# Snake Handling Pastor Bitten; Dies-Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656 "2012-05-31T14:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/41 "2012-06-01T06:05:20Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Garter snakes [can become poisonous](http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/animals/newt.htm) through ingestion of newts. Since that article was written, it has also been discovered that garter snakes are venomous, as well. > **[Garter snake | Venom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake#Venom)** > > Garter snakes were long thought to be non-venomous, but discoveries in the early 2000s revealed that they produce a neurotoxic venom. Despite this, garter snakes cannot seriously injure or kill humans with the small amounts of comparatively mild venom they produce and they also lack an effective means of delivering it. In a few cases, some swelling and bruising has been reported. They do have enlarged teeth in the back of their mouths but their gums are significantly larger and the se Evidence su... They produce a mild neurotoxic venom that, fortunately, is quite harmless to humans. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/42 "2012-06-01T06:09:15Z")
In my experience, Pentecostals are known for “living ‘closter’ to the Word.” They believe in the literal truth of the Bible. The congregation believes in snake handling and drinking strychnine as a show of faith, although only some do it, and not only preachers. Some practice it off and on for years and survive. They all “speak in tongues” when so moved during a service. They also “dance in rapture,” if I’m not mistaken. (Pentecostals.) There are many offshoots of charasmatic churches. My high school best friend was a Holy Roller (can’t remember the exact name of her church. During ‘praying time’ it was a cacophany of gibberish but nobody ever rolled down the aisle, which disappointed me because I’d read about it in the World Book.) If a person grows up in a church like that they just believe it. If they learn different it’s still hard to break away. It’s my belief that the cocoon/womb sense of acceptance and safety within such a community is difficult to shed. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/43 "2012-06-01T06:57:40Z")
I think the guy who started the whole snake-handling thing died of a rattler bite. > [@madmonk28](#): > > I’ve read that snake handlers who get bit and survive build up some resistance to the venom over time, so that it gets easier. > > One of the reasons that he was holding the event was because the practice of snake handling is in decline. This publicity will probably not help revive it. IIRC, it’s a very small sect that does it anyways, so if that’s the case, bite on, little snakies, bite on! ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/44 "2012-06-01T07:52:31Z")
I thought snakes were unclean ever since the devil posed as one? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/45 "2012-06-01T11:21:35Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Sometimes religion is a fatal disease. At least in this case it was him who died, instead of him killing someone else by following his religion; choosing prayer over medicine for a child, say. > > A counter-nitpick to your nitpick! Actually, there are genuinely poisonous snakes; [one example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdophis_subminiatus). Cool. I will need to read the menu at the herp club banquets more closely in the future. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/46 "2012-06-01T12:11:31Z")
Some stupid things that come to mind: 1. And yet, what if a pregnant Pentecostalist handled a snake, survived the bite but miscarried? (I think I just arrrived at the Elegant Solution.) 1. What’s really disturbing is that these idiots still are more electable as POTUS than an atheist. 2. If you divide your time between producing movies in Hollywood, arranign financing in NYC, and handling snakes in WV, does that make you a Bi-coastal Pentecostal? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/47 "2012-06-01T13:08:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I think the guy who started the whole snake-handling thing died of a rattler bite. > > IIRC, it’s a very small sect that does it anyways, so if that’s the case, bite on, little snakies, bite on! There used to be more of them; I wonder what happened to them all? When I was a kid in Virginia, I heard about snake handlers in my grandparents town. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/48 "2012-06-01T17:57:36Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > There used to be more of them; I wonder what happened to them all? Snakes got busy! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/49 "2012-06-01T18:10:09Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > 1. What’s really disturbing is that these idiots still are more electable as POTUS than an atheist. Only if the Secret Service keeps them away from snakes during the campaign. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeBabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SnakeBabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeBabe)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/50 "2012-06-01T19:08:26Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Venomous snakes, people. Venomous. > No snake is poisonous, any snake can be eaten with no ill effect. Some do carry venom, which is a digestive fluid and not a poison. 😃 you gotta be a herper? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/51 "2012-06-05T15:23:33Z")
An interesting piece from [CNN.com](http://CNN.com)’s Belief Blog on snake-handling and Rev. Wolford’s death: [http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite](http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/52 "2012-06-05T15:41:49Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > An interesting piece from [CNN.com](http://CNN.com)’s Belief Blog on snake-handling and Rev. Wolford’s death: [http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite](http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite) Very interesting! Thanks for that link. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/53 "2012-06-05T16:08:11Z")
How many of those followers croak because of drinking strychnine? ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/54 "2012-06-05T17:49:45Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > How many of those followers croak because of drinking strychnine? > > ~VOW It lowers activity of glycine receptors. I wonder if they pound a bunch of activity increasing amino acids beforehand and drink dilute strychnine that it might make a good show. Stuff like glycine, alanine, or taurine (Red Bulls?) might help. Of course, strychnine might be so powerful that you’d have to ingest more amino acids than humanly possible, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/55 "2012-06-05T21:01:12Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > 1. What’s really disturbing is that these idiots still are more electable as POTUS than an atheist. Now there’s a debate I’d like to see. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/56 "2012-06-05T21:30:28Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > No snake is poisonous, any snake can be eaten with no ill effect. Hey, if I give you my wife’s e-mail address, can you send this to her? ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/57 "2012-06-05T22:02:53Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > An interesting piece from [CNN.com](http://CNN.com)’s Belief Blog on snake-handling and Rev. Wolford’s death: [http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite](http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?iref=obinsite) It’s a good thing I’m not a believer, because that article caused me to take the Lord’s name in vain more than I’ve ver done in a ten-minute period before. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/58 "2012-06-06T04:02:11Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > Now there’s a debate I’d like to see. And so you shall!: [Would a snake-handler be more electable as POTUS than an atheist? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=654273) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/59 "2012-06-06T06:19:29Z")
The book _Salvation on Sand Mountain_ is about “snake-handling” churches and a pastor who tried to kill his wife by having a rattlesnake bite her. The events in the book took place near where I grew up in Alabama. The incident generated a lot of media coverage at the time (at least in Alabama). > **[Salvation on Sand Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salvation_on_Sand_Mountain)** > > Salvation on Sand Mountain is a 1995 nonfiction book by Dennis Covington. The storyline follows the author as he goes from covering the trial of Glenn Summerford to experiencing a snake handling church in Appalachia. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award. > The book, which is written in the first person, begins in a neutral, journalistic style and becomes more emotional as the author is drawn to the people and practices of the church. It can be described as a memoir of the author's e... ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656/60 "2012-06-07T20:34:18Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > I thought snakes were unclean ever since the devil posed as one? They’re only “unclean” in the same sense as they aren’t kosher- it’s all the same level of ritual uncleanliness. Technically, a Christian following that particular set of laws shouldn’t pat a dog, handle pork, have sex with a woman who’s menstruating, etc. Slightly off-topic: I walked away from what would’ve been a Pit-worthy argument once with a Christian woman banging on about how evil, cruel and inhuman all Muslims must be because their extremists are forbidden to touch dogs. I commented once, explaining the logic behind the rule, and she started saying that I must be some stupid uneducated heathen who “thinks terrorists read the Torah”. As a matter of fact, albeit in a very, very altered form, they likely do. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-pastor-bitten-dies-why/623656.md?page=4)