First, here's the link:

news.yahoo.com/serpent-handling-west-vir...

This may sound unsympathetic, but my reactions were, in order:

1.  It was irresponsible of them to do this in a public park without permission.  It's one thing for them to risk their own lives in their own homes and churches; it's another for them to risk one of the rattlesnakes getting loose and biting an innocent passer-by.

2.  Is God *really* going to be upset with you if you have some antivenin standing by just in case?

3.  At least don't pass around the same snake from person to person.  The more you pass around the snake, the more it's going to get irritable and warmed by your body heat.  A warm snake is more active, and an irritable snake's most likely activity is going to be biting what is irritating it.

4.  And if you do get bit, you might want to go to the hospital instead of driving home and seeing if you feel better on your own.

5.  And if your own dad died the same way, you might want to learn from his example and take at least some precautions.

Not feeling incredibly sympathetic on this one, I have to admit. 

Isn't there some Christian admonition about  "You shalt not tempt the Lord your God?"

I feel sorry for the snakes, they deserve better then to be annoyed and abused by these idiots

That is not faith, that is presumption. God will not honor that.

Even non poisonous snakes should be handled with care.(if at all)

May 31, 2012 -- 3:50PM, mytmouse57 wrote:

May 30, 2012 -- 11:12PM, fodaoson wrote:

Mixing your metaphors  

Hairy snakes?

Before I weigh in on this one I’ll have to check the scales