Here is something to break up a bit my thread on the gospel of mark, studied from a literaryhistorical perspective to be resumed in my next post. Mar 01, 2018 west virginia pentecostal pastor mark randall mack wolford, who handled snakes, was fatally bitten by a rattlesnake, which he owned for years, at the panther wildlife management area, 80 miles west of bluefield, west virginia during a sunday snakehandling service, reports the washington post. It is on animal planet and is a reality show about a man who captures and keeps snakes. Snake handling preachers death doesnt shake belief the state. Aug 20, 2014 snake handling in mark 16 a thought from nick lunn i am currently editing a superb book on the long ending of marks gospel mark 16. Jun, 2012 snake handling is a serious practice by a small number of mostly appalachian christians. In the episode i saw, he was capturing poisonous snakes for his mothers church to use. Dec 29, 2009 to really understand snake handling one has to understand penecostalism. Churches that practice snake handling have dotted the appalachian mountains for over 100 years. While serpent handling has been outlawed in all but two southern states, there remain several. This book went deeply into the practice of snake handling in religious services. Jan 24, 2018 the book, he said, fits the publishers mandate to publish books about religious history and about the american south where snake handling churches date to the early 1900s. Snake handling in some pentecostal churches derives from this passage in.
And despite commending their desire to be obedient to scripture, christians have argued that snake handlers are wrong to take jesus words in mark 16. Because of their snake handling beliefs, the congregation does not feel that glen summerford should be convicted. Snake handling is one such example of a dubious concept drawn from mark 16. Sep 02, 2018 documentary about snakehandling kentucky church fails to grasp tradition, expert says holly meyer, the tennessean published 7. The doctrine of pentecostal snake handling is built entirely on the reading of one clause in mark 16. Jan 23, 2017 snake handling or serpent handling is a religious ritual in a small number of pentecostal churches in the u. Snake or serpent handling in alabama is practiced primarily by the members of the church of god with signs following.
In his book, salvation on sand mountain, dennis covington, a journalist covering the summerford trial, discusses his firsthand, investigative experiences at a snake handling church in appalachia. This practice in some southern circles especially in the appalachians of handling deadly snakes as part of a worship service is based on the saying of jesus in. The practice plays only a small part of the church service of churches that practice snake handling. Some churches today are handling snakes because of one verse and this should not be.
Its never a good idea to bring a snake near your head or necksnakes can find that gesture aggressive. Two days ago, the washington post published a lengthy story on snakehandling pastor mack wolford, who died sunday night from, well, a snakebite he got in church. He is pictured several times in the book handling snakes himself. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and. And how does this firstcentury gospel echo earlier biblical texts referring to human. Bible, but was added much later by scribes trying to give the book of mark a stronger, more dramatic ending. Snake handlers are essentially fundamentalist christians who follow a literal interpretation of the bible. Aug 07, 2019 while christian mythology has long cast snakes as being a symbol the devil, pentecostal snake wrangling churches take their cue from the book of mark, in which the faithful are said to be safe in. Amy jo burns novel shiner targets snakehandling appalachia. They are apparently part of a later addition verses 920, written in a different style and intended to provide that gospel with a less abrupt ending. To outsiders, mainstream christians included, snake handling seems foolhardy at best and deadly at worst.
Snakehandling and the gospel of mark here is something to break up a bit my thread on the gospel of mark, studied from a literaryhistorical perspective to be resumed in my next post. Previous accounts of the signs followers focused on the sensational aspects of the religion. Despite pastors death, followers are still handling snakes. Their key text is the king james version of mark 16. Snakehandling and the gospel of mark the bart ehrman blog. Snakehandling pastor killed by snakebite once let his. The book says that the apostle john was challenged to drink poison. The practice began in the early 20 th century in appalachia, and plays only a small part in the church service. The snake handler moves at an unrelenting pace, which is impressive, but i wished for a bit more syrupy as clyde, high on rattlesnake venom, works to rid his southern town of the drugfueled ills he brought upon it, he is forced to confront enemies as well as his own failings as a pastor, husband, and man. For more information, please see our article should mark 16.
They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it wont hurt them. And how does this first century gospel echo earlier biblical texts referring to human. This story hits home with me because i have developed a sincere appreciation of snake handling churches thanks to the show. People want to handle snakes, but they miss the part where it says they will drink deadly poison. Snake handling christians believe in signs and wonders, too, but they also believe taking up snakes is something god commands them to do. The eccentricities and inherent danger of the churchs practices have made it an attractive subject for social scientists. As a result, it is unwise to use anything from mark 16. Within these churches are several families whose history in the tradition stretches back as far as the religion itself, which.
