Kentucky Pastor nearly died after snake bite...

Ummmmm...what the what!?!?!?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7040148...-in-blood/amp/

What the absolute... ????????????????

I've never heard if this and am now wishing I hadn't.
Somewhat surprised that I haven't heard of it before because if ever someone would be stereotypically crazy to do something like this it'd be Texas, I would think..

I didn't notice that it said what he got bit by, so I wonder what it was. (And who cares for the snakes between services... the pastor??)

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Ummm.......ok.

Old story but still no shortage of these freaking fools that handle venomous snakes and that think this is the way for them to test their God. :confusd:

I do feel sorry for the snakes, but the humans deserve whatever they get, & probably more, for being charter members of Densa.

Idiots! Let them get the Darwin Award.

Poor snakes!

Cult level terrifying lol

And I mean the people of course, not the snake bite.

Darwin missed... this time.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Darwin missed... this time.

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There will be plenty more chances. I mean practically every time these people make the news it mentions their parents/uncles/grandparents/etc having died from it. Or them having been bit before. They get away with it so many times because a) snakes aren't trying to kill people b)The snakes are often so mistreated they don't have the strength to fight back

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Originally Posted by Timelugia

There will be plenty more chances. I mean practically every time these people make the news it mentions their parents/uncles/grandparents/etc having died from it. Or them having been bit before. They get away with it so many times because a) snakes aren't trying to kill people b)The snakes are often so mistreated they don't have the strength to fight back

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Yes, for all we know the snakes get their only warmth from human handling...?

That makes me cringe so hard... :confusd:

I am all for the freedom of regional but some people twist it to their sick will looking @ this handling a hot with as much responsibility as three year that found his father's gun:confusd: how sad they didn't read their bible closer, like sister brides? Hopefully one day we will evolve to a higher level of compassion and understanding of each other and all life forms, till then we will have news like this:tears: we can hope

I saw a documentary on these US religious services. "I GOT ME A GOTDAMN RATTLESNAKE BOYAH!" [emoji23]

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Yeah, I remember hearing about this same guy a few years ago. Something about getting bit in the hand or maybe it was when his father died.

This same church has been around for quite a while.

And the fact that they're getting a documentary now. Hoo boy. I can only imagine how many copy cults will show up in time.

OK! This is my 2 cent on this topic... First off, it was a venomous snake he was handling. The snake was probably pissed off as anything due to the fact that it looks like this pastor was waving it around in the air as he was preaching. Now please dont get me wrong, I have nothing against different religions, but this really takes it to far. As a matter of fact, this really isn't church to me when you are bringing in a dangerous thing as a venomous snake...sounds maybe more like a cult. Let me ask you this, when was the last time you went to church and watched people knife themselves or burn themselves to death, let alone let a dangerous snake bite them.
It's stories like this that give the non venomous snakes a bad name. Many people read this and think "OMG" those things are monsters, why would people keep these in their homes!!!!!

That leads me to share a story with you that happened here in Toronto last week.. A man found a snake coming out of his vents in his apartment. It appeared to be a female ball python, but where did she come from? Seemed that there was a guy living in the same apartment who had many snakes in his place and somehow the ball python escaped. Now that news as gotten out into the public, everybody is all up in arms about keeping snakes. The By-Law officers come out and make new laws to follow and it just ruins it for the rest of us (responsible owners) that have these innocent creatures. In the end, it's not really the snakes that we need to worry about, it's the irresponsible owners that actually ruin it for everyone else. And for those who just have to have a big bad venomous snake, ask yourself why? If you answered because it is COOL! Then you most definitely DO NOT need to be owning such a snake... :twocents:

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Originally Posted by Jus1More

... And for those who just have to have a big bad venomous snake, ask yourself why? If you answered because it is COOL! Then you most definitely DO NOT need to be owning such a snake... :twocents:

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Totally agree. I kept a number of rattlesnakes for 20 (safe) years & I still like them a LOT, but it was never because they were venomous, only "in spite of" their venom.
I never wanted or intended to get into them, but there were "locals" that kept ending up in neighbor's yards & getting killed. Still, the first one I kept was "pre-owned"
and needed a new home: at first I said "no thanks" and at the time, I saw nothing attractive about them, compared to my beautiful corn snake! I'm just glad that I did
more research & re-considered the offer, as working with that first one made me comfortable enough to get involved with others. It was never about keeping them
intentionally...the only ones that stayed in captivity had either been captive too long to release (Fish & Game rules, to protect wild species from "exotic" pathogens that
captive snakes might introduce to wild populations that could wipe them out, the way the early settlers "shared" smallpox with the native Americans) or had overt health
issues that made them poor candidates to survive at all. Anyway, I ended up doing educational programs with the ones I kept, to help people understand & appreciate
them as an essential part of nature, & to help them stay safe with the locals. The folks who mess with them & call it their "religion" are several eggs short of a dozen...:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Anyway, I ended up doing educational programs with the ones I kept, to help people understand & appreciate
them as an essential part of nature, & to help them stay safe with the locals.

