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Snake Handlers

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Religion

The Resume

    (1910- )
    Part of the Church of God with Signs Following religion
    Founded by George Went Hensley in Tennessee
    Movement follows a passage (literally) of the King James Bible; Mark 16:18 - 'They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover'

Why they might be annoying:

    It was founded by an illiterate preacher who whipped out a rattlesnake after a sermon.
    All members (not just the leaders) that receive the power of the Holy Ghost believe they can heal the sick, speak in tongues and cast out demons.
    They refuse to take medicine.
    Women may not wear make-up or cut their hair short.
    Its founder died of a snake bite at age 74 (June 24, 1955).
    Between 1936-73, 35 members died from snake bites.

Why they might not be annoying:

    Members greet each other with a 'Holy Kiss' (same and/or different sex depending on the region).
    They abstain from alcohol and tobacco.
    The movement has run into many legal issues involving banning/unbanning in First Amendment rights to free practice of religion vs. potential danger to non-participants.
    11 states have had congregations at some point in time (TN, KY, NC, SC, GA, AL, VA, WV, FL, OH and TX).
    It got a segment in the cult movie 'Faces of Death (1978).'
    Moe Szyslak of 'The Simpsons' is a snake handler.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 19 Votes: 63.16% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 24 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 161 Votes: 51.55% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 54 Votes: 74.07% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 56 Votes: 78.57% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 52 Votes: 51.92% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 134 Votes: 55.22% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 91 Votes: 74.73% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 148 Votes: 77.03% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 230 Votes: 73.48% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 1042 Votes: 69.77% Annoying