Religious serpent handling

[SCReptiles]

Last time this topic was a hot debate several people inquired about attending a snake handling service. I will be taking a group from Chattanooga, TN to the Rock House Holiness Church in Section, AL this Friday night 9/19/03. We will leave around 6pm. We will be traveling back (some dirt) roads doing a little road cursing on the way. Should arrive about 730pm. The service is long, one can count on being there till 11pm EST (the church is in central time.) Anyone interested in going along get in touch with me before Friday. I spoke to Silas Crawford last Sunday. He tells me that he will be coming down from WV for the service this Friday. The usual service involves timber rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cotton mouths; however, Silas usually comes in with puff adders, cobras, etc so I am really not sure what all to expect. Some churches only occasionally handle, but I have never seen a service here where the “boxes” were not opened.

[fatboy]

Count me in bro. Never know, I might start feeling the ghost.
Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 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.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

[GI Joe]

Chuck, Don't they mind you bringing in folks just to watch? I grew up in E. TN and they were funny about visitors just cause they didn't want the law brought down on them.
Jeff

[GI Joe]

PS, If I was home this week I'd go with ya. I'm on the road in Missouri all week.

[Wuntu Menny]

Alrighty then..

How do you tell if a snake is religious anyway? Is there some kind of hemipenile circumcision scar or something? They can't kneel or cross themselves without limbs, nowhere to hang a rosary, not enough skull for a yamulka, of course there's the temple vipers, but to which temple do they belong? I guess Indian cobras might be Hindu, but you could never tell with an african one....

This could go on forever, you shouldn't have provided me with an opening like that,

WM

[fatboy]

No they don't mind. Everyone is welcome as far as I know.......wait except for Canadians :)

[SCReptiles]

Jeff, they are cool with anyone coming in. The E TN branch is probably more secretive because venomous snakes are illegal in that state. They will not allow any cameras inside the building, but they are fine with people coming to visit. I am also from E TN, what city are you from?

[GI Joe]

My folks are all from the Gainesboro Area - Roaring River and Flynn's Creek. I was born in Nashville while my folks were at school.

Soon as I can retire or Uncle Sam throws me out I'm going back.

Jeff

[SCReptiles]

I went to high school in Gate City, VA, but spent much of my teenage years in Kingsport, TN. Chris Jeter, AKA snakesafe is from Kingsport also. He lives in Chattanooga now as well.

[brig]

Wow, what an opportunity!
I would love to go, but unfortunately I'm several thousand miles away!!!
I don't know of any 'adder-handling' services in the UK (although I'm always prepared to be proved wrong!) ;)

I just wanted to register that if I were there, I would definitely go - it must really be something!

Well done, SCReptiles, for opening this up to the forum!

peace,
Brig.

[corr]

I'd love to go too but unfortunately, I'm a little far as well :(

[GI Joe]

All of you quit whinning. If it was important to you you would find a way to be there. LOL.

[brig]

All of you quit whinning. If it was important to you you would find a way to be there. LOL.

:D
Hmmm, let me think... 9 hour trans-Atlantic flight, 7 hour time difference (maybe 6, not sure), your 11pm would be my 5 or 6 am NEXT morning, 9 hour flight home, jetlag/exhaustion, supposed to be in work for Monday morning... :confused: Not to mention, just plain ol' broke at the moment!!! :rolleyes:

Nope, I really don't think I can make it THIS Sunday... LOL

;)

peace,
Brig


Ooops - just realised how hypocritical that makes my signature line!!! LOL!!!

[MouseKilla]

I had a little bit of fun with the topic the last time this was posted but I am genuinely interested. Sadly, I don't think I would be welcome as I'm a Canadian and my accent and socialist views would give me away.LOL! I respect their faith and the Christian faith generally, probably more than a lot of other faiths that may be more exotic and fashionable these days but are morally bankrupt, but I have a hard time understanding the risk they take when the practice this. I wish it were possible for me to meet these folks and try to understand them better assuming that they don't react violently to respectful criticism.

[Kurzix]

brig,

that depends man...just cuz you cannot afford it right noe means you want it any less.

fatboy,

Mathew 16:15-20 may help my cause to educate my family. My family is Southern Baptist. I had to give up my snakes when i moved back in with my folks. My father claimed that serpents are an image of Satan (quoting from Genesis). So My question is this, any other scripture I could use to show snakes are not of Satan?

[MouseKilla]

It's easy to show that snakes aren't an image of Satan. Just show him a picture of Pat Buchanan and ask if he can tell the difference.LOL!

[SCReptiles]

So My question is this, any other scripture I could use to show snakes are not of Satan?
The basis of the snake handling movement are based on:
Mark 16:18
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.
Luke: 10:19
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.
Acts 28:3-5
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

This doctrine will most likely not likely assist you in convincing your parents to allow you to keep snakes, but this may help. What they are basing their claims on is a false perception. The Hebrew word that the King James scholars translated to serpent, did not mean snake. The word meant supplanter. Old Testament theologian Dr Wymal Porter believes that it was a bird, like a talking parrot, that convinced Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. The snake in no way has any biblical connection to Satan.