Whats ur oppinion on the symbolic significance of snakes

[Bruce Whitehead]

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

[Oroborous]

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.

[temec]

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

[blackcrystal22]

Hm..
Neither.

[MarkS]

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.

[PythonBreeder]

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.

[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.

[mcd]

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.

[First_Phantom]

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.

[zakomak]

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'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?)