How do snake handlers handle snakes?

Serpent handlers — they prefer “serpent” to “snake” — belong to one of several evangelical churches in the Pentecostal tradition, most prominently the Church of God with Signs Following [source: Lewis]. They use no tools to handle snakes [sources: Handwerk].

Why don t snakes bite snake handlers?

Pennington said snake handlers do not operate under the assumption snakes will never bite them. “They do it simply as an act of obedience,” he said. Handlers, he said, have an understanding that unless they feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they are not to pick up the serpent.

Why do people hold snakes by the tail?

Most snakes lack the muscles to be able to curl up and bite your hand; however, they can thrash and squirm enough to easily catch you on another area of the body. Holding a snake by its tail elicits a panic response from the serpent and will make it more likely to strike.

Why do people hold snakes?

Snake handling, also called serpent handling, is a religious rite observed in a small number of isolated churches, mostly in the United States, usually characterized as rural and part of the Holiness movement. The practice began in the early 20th century in Appalachia and plays only a small part in the church service.

Do all Pentecostals handle snakes?

The tradition of snake-handling in some Pentecostal churches is almost as old as the movement. Today, it is practiced in independent congregations in rural Appalachia. Mainstream denominations reject the practice.

What religion believes in snake handling?

Practiced by a small fraction of rural charismatic Protestants, snake handling is often identified with the Church of God with Signs Following or other holiness churches.

What do snake handlers believe?

In Kentucky, snake handlers conduct baptisms in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They’re called “Trinity” believers, and they mostly refuse to visit doctors when bitten by a snake. “If God allows a snake to bite you, they expect everything to go through its natural course,” Kimbrough says.

What does it mean when a snake raises its head?

“If he lifts his head five to 10 centimetres off the ground, his neck will flatten out like a cobra [and] in certain circumstances, you can hear an audible hiss.” Mr Darch said if that warning hiss did not work, a snake would prepare itself to strike.

Can you grab a snake by the neck?

You should never grab a snake by the neck, as this could cause serious injury and may make the snake struggle and bite you.

Can snakes sense fear in humans?

It is a myth that snakes can sense fear in humans. However, since snakes have an extraordinary sense of smell, they might be able to sense a difference between a relaxed human and a fearful human. Snakes do not respond to fear in humans unless they feel threatened by unpredictable human movements.

Who started snake handling?

George
The practice of snake handling, which adherents justify through biblical texts such as Mark 16:17–20 and Luke 10:19, was apparently begun in 1909 by one of the founders of the Church of God with Signs Following, George Went Hensley of Grasshopper Valley, Tennessee.

Do snake handlers pick up snakes they never bite?

Pennington said snake handlers do not operate under the assumption snakes will never bite them. “They do it simply as an act of obedience,” he said. Handlers, he said, have an understanding that unless they feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they are not to pick up the serpent.

Why do serpents handle venomous snakes?

Serpent handlers used to say they drank poison and handled venomous snakes to demonstrate God’s power to protect believers. “What meaning does this high-risk behavior have if you’re allowed to go to a doctor for the outcome?” he asks.

What is the history of snake handling?

Snake handling began near Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1910 when Pastor George Hensley said he was commanded by God to “take up serpents.”

How to handle a snake for the first time?

When handling a snake for the first time, it is safest to grasp just behind a snake’s head before lifting the rest of the body. Be gentle when handling any snakes. Some species must be handled with care, even though they are non-venomous, since they can be very aggressive.