Editing Snake handling in Christianity (section)

== Common doctrines ==

=== Biblical foundation and "signs following" ===
Practitioners believe serpent handling dates to antiquity and quote the [[Gospel of Mark]] ([[Mark 16|chapter 16]]) and the [[Gospel of Luke]] to support the practice:
{{blockquote|
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.|{{bibleverse|Luke|10:19|KJV}}}}

Churches that practice snake handling and drinking poison as a demonstration of the strength of their faith during [[Church service|worship service]]s frequently describe themselves with the phrase "with sign following"; this is based on a literal interpretation of the following biblical passage which they cite for biblical validation:
{{blockquote|
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.|{{bibleverse|Mark|16:17-18|KJV}}}}

These passages are part of the [[Mark 16#Longer ending of Mark (verse 9-20)|longer ending of Mark]] which many biblical scholars regard as a [[Mark 16#Longer ending|later addition]] to the manuscript tradition and it is noted as such in many modern translations of the Bible, such as the [[New International Version]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|16:8-20|NIV}}</ref> However, the longer ending is part of the [[Textus Receptus|received text]] and the [[Mark 16#Canonical status|canonical status]] of these passages is rarely disputed.

Another passage from the [[New Testament]] used to support snake handlers' beliefs is {{bibleverse|Acts|28:1-6|KJV}}, which relates that Paul was bitten by a venomous viper and suffered no harm:
{{blockquote|
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.}}

Only snake-handling churches interpret these passages as a call to handle serpents, while others dispute these interpretations.<ref name="cgg" />{{better source needed|date=December 2021}}

=== Practices ===
As in the early days, worshipers are still encouraged to [[Laying on of hands|lay hands on the sick]], [[Glossolalia|speak in tongues]], provide [[Testimony#Religion|testimony]] of [[miracle]]s, and occasionally consume poisons such as [[strychnine]].<ref name= Covington>{{citation |last=Covington |first=Dennis |author-link=Dennis Covington |title=Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia |location=Reading, MA |publisher=Addison-Wesley |year=1995}}</ref> Worship services usually include singing, praying, [[speaking in tongues]], and preaching. The front of the church, behind the pulpit, is the designated area for handling snakes. [[Rattlesnake]]s, [[Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen|cottonmouths]], and [[Agkistrodon contortrix|copperheads]] (venomous snakes native to North America) are the most common, but even [[cobra]]s have been used. During the service, believers may approach the front and pick up the snakes, usually raising them into the air and sometimes allowing the snakes to slither on their bodies. Handling the snakes is not compulsory for those attending services. Some believers will also engage in drinking poison (most commonly [[strychnine]]) at this time.

Although individual incidents may actually be understood in a variety of ways, those who die from snakebites are never criticized for lack of adequate faith; it is believed that it was simply the deceased's time to die.<ref name=Duin>{{cite news |last1=Duin |first1=Julia |title=In WVA, Snake Handling is still considered a sign of faith |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/in-wva-snake-handling-is-still-considered-a-sign-of-faith/2011/10/18/gIQAmiqL9M_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref> Bitten believers usually do not seek medical help, but look to God for their healing.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} They fully believe that adherents need to handle the snakes as a demonstration of their having the Holy Spirit within. Darlene Summerford, when asked how it felt to handle venomous serpents, replied, "It's just knowing you got power over them snakes".<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|43}} 
And, if they get bitten by the snake, then they lack the true Spirit.<ref name=Covington/>{{rp|3}} Moreover, if they are bitten, then the congregation prays over them.<ref name=Covington/> If they die, then God intended for that to happen.<ref name=Duin/><ref name=Covington/>