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I think we all need to educate our families, friends and neighbors about these amazing reptiles. For the most part, the snakes that most of us have in our collections are harmless!!! It's good that you took the time to educate the people about the snakes and hopefully some of them did walked away with a better understanding and appreciation. I would also hope there was acceptance of the snake too, but hey one step at a time!! :peace:

SO DUMB!

SO BAD FOR THE HOBBY!

Ugh, no Darwin award this time?

I couldn't watch the video, but I get where it is going. Horrifying! As in, HORRIFYINGLY STUPID!

They had a miniseries I used to watch. I remember when his dad got killed. I don't understand their beliefs. Why tempt fate? If you play with fire you get burned. If you carelessly free handle venomous snakes you get bit. It ain't rocket science people.

I don't want to get too into this but I just want to say that I'm a Christian that loves snakes.. but that is just pure stupidity. Please don't associate us all with them.. haha..

As a Christian I find this disturbing. Nothing new though. We've known about them for years. I was going to write something but this says it better. From Got Answers:

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Question: "What does the Bible say about snake handling? Should we be handling snakes in church?"

Answer: Snake handling, as practiced by some misguided churches, is not a biblical endeavor. Mark 16:17–18 is used by some as a basis for handling snakes: “These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will . . . pick up snakes with their hands.” Churches that practice snake handling have special services in which people actually handle venomous snakes, supposedly giving evidence that the church members are true believers who are empowered and protected by God. It’s true that Mark 16:17–18 says Jesus’ followers will “pick up snakes,” but there are several problems with the modern practice of snake handling.

First, the practice of handling snakes for the purpose of “proving” one’s faith (or proving God’s protection) is a violation of God’s command not to put Him to the test: “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7; cf. Deuteronomy 6:16). Trying to force God’s hand by requiring that He perform an obvious miracle is more than foolish; it is sinful. To test God’s presence and power by purposely placing oneself in an unsafe situation is expressly forbidden in Scripture. Daniel did not seek out the lions, but when he found himself surrounded by them, through no fault of his own, he found God was there. Likewise, we trust God in dangerous situations, but we never purposely seek out danger.

God can and will protect us, according to His will, as we are serving Him. But we are not to put the Lord to the test. Just as Jesus refused to jump off the pinnacle of the temple and just as Daniel did not go lion-hunting, so are we not to intentionally seek out situations that require God’s miraculous intervention. While not speaking directly of snake handling in churches, 1 Corinthians 10:9 could apply: “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.”

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I'll just add that if you believe we were all created by God, then you have to figure he (or she) also gave you a brain for good reason...to use!

The way I see it, those :rolleye2: "snake handlers" are disrespecting the lives they were given, not to mention wildlife. :irkd:

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Originally Posted by pretends2bnormal

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I didn't notice that it said what he got bit by, so I wonder what it was. ....

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I don't think the article said what the snake was. From the pictures, I'd say it was a timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. As rattlers go, timbers are pretty middle of the road regarding size, amount of venom, venom toxicity, irritability, etc. Timber rattlers and copperheads are the usual venomous snakes used in those ceremonies because they are native to the area and easy to catch. There would be a lot fewer of those religious snake handlers if they used diamondback rattlers (big and irritable) or mojave rattlers (high venom toxicity).

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Originally Posted by paulh

...There would be a lot fewer of those religious snake handlers if they used diamondback rattlers (big and irritable) or mojave rattlers (high venom toxicity).

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I know, I keep hoping they'll move to diamondback or Mojave green country, :rofl:

They don't seem to use cottonmouths either & those are local for them...:snake2: They're not so deadly but pretty cranky.

I just realized there is one good thing that comes from this. It proves that these snakes aren't out to get people. I mean look at all the crap they put up with before lashing out.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I just realized there is one good thing that comes from this. It proves that these snakes aren't out to get people. I mean look at all the crap they put up with before lashing out.

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I used to live in the desert southwest & was known to rescue & relocate rattlesnakes. One call I went on was for a guy whose sister & her kid had just moved in with-
due to a rough patch in family circumstances- and wanting a pet, the daughter (about 8 years old) was found carrying around a young "Mojave green" rattlesnake.

