag doll while speaking in tongues, banging a tambourine and employing a mid body hold.
Personally, I think the smell of ‘reprobate’ urine makes snakes antsy and ‘bitey’. I don’t feel inclined to test the different methods of handling.
In 20 years, spanning 2000 to 2009, 16 human fatalities have occurred from bites sustained by captive venomous snakes in the United States. Only 7 of those cases were due to religious handling, leaving 9 deaths of ‘experienced’ pet owners. It is interesting to note that religious handlers freely accept the will and judgment of God and do not accept anti-venom as treatment, while those bitten by pets seek anti-venom immediately. I can also proudly note that no reported deaths occurred in my home state where snake handling is practiced.
The paradox of Busterggi’s analogy of religious handling equal to pet handling is that nearly every state in the US will allow the keeping of poisonous snakes as pets if proper permits are filed, while only six states recognize the religious practice as ‘legal’. Perhaps if more had his skeptical outlook, the practice would be more wide spread. It must be a bitter pill for an agnostic to support the legalization of religion.
In summary, the true believer isn’t so concerned with skeptics or those that see the practice as usurping the Baptism. They concern themselves with the scripture and God’s judgment.
“Also, when the day comes that a country will thoroughly condemn snake handling, a practice in the Scriptures; will be the day that the country will sign itself over for expulsion to Hell. Same sex (sodomite) marriage, prostitution, and immunity to criminals by lenient judges – just to name a few examples out of many of those other gross and indecent abominations mentioned in the Bible that are condoned in various countries should be highly ashamed of themselves and are not true Christians.” – Holiness Snake Handlers Official Website
- Sinful
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- Laughing Out Loud
Author: Blanche Beecham
"Blanche Beecham lends a soft, learned hand to the fourth estate with incite-full investigations on diverse topics such as Politics, Love, and Lifestyle. Her many years experience as a wife, mother, ladies book club president and financial auditor make her well suited to ferreting out the truth and giving it a sound shake." - Rev. Jackson Lee Whitebelley, Publisher and Editor of "The Incubator" - Follow me on Twitter! @BLANCHEBEECHAM
10:29 pm
Fantastic expose. Up here in the northwest I’ve never seen such a service. As one that supports complete and utter tolerance and understanding, I see that these services must be protected.
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11:48 pm
great stats!
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12:16 am
Why thank you Sister Susan. I really liked the hand painted signs behind the man in the top photograph. “No Gossip. No Tale Bearing. No Backbiting. No Bad Language.” It’s all so direct and to the point.
If we could get some of these signs painted up for Claire, LN and that devil whore Sharanonon maybe we could have a Godly community!
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12:53 am
if only!
They would just ignore them and start calling us names.
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1:53 pm
Blanche can you ever leave people alone? Seriously if anyone is a devil whore it would be you!
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2:19 pm
This is a private conversation between me and Blanche. No one even mentioned you. Do you see your name anywhere?
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2:23 pm
Yea I do, look at Blance’s post
“If we could get some of these signs painted up for Clair, LN and that devil whore Shannon maybe we would have a godly community”
How is my name not mentioned? I have a right to say shit when shit is being said about me.
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6:23 pm
Me, Me, Me! Everything rotates around you, doesn’t it? The sun must be jealous.
Is your name Sharanonon? No it is not. End of discussion.
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6:27 pm
First of all, when I read it, it said plain as day SHANNON. Second I KNOW for a fact you meant me, you cant stand me because I don’t think like you do. Third you can not seem to get my name out of your mouth!
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7:33 pm
I think you will find you have reacted to my comments far more frequently than I have your comments.
Your response reveals an internal dialog that could require medication, check with your family physician.
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7:39 pm
I dont believe any of your little charts or graphs, they are all made up with no real info in them, I highly doubt I have even made that many comments, period since I have only been coming here a couple weeks. If anyone needs medication it would be you. You are the crazy one who thinks everything in the world in evil and out to get you. Maybe if you got out of your little “sanctuary” once and a while you could join the real world that the rest of us live in.
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7:58 pm
Gee Shannon, someone provides data and you get all conflumulated. It stings when someone calls you on your reprobate lies and antics, doesn’t it?
I didn’t use your name on the original comment that started your hate war. Although it is visible to everyone, you deny it. I provide empirical data to thwart your left handed claims and you whine that you don’t have charts.
If you really are a grown woman, start acting like on and admit you were wrong instead of digging a grave for what is left of your dignity.
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8:00 pm
Since I replied to that post before you did i saw it before you did, and it said
that devil whore Sharanonon.
Unless you have started answering to Sharanonon, please be quiet like a good little girl.
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8:02 pm
I will never admit shit to you old ass! And everyone knows that all your data is wrong in every way, show me the algorithm you used to come up with it, then I will believe you.
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11:13 pm
Are you without arithmetic skills as well? Number of comments would be discrete event data represented by integers, no algorithm is needed.
Do you even know what an algorithm is and how it might differ from simple counting?
