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.

Neither.

I do not do good or evil. Energy is neutral, it is what people do with it.

Same with biblical refs and interpretations. In order to believe in devil/satan imagery, etc. I would have to belief in the alternate.

Any perceptions I had of snakes, was out of ignorance and a lack of exposure, not to do with my Uber-right wing christian upbringing.

Despite being fed bible stories daily as a kid, we were always taught that it was all symbolic. So a snake as evil, was not a snake as evil. It was always an allegory.

Bruce

For different cultures snakes represent a lot of different things, and have for thousands of years. But awhile back I saw this documentary about a tribe in Africa called the Ewe. Apparently these people worship the Ball Python in particular as a Voo Doo God that protects them from evil spirits. The snakes hang around the village and at people's door steps. It was a very fascinating program. I wish I could find out more about it now, but there's not much info on it.
Oh, and I vote neither as well, because they are sybmolic in many ways in many places.

everyday in my english class this is brought up... and even more so recently because we are reading a book that filled with tons of not-making-snakes-look-good figurative language... and I'm always debating with my teacher over the whole symbolic significance of snakes topic everyday... and its even funnier because about 6-7 people in my english class have snakes as a pet currently.. hahaha.. lol

Hm..
Neither.

I agree with neither one. They're just animals, they behave the way their instinct tells them to behave which is neither good nor evil.

My religion says they are evil but how can that be? The only evil snake I have is my little kingsnake who thinks hes tough. But I let him believe he is.;)

The Bible says that the Devil used a snake to tempt Eve into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was the only thing that God told her not to do. For this reason, Christians believe that snakes are evil creatures. I, on the other hand, do not believe that because the Devil used a snake to tempt Eve, does not mean that the snake is evil. It just means that the Devil is evil, and happened to use a snake to do his bidding.

I think this could turn out to be a very interesting discussion. Humans often have a strong reaction to snakes, and I'm not sure if it's a learned or natural response (or a bit of both). For example- when we were researching BPs, and my 2 y/o son would see the photos of snakes on the computer screen, we would say "yuck!" That was his natrural response, and I don't really understand why a kid of that age with no exposure to snakes would find them yucky. If he saw a photo of a kitten or a puppy, his response would certainly de different.
But, when friends come over and see our snakes, in almost all cases the little kids are not scared at all, and the parents are. Something changes as most people grow up- the things that once fascinated them (snakes, lizzards, toads etc) no longer fascinate, and in many cases now scare them.
I think in western society, we are taught to fear snakes, and those of us with a Judeo-Christian background have the baggage of the garden of Eden story, so we grew up hearing about how the devil took the form of a serpent, and then that God cursed serpents.
Personally, I lean toward the "all are God's creatures" point of view. Everything has it's place in the circle of life- from the most majestic and beautiful of creatures to the animals that most people's first reaction is to recoil at.

i believe in stories. i believe there is a good and an evil. i feel as though snakes are omnipotent. they can be used for good or evil. i choose good.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

The Bible says that the Devil used a snake to tempt Eve into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was the only thing that God told her not to do. For this reason, Christians believe that snakes are evil creatures. I, on the other hand, do not believe that because the Devil used a snake to tempt Eve, does not mean that the snake is evil. It just means that the Devil is evil, and happened to use a snake to do his bidding.

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I'm christian, and I don't believe snake are evil! It's just a symbol. I will have to go with what everyone else says, it all depends on your culture.

(btw do really think anyone on this forum is actually gonna say snakes are evil?)

The poll is silly, yes, but I appreciate this thread in bringing up the symbolism of snakes, as it's something I think about sometimes.

My favorite snake symbolism is in Australian Aboriginal mythology. There was a time long ago called the "Dreamtime" in which everything was created. Geographical features were often told to be created by animals migrating across the land. For example, here is some mythology behind Uluru or Ayers Rock...

From: http://www.religious-tourism.com/other_pilgrimages.htm

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Aborigines believe that the path leading up Uluru is marked with `footprints` of the mala or Rufus hare wallaby, the kuniya - female python and other creatures from their Dreamtime. In fact the whole vast continent of Australia is criss-crossed by tracks of the `Dreamings`: walking, slithering, crawling, chasing, hunting, dying, giving birth, performing rituals and establishing links between one place and another. Such places are sacred sites, at times visible as rock art and engravings but largely invisible to all but aborigines such as the local Pitjantjatjara who still find their way from place to place guided by spiritual `song lines`.

In Aboriginal mythology Uluru is the Intelligent Snake from the `higher spirit realms` who conjured up a great rainbow down which it slithered to earth. To them the snake symbolises fertility, the lower part of the "U" filled with eggs being considered the `father and mother` of all living creatures.

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Sigh... isn't that beautiful? I want to visit it some day...

I follow an Earth-based religion that looks to find wisdom in all the different philosophies and religious thought throughout human history. What I've found is that far more civilizations revered--or at least respected--snakes than reviled them. The serpent is a powerful symbol of rebirth (shedding its skin), wisdom (the unblinking eye), and the cycle of life (coiling into spirals). One of the coolest images I've ever seen is this goddess of ancient Crete (warning! artistic nudity): http://www.hartzler.org/cc307/minoan/images/co.jpg

That said, I attach no "good" or "evil" to my snakes. That would be silly. NoPed is shy, Valentine is bold, and Petra is quirky. None of them are good or evil.

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Originally Posted by Wh00h0069

The Bible says that the Devil used a snake to tempt Eve into eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which was the only thing that God told her not to do. For this reason, Christians believe that snakes are evil creatures.

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unfair blanket statement. i am christian and there is no biblical or doctrinal basis for the belief that snakes are evil. i don't think i've even MET a christian who thought snakes were evil. also, the snake has "good" imagery in the bible. the israelites in the desert were healed by the power of God through the brazen serpent created by moses.

I vote neither, they are animals and all animals are neither. Good and Evil only applies to humans, we are the only species that kills for matters unrelated to survival. Im an aussie and i was brought up to run at the first sight of a snake, but ever since i first held a carpet python i have loved snakes.

People are regarded as good or evil. Snakes are like any other animal. In the Bible, snakes where represented as both. Garden of Eden serpeant = Bad or Moses putting a flaming serpeant on a pole as a cure to death = good.

Neither. They're just another chain in an extensive food chain.

For symbolism, neither.

As a Christian, I don't believe that any animal can be good or evil in and of itself. Snake are in the Bible as tools for one side or the other. Their will is not their own. Satan took possession of a serpent (with legs) to trick Adam and Eve. God had Moses use a snake for various miracles and plagues in the Exodus.

In reality, people's perceptions of snakes are based mostly on their culture and first hand experience. Same with any animal really. If Mom and Dad say snakes are bad and child never has an experience, then that's all they have to go by. If a child has a negative encounter with a snake then they make fear them solely based on that.

I knew a guy in college you was deathly afraid of dogs because he got bit bad as a child. Another guy I knew was scared of roosters because one pecked him on the head as a child.

Symbalism is just that: A symbal.