Whats ur oppinion on the symbolic significance of snakes

Snakes are some of the oldest symbols ever. sometimes they are seen as good and sometimes seen as evil. A example of good is when a snake acted as a guardian for buddha while he meditated. A obvious example of evil is the snake in the story of the garden of eden.

what do snakes strike you more as. good or evil? :snake:

Good. They're also a symbol in medicine...don't know exactly what it means.

Neither. I don't believe in that concept that anything should inherantly be good or evil. It's an animal. I find it's use as evil or good to be a non-issue, since it's how it's used, same as a puppy licking a little kids face vs a vicious snarling beast dog lunging at you images. Totally different ends of the spectrum, same basic animal.

I agree, I've never thought of animals as having any sort of good or evil alliance. It's an animal.

I think that in western culture, snakes are viewed in a more negative light given the biblical imagery, even though I still believe this goes against the idea that God created all creatures. Just because the devil took the form of a serpent does not mean we need to fear all serpents.

What if he took the form of a bird? Would those who akin snakes to the devil, and who instead believe that birds are evil because the devil took on the form of a bird, be running for the house when birds flew over head?

In some Buddhist beliefs, a story tells; once when Buddha was meditating, there was a huge storm, and a giant Cobra opened its hood over Buddha to protect him from the storm, so he could continue meditating.

Also, in some Buddhist sites in East Asia, there are statues or other depictions of guardian deities in the form of snakes, as snakes are often fierce in protecting and holding their ground.

so Good. :)

Depends on the culture. They represent good in some and evil in others. For me personally, they represent neither.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Neither. I don't believe in that concept that anything should inherantly be good or evil. It's an animal. I find it's use as evil or good to be a non-issue, since it's how it's used, same as a puppy licking a little kids face vs a vicious snarling beast dog lunging at you images. Totally different ends of the spectrum, same basic animal.

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Thanks. Now I have Gogol Bordello stuck in my head!

*sings* "It is easier to see evil as entity, not as condition inside you and me..."

ANYWHO... I would have to agree that I personally think of them as good but in western culture they seem to looked at as a symbol of evil. To me it's pretty rediculous seeing as how they eat rodents, which destroy crops and are generally seen as "filthy and disease carrying". Of course I also disagree with that as I have had many pet rats that I loved dearly.

Neither, when I think of good and evil I think of human characteristics, not animal’s.

Neither

I don't think they represent eighter. They are simply an animal no different that worms or they family pooch.