Feb 16, 2014 a kentucky pastor who appeared on snake salvation has died. The practice of snake handling first gained a foothold in alabama in the early nineteenth century and reached its peak in the early twentieth century. May 30, 2012 may 30, 2012 a serpent handling west virginia pastor died after his rattlesnake bit him during a church ritual, just as the man had apparently watched a snake kill his father years before. The book of mark in the bibles new testament calls serpent handling one of the signs that true believers must follow. Pick it up gently, supporting it loosely but securely with your hands and arms. The snake bit him unexpectedly, in front of others, and god protected him as promised. While this is a story of kimbroughs experiences with the saylor family of eastern kentucky, kimbrough explains the origins of serpent handling as they emerged in the teachings of george hensley of the grasshopper community near cleveland, tennessee. Snakehandling christians believe in signs and wonders, too, but they also believe taking up snakes is something god commands them to do. The preacher in the story didnt have a snake to use, but he did. As the oldest manuscripts are known to be the most accurate because there were fewer generations of copies from the original. Snake handlers reach into a box containing venomous snakes during the worship service and handle them as a sign of their faith. Because of their snakehandling beliefs, the congregation does not feel that glen summerford should be convicted. Snake handling and the restoration of peace to the world. Mar 17, 2015 snake handling is an extremely rare activity practiced by a very small number of pentecostal churches most in the southern, rural united states on the basis on mark 16.
In this post id like to go directly to the bible and examine the biblical warrants offered by the snake handling churches. The snakehandling church, tucked along a winding road, is an asbestosgray building with a small gravel parking lot. Feb 17, 2014 dennis covington, author of the 1995 book salvation on sand mountain, about snake handling in alabama, said he knew coots and was saddened by his death. However, the punishment was so severe that juries would refuse to convict, and the law was repealed in 1968. Snake handling preachers death doesnt shake belief the.
Being from the south, i had always heard of this occurring, although i never witnessed it myself. This current post is related to mark but its well, different. Snake handling is a practice found within isolated churches, mostly in appalachia, many of which go by the name church of god with signs following or some variant thereof. Even so, some people believe that handling a snake is a command from godan act of faithand that he promises to protect you when you do it. The author, nicholas lunn, argues that the long ending was not a later addition to the gospel but was the original ending written by mark. The snake handling church, tucked along a winding road, is an asbestosgray building with a small gravel parking lot. Snakehandling pastor killed by snakebite once let his finger. Nevertheless, there have been fewer than 100 confirmed deaths in the history of snake handling. When reading mark we know that the lord will protect us, but that doesnt mean we put god to the test, which is clearly sinful and dangerous. These brainwashed fundamentalists test what jesus said in the gospel of mark and see if they really can take up deadly snakes. Practitioners believe serpenthandling dates to antiquity and quote the gospel of mark and the gospel of luke to support the practice. Pastor mark randall wolford died as a result of a snake bite in may 2012.
They could scarcely have known as modern biblical scholars do that the verses in mark 16 upon which snake handling is predicated are not in the most trustworthy ancient manuscripts larue 1990. May 22, 2020 two days ago, the washington post published a lengthy story on snake handling pastor mack wolford, who died sunday night from, well, a snakebite he got in church. All this without simply going native and losing his detachment and objectivity. Bible verses related to snake handling from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order mark 16. I have seen interesting documentaries about snake handling and i will definitely look for the book you recommended. Although the vast majority of later greek manuscripts contain mark 16. And they will take up snakes, and if they should drink lethal poison, it will not harm them, and they will place their hands on the sick and they will be healed. Although it appears in the king james and new king james versions, many other translations either label this section as an appendix or leave it in the footnotes, as does the revised standard version of the bible. A glimpse into the snake handling churches of appalachia. If we assume, despite the evidence to the contrary, that mark 16. Custody of snakebite orphans split between grandparents cnn. Chronologically, the gospel of mark was the first of the four gospels, and the last 12 verses of mark are absent from the two earliest manuscripts. The practice began in the early 20th century in appalachia, spreading to mostly coal mining towns.
If these last verses of marks gospel were left out, the book would not come to an orderly conclusion, as does every other book of the bible. Laying aside disputes about how the ending of mark originally read, there is simply no basis in any reading of this passage original or otherwise for snake handling as an act of worship or a test of faith. Snake handling was made a felony punishable by death under georgia law in 1941, following the death of a sevenyearold of a rattlesnake bite. Snake handling or serpent handling is a religious ritual in a small number of pentecostal churches in the u. They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. Snake handling preachers death doesnt shake belief. Please come and place your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live. This story hits home with me because i have developed a sincere appreciation of snakehandling churches thanks to the show. Jan 02, 2020 snake handling is one such example of a dubious concept drawn from mark 16.
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