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| charismatic and pentecostal christianity | |
| appalachian culture | |
| snakes | |
| human-animal interaction | |
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:"They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:18) :"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19) There is no known link between the practice of snake handling and the Hopi ceremony of "snake dancing." It is important to note that the practice of snake handling is quite rare among the Pentecostals. FOUNDERS George Went Hensley, a preacher who had left a Pentecostal church when it stopped embracing snake handling, is credited with creating the first Holiness church dedicated to snake handling in the 1920 s. Sister-churches later sprang up throughout the Appalachian backwoods. However, the roots of the snake handlers can be traced further back to strict Calvinists , who were among the early English and Scotch-Irish settlers colonizing the Appalachian area. Many of the later followers were brought into the belief through traveling preachers in the late . SNAKE HANDLERS TODAY As in the early days, worshippers are still encouraged to lay hands on the sick, speak in Tongues , and provide testimony of miracles. Gathering mainly in homes and converted buildings, they generally adhere to such strict dress codes as uncut hair and ankle-length dresses for women and short hair and long-sleeved shirts for men. Most religious snake handlers are still found in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of the southeastern United States, especially in such states as Alabama , Georgia , Kentucky , Tennessee , and Ohio . In 2001 , there were about 40 small churches which practiced snake handling, and most are considered to be Holiness-Pentecostal or Charismatic . In 2004 , the practice moved north and across the borders as there were at least two snake handling congregations in Canada located in the province of Alberta. Most, if not all, use the King James Version of the Bible and consider other versions to be demonic, or at least false. Like their predecessors, they believe in a strict and literal interpretation of the Scriptures . The devout often attend services several nights a week. SCRIPTURAL BASIS AND PRACTICE Those espousing the snake handling practice base their belief upon Mark 16:17-18 — :"And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Based upon this scripture, they often include not only the handling of poisonous snakes (usually Copperheads and Rattlesnakes ) in their services, but also handling fire and drinking water laced with Strychnine , Arsenic , or some other poisonous substance. Several investigations have concluded that many congregants do indeed ingest poisoned water. Rags soaked in Kerosene are ignited and placed in glass jars, then passed around for any of the faithful who feel so inclined to touch them by slowly passing their hands through the flames for several seconds. RISKS The worshippers are cognizant of the risks of their faith; however, if a worshipper is bitten, poisoned, or burned during the services, it is believed to be because that individual lacked faith. In the last 80 years, approximately 75 U.S. snake bite-related deaths were from handling snakes during religious services. Few seek medical attention after being bitten. While children attend the services, the worshippers strongly deny that any of them have been bitten. Several of the leaders in these churches have been bitten numerous times, as indicated by their distorted extremities. Hensley, said to be the founder of modern snake handling in the Appalachian Mountains , died from snakebite in 1955 . Another prominent leader, a 34-year-old evangelist, died in 1998 after being bitten by a Timber Rattler at the Rock House Holiness Church in rural northeastern Alabama . Members of his family contend that his death was likely due to a Heart Attack , although his wife had died three years earlier after a snake bite while in Kentucky . THE LAW The First Amendment of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to change his or her religion or belief, and the freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his or her religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Regardless, some states (Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee) have passed laws against the use of poisonous snakes and/or other reptiles in a place that endangers the lives of others or without a permit. The Kentucky law specifically mentions religious services. Most snake handling practices therefore take place in the homes of worshippers, which avoids the process of attempting to obtain a government permit for the church. Law enforcement officers usually ignore these religious practices unless and until they are specifically called in. This is not usually done unless a death has resulted from the practice. SNAKE HANDLING CHURCHES Alabama
Alberta, CANADA
Georgia
Indiana High way Holiness Church of God, Fort Wayne Kentucky
Michigan
Ohio
South Carolina
Tennessee
EXTERNAL LINKS AND SOURCES
See also: Church Of God With Signs Following |
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