Directory of Snake Handling Resources

Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Practices > Snake Handling

A few small Christian sects practice the handling of poisonous snakes in the belief that they will be protected against harm. The willingness to place themselves in such apparent danger is seen as an important element of their faith. Such beliefs may be based on these Bible verses from the Gospels. The Gospel According to Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." The Gospel According to Luke 10:19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you."

Resources in This Category

• CBS News: Woman Dies After Snakebite In Church, Kentucky Woman Killed After Being Bitten During Serpent-Handling Service

  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/07/national/main2161165.shtml
  Linda Long, 48, died after being bitten by a snake during a serpent-handling service at church in London, Kentucky. Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in the state.

• If God Was a Rattlesnake, Would You Pick it Up?

  http://www.ralphmag.org/snake.html
  Review of the book 'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia' and general discussion of the practice.

• New Georgia Encyclopedia: Snake Handlers

  http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/snake-handlers
  Article on the practice, with photo and bibliography.

• Snake Handlers and the Law

  http://members.tripod.com/Yeltsin/law/law.htm
  Information about laws applicable to religious snake handling in several Appalachian jurisdictions.

• Snake Handlers Hang On in Appalachian Churches

  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0407_030407_snakehandlers.html
  Article by Brian Handwerk for National Geographic.

• Snake Handling

  http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.com/blurbs/snake-handling.html
  Skeptics' analysis of the practice of snake handling, including the scriptural basis and an explanation of why participants are seldom bitten.

• Snakebite Kills Preacher: Should Snake Handlers Be Subject to Prosecution?

  http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/ep/snake_bite.htm
  Snakebite kills local preacher and the press asks, Should snake handlers be subject to prosecution?

• Wikipedia: Church of God with Signs Following

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_God_with_Signs_Following
  Article about the Pentecostal holiness churches which practice snake handling.

Related Categories

• Home > Regional > North America > United States > Regions > Appalachia > Society and Culture > Religion
• Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Denominations > Churches of God > Church of God - Cleveland, Tennessee
• Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Denominations > Pentecostalism

 

Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Practices > Snake Handling

 

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