Evidence for God from Science

Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

An issue of faith?
Or, an issue of the problems of misinterpreting scripture?

Goes to show that it isn't a good idea to test God. Just because He is able to save a person from an angry snake that they're deliberately provoking doesn't mean that He will.

Ignoring TR vs. W&H textual controversy, Yes to misinterpreting Scripture and Yes to testing God being foolish. In Acts 28, Paul didn't seek for a snake to bite him or keep a poisonous pet snake to put the bite on him.

RickD wrote:Snake-handling Ky. pastor dies from snake bite

An issue of faith?
Or, an issue of the problems of misinterpreting scripture?

Stupidity ...

That's what happens when one tempts God...
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Guess they need to bold those footnotes on the last verses in Mark being in question? Or add a disclaimer: "Don't try this at home ... or work, church, ANYWHERE!"



Who's NEXT?

Although I think that this idea of handling venomous snakes (per the questionable verses at the end of Mark) is a false belief not based on true Scripture - and that it is putting God to a foolish test. I do find it interesting that FAR more of such pastors aren't fatally bitten, FAR more often.

I'm sure that many of these many are true, sincere Christians, even if not Scripturally accurate in what they believe about this practice. So, did God protect them to some degree - and for many, for a very long time before something fatal happened? Did God give them chances to see their error - showing much grace and protection to them (in their false belief in the practice) before finally allowing fatal consequences? Bet they can't wait until the child isn't harmed by the viper?

It's probably because theyre using Rattlesnakes and Vipers, which have venom that is much more often than not, not fatal. If they were to use a Taipan or a Black Mamba, that would be REAL demonstration of faith.

It's probably because theyre using Rattlesnakes and Vipers, which have venom that is much more often than not, not fatal. If they were to use a Taipan or a Black Mamba, that would be REAL demonstration of faith.

Yep, those are what are called "one-step and two-step" snakes - meaning, after one bites you, that's about as far as you may get before you drop.

Back when I worked in the zoological field, I knew a herpetologist who put himself through college and graduate school breeding and selling some of the most deadly snakes in the world - Gabon vipers, rhinoceros vipers, cobras. I went over to his house one day and I noticed all of these big heavy rocks on top of all of his cages. Asked why, he told me that he could instantly see across a room if a rock had fallen (meaning there had been an escape), but he couldn't check a lock without going over to take a close look. Man, I used to keep snakes myself (none "hot"), but I wouldn't have spent one, single night in that house!

What kind of nutjob keeps snakes as pets?

What makes a snake a desireable pet? Oh! please don't think I'm judging anyone! I respect everybody's right to have the pet he wants! I'm just curious: Is it possible to have a relationship with a pet snake akin to the relationship one would have with a dog or a cat?

Thank you so much for your attention and I do appreciate you taking the time to read my question!

FL

FL wrote:
What makes a snake a desireable pet? Oh! please don't think I'm judging anyone! I respect everybody's right to have the pet he wants! I'm just curious: Is it possible to have a relationship with a pet snake akin to the relationship one would have with a dog or a cat?

Actually boas and pythons love to sneak out of their cage at night, and climb into bed with young children. It seems boas and pythons love to "cuddle".

RickD wrote:

FL wrote:
What makes a snake a desireable pet? Oh! please don't think I'm judging anyone! I respect everybody's right to have the pet he wants! I'm just curious: Is it possible to have a relationship with a pet snake akin to the relationship one would have with a dog or a cat?

Actually boas and pythons love to sneak out of their cage at night, and climb into bed with young children. It seems boas and pythons love to "cuddle".

Yes! a python got out of its cage and loved two children to death a few months ago! I think this took place in Campbelltown, New Brunswick.

FL

Philip wrote:

It's probably because theyre using Rattlesnakes and Vipers, which have venom that is much more often than not, not fatal. If they were to use a Taipan or a Black Mamba, that would be REAL demonstration of faith.

Yep, those are what are called "one-step and two-step" snakes - meaning, after one bites you, that's about as far as you may get before you drop.

Back when I worked in the zoological field, I knew a herpetologist who put himself through college and graduate school breeding and selling some of the most deadly snakes in the world - Gabon vipers, rhinoceros vipers, cobras. I went over to his house one day and I noticed all of these big heavy rocks on top of all of his cages. Asked why, he told me that he could instantly see across a room if a rock had fallen (meaning there had been an escape), but he couldn't check a lock without going over to take a close look. Man, I used to keep snakes myself (none "hot"), but I wouldn't have spent one, single night in that house!

Nice! I'd love to see that place, those are some awesome snake types. It also sounds like he has a death wish keeping those in his house x_x

Furstentum Liechtenstein wrote:What makes a snake a desireable pet? Oh! please don't think I'm judging anyone! I respect everybody's right to have the pet he wants! I'm just curious: Is it possible to have a relationship with a pet snake akin to the relationship one would have with a dog or a cat?

I used to have a lot of pet snakes when I was younger. It's definitely more of a "they're interesting and fun to look at" relationship than a "mans best friend" type.
They're a pain to take care of too...

As you can tell by my avatar, I love snakes.

My very first "apartment" after I moved away from my parent's home, I rented one side of a lady's house. I had my own entrance. Against my dad's advice, I took my boa constrictor and my king snake and kept them in this lady's house. She was 90 and didn't know I had them, or she would have NEVER rented to me. Heck, I was lucky she didn't realize I had a long ponytail that I hid under a collar shirt, the day I signed the lease. Few months after I'd been there, I was cleaning out my snakes' aquarium and had put them in the bathtub. I thought it was too slippery for them to gain traction to escape. They were in there, at most, two minutes, while I was in the other room. The King Snake got out ... SOMEWHERE?

I ripped the place apart, looked under rugs, behind pictures on the wall - EVERYWHERE - but no snake. My dilemma was that I well knew that it very likely could have crawled under the door to my landlady's side of the house. So, I'm thinking, "do I tell her?" I figured she'd have a heart attack if she saw it, even is she was aware it was missing. And if she didn't know - same deal, right? Of course I would be kicked out, whatever. Maybe manslaughter if she died from a heart attack? For WEEKS I would check my pants before putting them on in the mornings. I would come home and throw open the door, just hoping I'd find it. About a month later, came home and there he was, in the kitchen. VERY hungry - he struck at me. Probably because I lunged to grab him before he could escape. So my gamble of not telling my landlady paid off. Pretty smart, eh? Eh? Anyone???

Holy moly...

What type of kingsnake was it?

Not to mention Mark 16:16 onwards isn't precisly in the oldest manuscripts. And even if it would be, still its never says to pick up snakes.