Search Results for: snake handler

Man rescues Indian cobra trapped in a fishing net, gives it a big drink of water

The Indian or spectacled cobra (Naja naja) is widespread in South Asia, and is the “classical” cobra that Westerners are familiar with from wildlife shows, movies, Kipling stories, etc. The one shown in this video got itself trapped in a fishing net. Fortunately, a skilled snake handler was around and, after giving the snake a … Continue reading Man rescues Indian cobra trapped in a fishing net, gives it a big drink of water

Another beef from Grania: UK ministers pray for Prince George to either be gay or straight

Grania says this about a new Guardian article: “Here’s a facepalm of the day. Hard to say which one of these fine religious leaders needs their head smacked hardest.” Here’s that article: Prince George (of Cambridge), of course, is the only son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now “Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge,” and he’s … Continue reading Another beef from Grania: UK ministers pray for Prince George to either be gay or straight

Religion poisons everything: Another snake-handler bites the dust

I’ve published a fair few posts on the bizarre American religious practice of snake-handling, which rests on Biblical admonitions to “take up serpents” and its assurance that the sufficiently faithful are immune to venom. And many of these posts have been on the death of Pentecostal snake-handlers after being bitten. Now another snake-handler, Kentuckian Jamie … Continue reading Religion poisons everything: Another snake-handler bites the dust

Snake handlers not charged for violating state law; “religious freedom” cited

One of the peculiarities of American evangelical Christianity is the bizarre practice of “snake handling” by some Southern sects. I’ve posted about this several times (see here, here, and here); the practice, which involves handling venomous snakes (usually rattlesnakes) is based on two Biblical verses: And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my … Continue reading Snake handlers not charged for violating state law; “religious freedom” cited

Girl orphaned by snake-handling parents writes in

The other day I published a post about a snake-handling Pentecostal Christian, Jamie Coots, who was recently killed by a rattler in a Kentucky Church in the service of Jesus. I also posted a link to a video showing yet another woman, Melinda Brown, killed in 1995 in the same church doing the same thing. … Continue reading Girl orphaned by snake-handling parents writes in

My snake-handling piece in The New Republic, and a note

Just for the record, The New Republic has republished (with some changes) my website piece on the refusal of a Tennessee grand jury to indict a snake handler despite his blatant violation of the law. My revised piece is called “Snake handler not charged with abusing animals thanks to Tennessee definition of ‘religious freedom’.” While … Continue reading My snake-handling piece in The New Republic, and a note

Another Ball State professor proves an embarrassment, and a BSU student says I’m motivated by Satan

I’m starting to give up hope for Ball State University.  I once thought that Professor Eric Hedin, with his Jesus-and-Intelligent-Design-pushing science course, complete with its “No Monkey Gods” brand of Christian apologetics, was an aberration, and that he’d be criticized by his colleagues. No dice. While BSU has convened a panel to investigate Hedin’s course, … Continue reading Another Ball State professor proves an embarrassment, and a BSU student says I’m motivated by Satan

Another snake handler goes home to Jesus

This lunacy is still going on in America! According to yesterday’s Washington Post, yet another snake-handler has bit the dust—or rather gone back to dust via a bite: Mack Wolford, a flamboyant Pentecostal pastor from West Virginia whose serpent-handling talents were profiled last November in The Washington Post Magazine, hoped the outdoor service he had … Continue reading Another snake handler goes home to Jesus