Serpent handling pastors to star in Snake Salvation reality show

[Tanuki]

File under "you can't make this shit up," coming to the National Geographic Channel in September.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130807/NEWS06/308070122/Serpent-handling-pastors-star-Snake-Salvation-reality-show

[Ian David]

1. This really needs to become a more popular trend among conservative fundamentalists. n/t

[Duer 157099]

2. Yes, let them use that non-taxable income to purchase

a snake for every pew. How's that for a new slogan?

[jmowreader]

4. Except it doesn't always work

[jmowreader]

3. I feel a little sorry for those two preachers

The article indicates these nice young men believe showing the practice of snake-handling will bring them converts.

Most people, including mainstream Christians, rightly believe this particular religious practice is completely insane (most if not all the states with Signs Following churches have taken steps to ban it - banning the possession of venomous snakes is pretty usual) and their show will become a way for non-Southerners to point at Southerners and laugh.

[get the red out]

5. Religion

Why isn't there a denomination that handles puppies, or a kitten handling denomination? That I could go with. Just set up at the animal shelter every week and love on some furries!

[Archae]

6. And people wonder why I gave up ALL religion?

The key word here: Evidence.

And to date, no religion, not any of them have ever shown actual evidence their blind hysterical beliefs have any evidence to back them up.

Just look at how every year these snake-handling cults have people get bitten, and they die.

[tularetom]

7. The National Geographic Channel? Really?

Remember when the National Geographic had a bit of class?

And now they're showing a snake handling reality show?

Really playing to the lowest common denominator. Kind of sad.

[hobbit709]

8. I'd watch only to see one of them get bit.

Instead of the relatively harmless U.S. snakes, they should handle something like a Taipan.

[woodsprite]

9. Sometimes I find SyFy more realistic than NatGeo or the History Channel these days.

That's sad


Adding: Maybe I should have said "more favorable", or "more believable" rather than realistic.