Posted on 11/08/2006 5:35:46 AM PST by girlangler
A woman who was bitten by a snake at a church that neighbors say practices serpent handling died of her wounds hours later, a newspaper reported. Linda Long, 48, was bitten Sunday at East London Holiness Church, where neighbors said the reptiles are handled as part of religious services, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Tuesday.
Long died at University of Kentucky Medical Center about four hours after being bitten, authorities told the newspaper.
"She said she was bitten by a snake at her church," said Lt. Ed Sizemore of the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.
Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in Kentucky. Snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine.
Police said they had not received any reports of snake handling at the church.
Snake handling is based on a passage in the Bible that says a sign of a true believer is the power to "take up serpents" without being harmed.
Church officials could not be reached for comment.
I would think that handling poisonous snakes would fit into the same category as smoking or drinking too much, except it will kill you quicker.
Fatal religious kookiness.
It's a quote from Christ told to Mark, I don't think it's silly.
Please explain the silliness in Jesus' words.
That's a stupid assumption.
People like this generally don't vote.
So why son't they chug Drano instead of bothering the poor snakes?
And it's not an anti-Christian law. It's an anti-stupidity law.
"She took up the serpent and lost the faith!" - Wendy Bagwell
There is none, of course.
The idiocy, as usual, is all in the flawed interpretation of His words.
Christ does not command Christians to take up serpents - that's just poor reading comprehension.
Word.
No, it was written by some lady. I forget the name.
If you can't take sarcasm stuff it.
I read the words as saying that if you get baptized in Christ you will be saved; that if you don't you will be damned, and that you will know those who beleive in Christ because they will be able to do specific things, show certain signs- then it names five things, five signs.
What's your interpretation?
I posted this because I needed a break from the election stories, and since I live on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, where all of the snake handlers live.
So, for those of us needing a laugh break, here's one, and it's a true story (I've told it on FR before, so apologize to those who've heard it before).
Years ago I received a news release from the state wildlife management agency. It was about some bear poachers being busted, and when the officers raided the poacher's house, they found more than 100 rattlesnakes and copperheads in the guy's freezer.
I asked one of the agents why someone would want to freeze so many poisonous snakes, thinking maybe he was in the boot making business.
Turns out, he was one of those snake handling preachers.
Kinda reminds me of the "we support our troops" democrats . . . Whoops, I promised I wasn't going to talk about the election anymore.
Good point Mary. My 14 yo son was bitten by a baby rattler last year and it wasn't a religious experience, let me tell ya. (shudder) Thankfully he's fine, in the hospital for 3 days up in Nashville and then more care here at home. Scary!
Actually some serpent handling groups also drink strychnine mixtures.
I think many of these laws were instituted due to the proximity of the serpents to minor children.
There is none, of course.
Not true. One passage in particular:
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"
Of course the Bible use of serpants was usually symbolic for the devil, and Jesus also taught us that you are not suppose to test God.
The clear words say "drink any deadly thing." So go get some Drano and wash it down with some muriatic acid.
Oh, and it is against the law to possess copperheads and rattlesnakes in Tennessee, and I suspect also in Kentucky, because they are on the threatened/endangered list.
The law is rarely enforced if you kill a snake because you feel threatened by it. So these "worshipers" are breaking the law.
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