She didn't want to give it up either but they insisted, and altogether, I picked up 4 rattlesnakes from that property. It was a virtual oasis for snakes of all kinds, with
several woodpiles, nice enclosed skirting under their house trailer, a shed with chickens & scattered grain...all of which attracted rodents which fed snakes living under
the trailer...:rolleyes: and fyi, desert woodrats (aka "pack-rats") love to live in woodpiles. :rofl: Anyway, as far as venomous snakes "putting up with handling by people", the
young rattlesnake carried about by the girl went the extra mile for being stoic. :snake: It could tell she wasn't trying to harm it & just went along for the ride...it's typical.

look at this guy's passion. he's even bleeding all over the place.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...204-031404.png

story: https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/ra...would-save-him

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Rattlesnake attacks pastor who thought Jesus would ‘save him’

(YAHOO) — Even if you have found yourself in the hollers of the Appalachian Mountains, you still may not have come across one of America’s snake-handling churches. While it’s estimated that there are about 125 churches that use snakes during their sermons, most are tucked away in rural areas and serve small congregations that have been involved in the churches for generations.


The churches use the venomous snakes to show their devotion and trust in God, and are inspired by the biblical verse in Mark 16:17-18, which reads: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
These types of churches aren’t usually in the public eye — except when a pastor is bitten.


Cody Coots is a fourth-generation snake-handling pastor at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus’ Name church in Middlesboro, Ky. In a new documentary, “My Life Inside: The Snake Church,” which premiered on Friday on the YouTube channel Barcroft TV, Coots is seen holding a snake during one of his sermons, which generally has 14 parishioners in attendance each week, when the serpent suddenly bites his ear.


His father, Jamie Coots, was 42 years old when he was handling a rattlesnake at the church in 2014. He was bitten on the hand and died “within probably 10 minutes,” according to Cody.


In the documentary footage, Cody continues to preach as blood rushes out from his ear. He tells his congregation to “keep playing” their music. “I’m not worried at all,” he says. “God’s a healer, I’m not worried.”


Then, Cody begins to choke and asks to be taken to the mountaintop, where he says God will decide whether he lives or dies. Instead, a man named Big Cody carried him out of the church and drove him to the hospital.


Doctors told Cody that he could have been “killed,” as the snake was close to severing his temporal artery. He is reportedly reevaluating his life after the incident.

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And people go to that church why?????

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

And people go to that church why?????

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I guess they are on the same Insanity level as the pastor

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

I guess they are on the same Insanity level as the pastor

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And some of them have been "marrying" cousins (or siblings or parents) for a couple generations...:rolleyes:

If they want to see if God will save them, why don't they just jump off a tall building & see if they float down? Leave the poor snakes out of it! :mad:

I agree!
Buncha idiots

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

And some of them have been "marrying" cousins (or siblings or parents) for a couple generations...:rolleyes:

If they want to see if God will save them, why don't they just jump off a tall building & see if they float down? Leave the poor snakes out of it! :mad:

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Originally Posted by Jellybeans

I guess they are on the same Insanity level as the pastor

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Or the same drugs

In order to prevent this thread having to be moved let me say the following.

It's ok to have differing opinions on some things but "hot topics" are the ones we watch out for people causing offense - it is generally related to things like politics or religeon but can extend to certain other areas.

We would normally ask for those to be posted in the quarantine room of the forum but, as long as people are respectful, we do not "auto-move" threads. While this thread has the potential to lead into areas that offend others I don't think it has yet crossed that line. :)

But if we could resist calling others names for their chosen beliefs that would be super helpful thanks.

“Hey, let’s grab this rattlesnake and shake it around and annoy the hell out of it at church!”
“O damn, My finger is falling off.”
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dbd960a99c.jpg


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Yeah I watched a documentary about a those guys, and yes his dad died and his buddy that drove him drank a mason jar of Cyanide I believe. They preach that u can’t die if ur talking to god or something crazy like that. His wife was playing with a rattle snake while pregnant too. So sad

the guy doing the documentary got mad about how terrible they treated the snakes!!

Ive seen this also... the fact that people talk craziness and intermingle it with religion just blows my mind.. reminds me of Cult crap. If this is what people have to do to convince others of a “Higher Something or Another” then they need a new Gig.


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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

Yeah I watched a documentary about a those guys, and yes his dad died and his buddy that drove him drank a mason jar of Cyanide I believe. They preach that u can’t die if ur talking to god or something crazy like that. His wife was playing with a rattle snake while pregnant too. So sad

the guy doing the documentary got mad about how terrible they treated the snakes!!

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Where did you find the documentary?!? I'm a bit obsessed with extreme religion.

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

...the guy doing the documentary got mad about how terrible they treated the snakes!!

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These folks have been around a long time, "some of them" anyway :rolleyes:....surprisingly.

The animal abuse is my biggest concern too...they keep snakes in a box & then pull them out for their "church services". If it was a dog or cat, animal control
would be all over them for improper care (literally none, most likely), but many people couldn't care less what others do to snakes. It's up to US to speak up. :snake:

Also, the law can get after them for child endangerment. So if I knew of any locals doing this, I'd turn them in. Sadly, this mostly occurs in rural backwoods places,
and probably with some secrecy even then. :(