Comments on: Snake-handling pastor arrested

By: Janet Greene

Janet Greene — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:11:07 +0000

At least this pastor was just handling his own snake, unlike many catholic priests.

By: james

james — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:27:30 +0000

You know that that bit of the bible isn’t even in the original versions!!! Mark 16:9-20 is a later addition; the oldest surviving copies of the bible don’t have it (eg. Codex Sinaiticus).

By: Metro

Metro — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:09:14 +0000

Just wondering whether there’s any way to spread snake-handling to all theists. Evolution would accelerate slightly.

By: Daniel Florien

Daniel Florien — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:26:44 +0000

That may be true for some Christians, but many don’t know much about textual criticism. If they did, I doubt most of them would still be Christians, because it’s a mess. It’s still in everyone’s bibles, and they would have a hard time understanding why something would be in “God’s Word” when it wasn’t supposed to be there.

But you are right, some of the more sophisticated folks would argue that it wasn’t in there in the first place. Of course, there’s still plenty of nonsense that they can’t say that for, nor would they want to.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:04:54 +0000

This passage in Mark isn’t a problem for Bible believing Christians, because Mark 16:9-20 is a latter addition. Almost any modern Bible translation based on a critical text will actually say this, e.g. my copy of the NIV says “The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do no have Mark 16:19-20.” And this is not in a footnote, but is right in the middle of the page. This passage is only an issue with those fringe Christians who think the Textus Receptus is inerrant and the King James translators were inspired.

Note: I’m a former Christian, turned atheist/pantheist. I’m not claiming the Bible is inspired or inerrant. It’s just that using these passages against Christians is about as bad as a Creationist asking, “If evolution happened, then why are there still monkeys?”

By: trj

trj — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:07:03 +0000

Those poor snakes.

By: Mark M

Mark M — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:04:41 +0000

In sociology class once, we were shown a documentary about the snake handler cult, “Holy Ghost People,” filmed around 1967. Apparently it’s a rite a passage for a young snake handler to drink their first draught of Drano or strychnine. Kind of like first communion for a Catholic, but with a kick.

So while your favorite snake handler or annoying Fundie might not take you up specifically on cyanide, they’re quite prepared to chug poison for Jeezuss.

The docu is currently available online at http://www.archive.org/download/HolyGhostPeople/HolyGhost1.mp4

By: Selling Myself

Selling Myself — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:26:12 +0000

I concur with Paul T, Ray Comfort along with his buddy Kirk Cameron. They seem to know it all. Perhaps a little cyanide will take them into the next realm of knowledge and faith.

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/

By: Paul T

Paul T — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:46:01 +0000

I think Ray Comfort should be the first to take up your challenge. He is arrogantly ignorant enough to believe it is true.