Topic: Snake handling pastor - dead of snakebite

[Jack R.]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/serpent-handling-pastor-profiled-earlier-in-washington-post-dies-from-rattlesnake-bite/2012/05/29/gJQAJef5zU_story.html?hpid=z8

[worldslaziestbusker]

While this death shows American snakes aren't to be trifled with, I think handling snakes as a demonstration of faith would be more impressive if it involved picking up an adult brown snake that's been lying in the afternoon sunshine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.  Come on, faithers, get out in the remote regions of buttfuck nowhere and show the world what you're made of*.


* Meat and blood vessels and organs that fail in the face of texilotoxin.

[Citizen Skeptic]

I was just getting ready to do a little work around outside today and no sooner do I start and a snake comes slithering out of the bushes. Scared the beejeezus out of me. There are ratlers out this time of year around the neighborhood.

I decided to order a pair of snake gaiters. Figured they'd be cheaper than a snake bite.

[Unlimited]

According to the bible the only reason he would of died is because he wasn't a believer. Closet atheists. Dont - handle - snakes.

[AQB24712]

This happened about ten miles from where I grew up.  I really didn't know there were snake-handling churches in Mercer County (and I sure as hell never went to one); I thought the practice had pretty much died out but for a small congregation in McDowell County.  I also am kind of flummoxed, and distressed, that snake-handling is still legal in West Virginia.

Here's the story from the local paper,, which includes links to videos of Mack Wolford conducting services and handling snakes.  Here's a follow-up story from the same paper.  And this story has comments from folks in Matoaka, where this happened, as well as Jolo, the community in McDowell County that became somewhat famous because of Dennis Covington's book about snake-handling churches, Salvation on Sand Mountain.  I own a copy; it's a really interesting book.

[H. Drummond]

Oh, my!  I have heard of snake-handlers, but didn't realize the practice was legal anywhere.  Do snake-handlers not believe in getting medical aid once they've been bitten?  It sounds like this guy lingered for several hours before he died, and I'm guessing that prompt medical intervention might have saved his life.  Is that part of the test of faith - whether you can survive a bite without help?

[MikeHz]

Obviously, his faith faltered at the wrong moment.

[James]

Its times like this that I wish snakes had limbs so I could give that rattler a high-five!  Seems his Dad died the same way some 20 years earlier, awesome!

[Jolimont]

Thinning of the herd.

[seaotter]

Shows just how not trying to kill our dumb asses our snakes are. You can pick them up dance around singing and talking in tongues and they will pretty much go with that. Unfortunately dumb ass preacher started going over pascals wadger and well there is only so much bullshit a rattler can take.

[seaotter]

Snake Handlers at Jolo, West Virginia

Totally know these folks. Can you imagine that god is so important to you that you let your son hold a rattler and swig some stricknine?

[Lukas]

This family should get honored by a Lifetime Darwin Award.

[Calinthalus]

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:5-7

[Citizen Skeptic]

there is only so much bullshit a rattler can take.

Best point yet.

[MikeHz]

This family should get honored by a Lifetime Darwin Award.

Ironic, giving the Darwin Award to Creationists, as these folks surly are. I'm sure the guy could be nominated.