by C. Hayes

Created on: January 27, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Sacred Serpents and the Feminine Dilemma

Part I: The Six Dimensions of the Snake-handling Religion

The Church of Jesus Christ with Signs Following is a loosely organized group of autonomous churches that are considered part of the Pentecostal movement. Like the Pentecostals, their religious emphasis is on the Holy Spirit, which empowers them to follow the holy "signs" mandated by Jesus.

Ritual
Sign Follower church services are marked by noisy and frenzied displays of religious fervor. At these services, church members may regularly handle venomous snakes, drink poison, lay hands on the sick, and/or speak in tongues. These rituals stem from a literal interpretation of the bible. They believe these practices were mandated by Jesus (Mark 16:17-18), "All these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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." Sign followers also testify at church services, which is simply the act of telling a personal story that relates their salvation by God. The testimony serves as example to confirm the word of God.

Myth-Origins
Sign followers share the same creation story as other Christians, which includes the creation story and fall of grace instigated by the betrayal of God by Adam and Eve. However, the origins of their particular denomination of Christianity is almost entirely based upon the biblical passage cited above (Mark 16:17-18) and was inspired by Tennessee preacher George Hensley in 1910. After reciting this key passage from Mark, Hensley pulled a rattlesnake out of a box, handled the serpent for a few minutes and then instructed to rest of the congregation to the handle the snake as well.

Historical
Brother Carl in his sermon at the brush arbor service suggests that sign followers' historical perspective is premillenial. In his sermons, he refers to human earthly life to be " short and illusionary" and refers to the body as a " fleshy rag that he would gladly exchange for a heavenly wardrobe." This statement suggests that perfection is not possible in this world and shall only be attained after the Second Coming and judgment.

Doctrine-Theology/Cosmology
Sign followers go not believe in the trinity in the traditional sense; they believe Jesus is the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This religion places a significant emphasis on the Holy Spirit and thus

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