How does one respond to this?

[blueberrypancakes]

"I guess she doesn't know that snakes are too stupid to be evil."

Thats too true! I keep Jackson right next to my bed, and my friend said "Don't you think that when you're sleeping he's thinking about getting out to kill you?". I said "I think in human terms he's thinking '..............'. In snake terms he's wondering when his next rat is coming."

[enchantress62]

lol too true... too true. Baloo cracks me up because of the things she does as a baby trying to get used to her own body and senses. ie. When she eats she sometimes looses her balance and winds up on her side or back then rolls around with the mouse before getting it into the right position. If she thought like a human, and could talk, she would be saying, "Ah Ha! I got you! Now be still while I eat you." hehe but the truth is she's not likely to be thinking anything only experiencing tactile sensation.

[UVA WingMan]

My GF family had a bit of a problem with my snakes, one actually called me a Demon. I had to explain to them that they were totally harmless. I let a hatching bite me just to prove my point. They think it's pretty cool now. Although few of them will come to my house. They have accepted it completely. Even my GF was scared of them at first, now she wants to start her own collection of morphs that she likes and wants to work with.
It's human nature to fear what the unusual or unknown. Your best bet is to talk the the person saying ignorant comments. Try to explain that the animals are harmless and actually fun to handle and be around. They may not want to be near them, but they don't have to think you worship Satan because you enjoy your pets. If they won't listen to reason, than I wouldn't waste my energy trying to educate them. Let them think what they want, and don't know that you tried your best.
Hope this helps.
Merry Christmas!!!

[Redneck_Crow]

This thread is cracking me up.

I am a Christian and an administrator on a website run by Christians that is set up to discuss and debate theology and various other subjects. We have some weird whacked out people on there, nutty enough to suggest that dragons exist and that Yahweh was one of them. I have a thread going on about my pet "legless lizards" with pics. Not even our worst nutcases has suggested that snakes are of teh devil, I'm worshiping teh devil, etc. We get some pretty good head cases too. I am soooooo envious.

Good grief, I wish I had that woman where I work. I'd love to have a little theological "chat" with her when she said something about my snakes.

[Missy King]

lol i totally had fun and a laugh. I just couldn't help being sarcastic. I think when i was a really little kid, i did think think that God hated snakes, because the devil took the form of a snake. I think in my teenage years, i would have gotten irritated with someone who said that...and i think as i'm middle aged now...well, in my 30's (31 on the second...boooo!!) I really just want to be a brat!

I don't really know what i believe anymore...but i would have a lot of fun playing "Devil's" Advocate on this one

[Sama]

Some people are weird, I am glad to hear some other people at work are standing up for you and I hope she gets over it soon. I am another Christian who keeps and breeds snakes and I have never personally heard this type of reaction. I have had a truck driver mention that in the old days I would have been drowned as a baby because I have red hair which is a sign of the devil. I told him I was glad I was born in this time period then : ). He left in a rush, but I also kept an eye on him while he was there. Some people....sigh

[MrLang]

Tell her you heard what she said about you and that you're very disappointed with her immature behavior and expected better of her.

Crushed by guilt.

[Savannelee]

1) Nobody likes a tatletale.

2) Whats wrong with worshipping Satan?

3) Why waste your time caring what anyone else thinks?

[Emily Hubbard]

Let me just say, I am a Christian myself and some of my least favorite people are other Christians. I am really unsettled by people who interpret things literally. Snakes are called evil because Satan took the form of one in Eden, yet whales are not called evil because one swallowed Jonah, nor are calves called evil because Aaron made an idol out of one.... the logic is ridiculous. What about all of the evil things PEOPLE have done, before, during, and after the bible. Anyway, enough of that rant.....

I have found that when you engage these people in a religious debate, you can back them into a corner so fast they usually end up stuttering in tears. Not that you have to be nasty, you can question them as nicely and reasonably as possible and they will still be speechless.

"Why do you think I am a Satan worshiper because I have snakes?"
"Satan tempted Eve in the form of a serpent."
"How are all snakes bad because of the actions and use of one?"
"No other animal has been called Satan."
"Can you say that all human are bad because some worship Satan? Are we all murderers because some people murder?....."

You will never get a civil response like, "oh, that is a really good point" from people like this. But you can make them go away and stop talking to you. They will always be right in their mind. I saw it all the time and stopped going to church. I now worship privately. So, your options are to engage her in a conversation to nowhere, or to ignore it. You will never convince her that she is a ridiculous person that needs to just stop saying words.

[Emily Hubbard]

Thats too true! I keep Jackson right next to my bed, and my friend said "Don't you think that when you're sleeping he's thinking about getting out to kill you?". I said "I think in human terms he's thinking '..............'. In snake terms he's wondering when his next rat is coming."

HAHAHA! This is SO true. My girl makes me laugh so hard. Sometimes when she is active, I will open the front of the glass and let her crawl out herself (the viv is about 6 inches off the floor). After I did that for a while, I would walk in the room and see her running her nose all along the glass like, "WHERE is the PORTAL to beyond!?!" I thought it must be SO confusing to SOMETIMES have the forcefield gone and then just reappear. haha. Poor thing, what have I done?!