Editing Snake handling in Christianity (section)

{{Short description|Christian churches that practice snake handling and drinking poison}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Full citations needed|date=September 2021}}

[[File:Handling serpents at the Pentecostal Church of God. (Kentucky) by Russell Lee. - NARA - 541335.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Snake handling at the [[Church of God with Signs Following]] at [[Lejunior, Kentucky|Lejunior]] in [[Harlan County, Kentucky]], 15 September 1946 ([[National Archives and Records Administration|NARA]]). Photo by [[Russell Lee (photographer)|Russell Lee]].]]
'''Snake handling''', also called '''serpent handling''', is a religious [[Rite (Christianity)|rite]] observed in a small number of isolated churches, mostly in the [[United States]], usually characterized as [[rural]] and part of the [[Holiness movement]]. The practice began in the early 20th century in [[Appalachia]] and plays only a small part in the church service. Participants are [[Holiness movement|Holiness]], or [[Pentecostals]]. The beliefs and practices of the movement have been documented in several films and have been the impetus for a number of state laws related to the handling of venomous animals.