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11:18 pm
Blanche I highly highly doubt you went around counting how many comments I have made, show me the algorithm or I don’t believe you.
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1:31 pm
Your holy chart cannot be denied BB.
Shannon, as a secretary to the deacons to the faith, BB has access to all the actual DB log files. She knows this data inside and out. She knows who fake Adam really is, when Claire praises herself and other fun facts.
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1:37 pm
Yea still dont believe a word of it. Show it to me or it does not exist.
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8:53 am
Protected? As scripturally supported activity, all Christians should be encouraged… NAY – REQUIRED to handle venomous serpents on a weekly if not daily basis. Its time to show the heathen and the reprobate the power of the WORD. Praise JESUS!
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9:50 am
Hang on there, Cowboy. Let’s not start firing weapons in celebration like its a wedding or somebody’s birthday.
The practice of handling is an expression of freewill and faith to follow the scriptures. To make it a requirement usurps the individual’s choice to give that freewill over to God. Don’t want to turn this into infant baptism.
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11:07 pm
I have a snake that Blanche can handle any time.
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11:29 pm
That’s a remarkable bit of news;
- “only 16 human fatalities have occurred from bites sustained by captive venomous snakes in the United States. Only 7 of those cases were due to religious handling,.”
- In 20 Years!
God must truly bless this practice. While we don’t do it at our Church, we support full freedom for anyone to worship Jesus and God as they are called.
Contrast that with an earlier investigation by Brother Bowers about the hundreds of deaths caused by anal drug use at the Electric Rave parties.
God is not blessing them – that’s for sure.
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10:03 am
So true, Brother Harold.
Those harlots of Daisycoach or Bonnapoo, or whatever they want to name the onerous orgies of debasement and shame, require those participants to practice ingesting poisons. Without the faith of true believers they perish.
I wonder how many die from drug overdose compared to poison ingestion during religious services? I think it might be surprising for skeptics to find there are far more deaths at these Satan events than in churches.
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1:29 am
“Also, when the day comes that a country will thoroughly condemn snake handling, a practice in the Scriptures; will be the day that the country will sign itself over for expulsion to Hell. Same sex (sodomite) marriage, prostitution, and immunity to criminals by lenient judges.”
That’s the kind of common sense thinking that will surely bring Christian hearts closer to Christ.
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10:07 pm
The charismatic movement has brought the power of Christ to so many but I’m with you Blanche, I don’t want to play with a big, black racer! Snakes make me nervous!!!
I’m a little amazed that over 20 years in the time period you mentioned that only 16 deaths have occurred by snake. We have so many imported African breeds here that you’d think there would be more. I remember reading about a man strangled by his python not too long ago… I wonder if strangulation is included in those statistics.
By the way, where do you find these AMAZING photos and images Blanche???? I love them, absolutely love them!
Your friend,
Stephenson
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11:04 pm
The information on snake bites is fascinating. If you click on the link, one of those pet owners was killed by a black mamba!
While I think you and I both agree, this really isn’t for us to practice, the persecution of the Charismatic Christians should be cause for concern. I wonder, Who’s next?
While I do have some nice photographs of some tribulation churches in my personal collection, those I used really capture the spirit of faith. I found them on a site called Imgur.
Stay well, friend.
BB
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12:38 pm
By the way, I’ve been meaning to respond to your last email but I got very busy. When I have some free time, I’ll get back to you. Kisses, SB
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2:28 pm
“the persecution of the Charismatic Christians should be cause for concern. I wonder, Who’s next?”
Mormons and Catholics I hope.
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2:31 pm
People don’t seem to be as concerned with sister wives and alcoholism as they are with snake bites I guess.
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2:35 pm
bigomy? not very big of them.
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12:36 pm
Pastor Mack Wolford on the bottom picture.Is one of the best brothers you can meet.
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1:43 pm
There are some lovely people in the Full Gospel churches.
Stay well.
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5:44 pm
Hey BB, did you see this: http://unreasonablefaith.com/2011/06/24/snake-in-the-grass/
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5:52 pm
You know I did see that. They deserve some credit for trying to mend their reprobate fences. Of course they completely misunderstood the entire article and tried to sway readers with the old “parody” safe word because the sting of truth is too much.
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7:32 pm
One of my fave quotes.
“Let me tell you, the bite of the serpent is nothing compared to the bite of your fellow man.”
Charles McGlocklin, Snake Handler
http://www.freewebs.com/pastormorrow/index.htm
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9:23 pm
The web site looks great. A lot of people try to claim snake handling is outlawed or no longer practiced in Tennessee.
While I don’t have the faith to practice full gospel and signs following, I would never call the serpent a pet or believe that the faithful put others in harm’s way.
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9:59 pm
I’ve handled snakes before. Not too big a deal.
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11:07 am
What a compelling argument, Captain. So because you’ve taken a bath too you’re now a Deacon in church? Full Gospel means all of it, not just one component. Gotta have that faith and belief too to be relevant.
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