Comments on: Snakes in Church

By: John Morales

John Morales — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:53:57 +0000

You know, snake enclosures are pretty stinky.

Just saying.

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:07:06 +0000

I had relative in Missouri who did this. I haven’t seen them since I was a little kid and have no idea what happened to them. I feel very sorry for the kids. It seems that this would be a very clear case of child abuse that would place the childs life in immediate danger. I wondered in Bill Maher will have this in his movie. Damn I can’t wait for October.

By: Iztok

Iztok — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:10:18 +0000

Lack of education. That is what it is. It is easier to deal with black and whites but to really understand, one needs to truly seek knowledge.

Another blog I am reading is trying to connect faith with morals but for some reason I think education is more important.

What do you think?

Link: http://janepope.blogspot.com/2008/07/whos-hurt-most-by-moral-failure.html

By: Larry Huffman

Larry Huffman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:35:25 +0000

Something else particularly funny about this is that the guy who founded this movement…George Hensley (there were several, but Hensley has been considered it founder since before his death), died from…..drum roll…SNAKE BITE!

By: ryot

ryot — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:56:51 +0000

Death threats over crackers, church-sponsored gun-giveaways, and snake raids all in three days? Is this a joke or is the July heat exacerbating the crazy?

By: SarahH

SarahH — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:13:24 +0000

How dumb or gullible do you have to be to continue handling snakes once you hear of some poor hick who died from handling a snake? Even these backward folks get word-of-mouth reports.

Unfortunately, extremists will simply dismiss the deaths as the results of insufficient faith in God. This kind of thing just keeps feeding itself. Being targeted by the police is just going to get most of them riled up and more passionate about their faith and practices.

For those of you who keep comparing this to the cracker thing: this religious ritual is causing direct harm to those who practice it. There’s a strong argument to be made that respecting these people’s lives is more important than respecting their rituals. Communion doesn’t endanger its participants in a physical, immediate way.

I really do think that they should be able to continue handling snakes if they want to though. As long as there are strict regulations concerning children, I don’t see why they should be stopped. There are some pretty danger extreme sports, for example, that have a real risk of death, but people still participate in droves, for the thrill. Taking extreme risks shouldn’t be illegal, whether the purpose is secular or religious, unless the practice is immediately harming unwilling bystanders or children.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:18:37 +0000

How dumb or gullible do you have to be to continue handling snakes once you hear of some poor hick who died from handling a snake? Even these backward folks get word-of-mouth reports.

By: Siamang

Siamang — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:28:44 +0000

Rev Bob.

Sweet Holmes reference.

By: Rev. Bob

Rev. Bob — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:59:02 +0000

Good thing they didn’t have any swamp adders. I have it on very good authority it’s the deadliest snake in India and can slither up and down ropes and come when whistled for.

By: Rev. Bob

Rev. Bob — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:01:43 +0000

@Ron inHouston:

Someone should suggest they chug arsenic or mercury. Strichnine will give you a buzz, but heavy metal poisoning is forever.