Fear sells. Even more so, Danger.
(Some) people like to watch other 'brave fearless people' push right up to the edge of Danger -- and yet somehow -- miraculously -- make it back to the land of the living, no worse for the wear.
Because as every well-paid Showman knows -- "You got to give the people what they want ..."
Reality show snake-handling preacher dies -- of snakebite
by Ashley Fantz, CNN, cnn.com -- Feb 17, 2014
(CNN) -- [...]
[A Kentucky pastor Jamie] Coots was a third-generation "serpent handler" and aspired to one day pass the practice and his church, Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name, on to his adult son, Little Cody.
The National Geographic show featured Coots and cast handling all kinds of poisonous snakes -- copperheads, rattlers, cottonmouths. The channel's website shows a picture of Coots, goateed, wearing a fedora. "Even after losing half of his finger to a snake bite and seeing others die from bites during services," Coots "still believes he must take up serpents and follow the Holiness faith," the website says.
On Sunday, National Geographic Channels spokeswoman Stephanie Montgomery sent CNN this statement:
"In following Pastor Coots for our series Snake Salvation, we were constantly struck by his devout religious convictions despite the health and legal peril he often faced.
"Those risks were always worth it to him and his congregants as a means to demonstrate their unwavering faith. We were honored to be allowed such unique access to Pastor Jamie and his congregation during the course of our show, and give context to his method of worship. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
[...]
I wonder if NatGeo's Lawyers wrote those 'heart-felt' words?
Next question: When does that "last" episode air?
Quick: Someone give me 'a sign' ... that I'm on the right path?
Link
Curses, Foiled again!
(Some) people, especially those prone towards relying on forces "bigger than themselves," often on occasion take their 'operating cues' from the world at large -- or even more isolating, from the interwoven text of an ancient, cobbled-together book ...
The Truth is 'out there' (somewhere) ... afterall ...
Death of snake handling preacher shines light on lethal Appalachian tradition
by Julia Duin, Special to CNN, religion.blogs.cnn.com -- June 1, 2012
[...]
Key to understanding this culture are a pair of verses from the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament:
“And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mainstream Christians -- Pentecostals included -- do not believe Mark 16:17-18 means that Christians should seek out poisonous snakes or ingest poisonous substances.
But experts say that several thousand people -- exact numbers are hard to come by -- in six Appalachian states read the verse differently. Known as “signs following” Pentecostals, they see a world at war with evil powers and believe it’s a Christian’s duty to take on the devil by engaging in the “signs.”
[...]
Such ancient books are often riddled with contradictions. On one hand they claim to revere
the wonders of life -- on the other hand, they treat living souls
as bit players ... in some off-Broadway play.
That's the problem with 'contradicting' verses -- especially when the overriding assumption is that "all the verses are equally True" (somewhere, in there) ...
On one day, they 'signal' that Life can be anything we make it; that anything is possible ...
Then on the next day, the 'signs' all say: Stop. Do Not Proceed. Full Reverse. Your Time is up, Bud.
Ooops! ... And what a "ratings-killer" those latter days are ... eh?