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Although outlawed in many states, serpent handling remains an active religious practice--and one that is far more stereotyped than understood. Ralph W. Hood, Jr. and W. Paul Williamson have spent fifteen years touring serpent-handling churches in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, conducting scores of interviews with serpent handlers, and witnessing hundreds of serpent-handling services. In this illuminating book they present the most in-depth, comprehensive study of serpent handling to date. Them That Believe not only explores facets of this religious practice--including handling, preaching, and the near-death experiences of individuals who were bitten but survived--but also provides a rich analysis of this phenomenon from historical, social, religious, and psychological perspectives.
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Them That Believe
Them That Believe The Power and Meaning of the Christian Serpent-Handling Tradition
Ralph W. Hood Jr. W. Paul Williamson
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Berkeley .
Los Angeles .
London
Every effort has been made to identify and locate the rightful copyright holders of all material not specifically commissioned for use in this publication and to secure permission, where applicable, for reuse of all such material. Credit, if and as available, has been provided for all borrowed material either on-page, on the copyright page, or in an acknowledgment section of the book. Errors, omissions, or failure to obtain authorization with respect to material copyrighted by other sources has been either unavoidable or unintentional. The authors and publisher welcome any information that would allow them to correct future reprints. University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. For acknowledgments of permissions, please see page 285. University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England © 2008 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hood, Ralph W. Them that believe : the power and meaning of the Christian serpent-handling tradition / Ralph W. Hood Jr. and W. Paul Williamson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-520-23147-4 (cloth : alk. paper) isbn 978-0-520-25587-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Snake cults (Holiness churches). 2. Serpents— Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Williamson, W. Paul (William Paul). II. Title. BX7990.H6H66 2008 289.9—dc22
2008010509
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This book is printed on Natures Book, which contains 50% post-consumer waste and meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R 1997) (Permanence of Paper).
We dedicate this book to John Brown Sr. and his family, who strive to live out their faith, as did “Punkin” and Melinda, to the fullest measure.
Contents
List of Illustrations
ix
List of Tables
xi
Preface 1. “They Shall Take up Serpents”
xiii 1
2. The History of Pentecostalism Absent the Serpent
13
3. The Media and the Man: George Went Hensley
37
4. Serpent Handling Endorsed by the Church of God
52
5. The Serpent: Sign and Symbol
79
6. Trance States: Tongues Speaking and the Anointing
102
7. Extemporaneous Sermons in th