Snakes are EVIL! - Page 3

**hana** · 02-18-08, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Russell

now now, I'm sure hana too was conveying sarcasm also!

at least someone understands when I make a funny....

hehe...

hana

**kitty** · 02-18-08, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by Russell

... I had someone totally take me over the coals on snakes being of the devil and that my keeping them showed me I was of the devil. ...

From the perspective of a "recovering Baptist," You did a bang-up job, Russ!

As for being accused of being "of the devil," I just smile sweetly, agree with them, and tell them to keep their kids away before I eat them.

Javen · 02-18-08, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by kitty

...keep their kids away before I eat them.

We should start a club!

**Russell** · 02-18-08, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by kitty

From the perspective of a "recovering Baptist," You did a bang-up job, Russ!

As for being accused of being "of the devil," I just smile sweetly, agree with them, and tell them to keep their kids away before I eat them.

Yeah, sadly enough not all baptist churches are alike! The one I attend now has higher standards if you will than the one I had previously been attending. I just felt we were just playing the religion game there. And my daughter was just running around having fun. I just felt I wanted to go to a church where I felt you were getting something out of it, not just playing your religious duty for the week! And yet we certainly are not so wacked out fundamentalist as some I know of! Anyhow, hopefully in some ways I've given ammo to those who feel oppressed by the religious zealots who actually think the Bible says snakes are evil. And yet pointed to the cross for those who'd like to meet the Lord there. You can't tell me he doesn't want us to be happy and that he doesn't participate in our joy when something he created comes slicing out of the egg! I always seem to get a few OH WOWS every year. Ok, enough now! I'm off to get a snack and sit around and browse ebay. LOL!

**Russell** · 02-18-08, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Javen

We should start a club!

oh man, they probably are worried already that I'm going to get my snack...no, I better be careful, the people that are known to lurk here would use what I want to say in sarcasm, and twist it into something just awful, and use it against me. Had that happen enough! Anyhow, I sure laughed, thank you!

Cam5 · 02-19-08, 11:11 AM

We are not Baptist. But we are surrounded by people who 'know better than we do' on a variety of topics. Or at least they tell me they do.

Our son was in a preschool at a church the very same year we brought home our/his first pet...a very sweet Anery corn snake. He was soooo upset one day...yep...they teachers had spent all day talking about the evils of serpents. After a very calm chat that included our then 4 year old son's input about his first hand experience and my very short explanation that the serpent is NOT the evil it is the human spirit that has a bit to work on.

For example, is Hershey's Chocolate evil? No, the human inability to pass it up or to stop at just one bar is the flaw.

With most people it is interesting how limited their thought capacity is once they deliver the 'evil' thing on a platter expecting you to be thrown.

My general comeback is...
"EVIL spelled backwards is LIVE. As in LIVE in peace with your neighbor."
I usually say it in a way of sweet ignorance. They are usually fairly quiet after that

Of course there are the times when I can't must the sweet or the ignorant so I just reply "Hmmm....and the world is still flat." and walk away.

**Russell** · 02-19-08, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Cam5

We are not Baptist. But we are surrounded by people who 'know better than we do' on a variety of topics. Or at least they tell me they do.
Our son was in a preschool at a church the very same year we brought home our/his first pet...a very sweet Anery corn snake. He was soooo upset one day...yep...they teachers had spent all day talking about the evils of serpents. After a very calm chat that included our then 4 year old son's input about his first hand experience and my very short explanation that the serpent is NOT the evil it is the human spirit that has a bit to work on.

Wow! I'd have been furious with those people! Course, knowing what I know now...he he he... Anyways, that's sad! Like I said before, people refuse to look inward and realize that it's inside each and every one of us, not some object or living creature! There are natives in Madagascar that believe certain animals are demons and need to be killed on sight! Seems there's still plenty of Americans that believe something similar in spiders, snakes, rats, mice, whatever have you! We aren't so advanced a society after all are we? But like said earlier, it will be very very hard to convince people to really think and change their minds. Yeah, the very bible they tout so much is full of passages speaking of how evil and wicked PEOPLE can be. Nothing about animals! A strange world indeed! People want to claim a higher power is the reason behind their fear or hatred of something when it is not. It is their own stinkin thinkin that's the problem!

clipclopclip · 02-19-08, 05:36 PM

Well, I am not a religious person (my family was Jewish though). I have, however, read and studied the Bible in school (I went to a private school on the east coast, but not a religious one..they just thought it was important to know the Bible).

I commend you for finding all of those passages. It would be very interesting for an analytical paper subject. If one could really write a bombproof, well-argued thesis on why snakes are one of God's animals and not to be feared irrationally...that would be interesting! Not something I'll have a chance to do, seeing as I am an Equine Science major. But maybe in a year or so.....

That was a super interesting post!

**Russell** · 03-02-08, 01:52 AM

James 3:7
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

just adding another verse found in the bible dealing with serpents. Just thought it was neat and had to share.

FunkyRes · 04-05-08, 03:49 PM

LOL - I generally don't bring it up on non religious discussion boards because it is very off topic - but I am a Christian.

When I was seventeen - I was at a Christian training camp, we were being taught for a summer of ministry (working in communities - vacation bible school, church camps, etc.)

Part of our training was to do a presentation on what we loved. This was in Colorado - so I went out and found a wandering garter snake.

As soon as I pulled it out - one of the women training us went hysterical and screamed about how snakes were evil.

I responded "If they are so evil, why did God let them on the ark, and why did God turn Moses' staff into something evil?"

I got in trouble for talking back to my superior.
It was acknowledged though that snakes were not evil. Her excuse was that she grew up in the south where all snakes are poisonous. I chose not to correct her on that point and just let it go. I let the snake go too.