Snake Handling

• Regional: North America: United States: Regions: Appalachia: Society and Culture: Religion  (6)
• Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Churches of God: Church of God - Cleveland, Tennessee  (159)
• Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Denominations: Pentecostalism  (1,531)

If God Was a Rattlesnake, Would You Pick it Up? :

- Review of the book 'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia' and general discussion of the practice.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Snake Handlers :

- Article on the practice, with photo and bibliography.
Serpent Handling at Jolo, West Virginia and the Legitimacy of the Marcan Appendix :

- Article by Howard Dorgan.
Snake Handlers and the Law :

- Information about laws applicable to religious snake handling in several Appalachian jurisdictions.
Snake Handling :

- Skeptics' analysis of the practice of snake handling, including the scriptural basis and an explanation of why participants are seldom bitten.
Snake Handling :

- Brief history of the practice and its theological basis, by Dr. R. Alan Streett.
Snake Handling Pentecostal Sects :

- Collection of news articles related to snake handling.
Snakebite Kills Preacher: Should Snake Handlers Be Subject to Prosecution? :

- Snakebite kills local preacher and the press asks, Should snake handlers be subject to prosecution?
Sound Portraits: John Brown, Jr., Serpent Handler :

- Radio documentary recording the words of a preacher who later died from a snake bite. Includes audio file and transcript.
Taking Up Serpents: A History of Snake Handling :

- Publisher's synopsis of a scholarly book about the practice, by David Kimbrough.
Wikipedia: Church of God with Signs Following :

- Article about the Pentecostal holiness churches which practice snake handling.
CBS News: Woman Dies After Snakebite In Church, Kentucky Woman Killed After Being Bitten During Serpent-Handling Service :

- Linda Long, 48, died after being bitten by a snake during a serpent-handling service at church in London, Kentucky. Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in the state. (November 7, 2006)
Snake Handlers Hang On in Appalachian Churches :

- Article by Brian Handwerk for National Geographic. (April 7, 2003)
Augusta Chronicle: Taking Up Serpents :

- Article about an incident in which a pastor was bitten and hospitalized also includes an overview of the Holiness snake-handling movement. (June 28, 1996)