# snake handlers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455 "2000-09-25T13:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/21 "2000-09-26T17:58:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomas \* > **. . . these religious groups are in fact Pentecostal, not “Christian Fundamentalists” as so many on this board are so quick to sling that moniker. . . .** These churches are _not_ Christian fundamentalist? Please explain. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomas \* > **If one were to lump all homosexuals as “queers” on this board, the uproar would be deafening. . . .** And please enlighten us in this regard also. Which subset of homosexuals would _you_ accurately describe as “queers”? ---
**Author:** ![tomas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tomas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomas)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/22 "2000-09-26T21:38:45Z")
lissener- Here is a website for Christian Fundamentalists. You will not find any snake handlers, holy rollers, or people “talking in tongues” like you will at a Pentecostal ceremony. The pentecosts do test their faith with snakes, not all of them though. My point is not to paint fundamentalists with a broad brush, while they do adhere to a literal interpretation of what they deem christianity to be they do not resort to the cult-like atmosphere of a pentecostal ceremony. [http://www.gentle.com/](http://www.gentle.com/) As to your second query, I used this example to show how using emotionally charged labels deflects from the discussion. Thank you for proving my point. ---
**Author:** ![tomas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tomas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomas)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/23 "2000-09-26T21:47:15Z")
Sorry , try this [http://www.gentle.org](http://www.gentle.org) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/24 "2000-09-26T21:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomas \* > **. . . My point is not to paint fundamentalists with a broad brush . . .** No, your point is not to paint fundamentalism with a narrow brush: the word _fundamentalism_ is a _very_ broad brush, which includes churches like those in this thread. You want it to exclude them, which it does not. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/25 "2000-09-26T21:59:52Z")
Sorry, try this: > **[Dictionary.com Is The World’s Favorite Online Dictionary](https://www.dictionary.com)** > > Dictionary.com is the world’s leading online source for English definitions, pronunciations, word origins, idioms, Word of the Day, and more. ---
**Author:** ![tomas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tomas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomas)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/26 "2000-09-26T22:29:38Z")
lissener- I did a search on your link. No entries for Christian Fundamentalists or fundamentalists. Maybe the answer is not in a book but in the believer’s heart. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/27 "2000-09-26T22:38:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomas \* > **I did a search on your link. No entries for Christian Fundamentalists or fundamentalists. . . .** This is confusing. I typed in the word “fundamentalist” and got [this](http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=fundamentalist): “A movement or point of view characterized by rigid adherence to fundamental or basic principles.” > [@](#): > > _continued_ > \*\*. . . Maybe the answer is not in a book but in the believer’s heart. \*\* Oh, puh-LEEZE. You’re finding it in your _heart_ to deny that a word means what Webster’s records as its definition? Fine, you belong to a group of Fundamentalists\* who choose to disavow any relationship to Pentecostals. That doesn’t change the _fact_ that the churches being discussed in this thread fall very firmly under the definition of the word _fundamentalist._ [sub]\* Please note when I capitalize this word and when I do not.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/28 "2000-09-26T23:05:35Z")
You can modify a snake. Drain the venom before you let it bite you. Also there are other ways to make the bite safe. Walking on hot coals has been discussed before, that too is a semi-trick. ---
**Author:** ![tomas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tomas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomas)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/29 "2000-09-27T01:32:21Z")
The snake that bit my wife’s uncle, was a fully venemous diamond-back rattler. He locked himself in a room of the church, bloated , turned black and died. He was the leader of the congregation. He claimed that his faith would save him. This man left behind a wonderful wife and three young children. I never claimed to be a fundamentalist christian, nor do I have cause to defend either. I just happen to personally know people from both factions. There is a GRAVE difference. I’ve given you plenty of additional ammo,listener, feel free to attack again if it makes you feel superior. You don’t know my religious affilliation. It is my soul to share with whom I see fit. Believe me, I am much closer to that snake than the fundies. I will not be baited. I will not attack you. ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/30 "2000-09-27T18:40:50Z")
ishmintingas, cool song. You said you got it from a book that psychoanalyzed blues songs. So is it about impotence? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/31 "2000-09-27T19:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomas \* > **. . . feel free to attack again if it makes you feel superior. . . .** :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/32 "2000-09-28T02:41:52Z")
Is it about impotence? Hardly. It’s about the engorged phallus as an implacable force of nature. It connects directly back to the raw primordial awe of sexual power . . . why Hindus worship the _lingam_ and _yoni_, why Tantra is a path to the Divine, why snakes are symbols of such immense mojo. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455/33 "2000-09-28T03:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a passage in the bible that says that if you believe in Jesus and you drink poison or handle poisonous snakes, you will not be hurt, Steve Irwin,the Croc Hunter, must be one seriously believing SOB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handlers/34455.md?page=1)