Saturday, July 12, 2008

Give the pastor his snake

Natural selection should not be messed with. If a pastor wants to kiss a cobra during a church service, then let him. If he dies from snake bite, it is his own damn fault and the gene pool is better off without him. In the case of Gregory Coots, i just shake my head in wonder at the sheer stupidity of his actions.
Most [snakes] were taken from the Middlesboro home of Gregory James Coots, including 42 copperheads, 11 timber rattlesnakes, three cottonmouth water moccasins, a western diamondback rattlesnake, two cobras and a puff adder.

Handling snakes is practiced in a handful of fundamentalist churches across Appalachia, based on the interpretation of Bible verses saying true believers can take up serpents without being harmed. The practice is illegal in most states, including Kentucky.
Marrying your cousin is illegal in Kentucky too, but that does not stop them from getting hitched. If these nutballs what to kiss snakes to prove their devotion to god, then let them. They will die off eventually.

On the other hand, selling cobras for $450 on the internet is just dumb. It's also another example of religious hypocrisy. Pastor Coots sees these dangerous reptiles as a way to make a buck without regard for the social impact of his actions. He cares only for his own pocketbook. When a cobra escapes and bites little Johnny, Pastor Coots is culpable, not to mention dangerously irresponsible. Coots can claim his work with snakes is a religious obligation. If he does, we should call a spade a spade. His church is a cult and deserves no protection under the law.

Pet snake escapes are a problem. They happen all the time. I own non-venomnous snakes. Even though I am careful, my California Kingsnake manages an escape once each year. He also manages to bite me whenever he can. it is simply irresponsible to house poisonous reptiles in an urban setting. What a dumbass.

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3 comments:

vjack said...

Perhaps more Christians should be encouraged to handle poisonous snakes. Sort of a thinning the herd thing. Kidding! I don't want them do come to any harm - I just want them to overcome their mind virus.

Anonymous said...

hmmm, mind virus.
I am a Christian, the main mind virus I struggle with is 'self', man can I be selfish, and not even know it.
I hope that through my reciognizing when I am selfish to 'nip it in the bud' and become mroe selfless and love as Jesus did.
Also, if the snakes were allowed, the 'thinning of the herd' as you call it, wouldn't be that great since a lot of Christians, I would say majority
are smart enough to know not to 'test the Lord'.
Hve a great day,
interesting blog.
Be blessed.

Anonymous said...

No...you, the author, is a being a dummy...there is no proof that he was selling the snakes to make money..serpent handlers hunt for their own snakes and they don't buy them unless they are a snake that can't be found around here...typically, however, only regional snakes are handled in the services