Although outlawed in many states, serpent handling remains an active religious practice - and one that is far more stereotyped than understood. Ralph W. Hood, Jr. and W. Paul Williamson have spent fifteen years touring serpent-handling churches in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and West Virginia, conducting scores of interviews with serpent handlers, and witnessing hundreds of serpent-handling services. In this illuminating book they present the most in-depth, comprehensive study of serpent handling to date. "Them That Believe" not only explores facets of this religious practice - including handling, preaching, and the near-death experiences of individuals who were bitten but survived - but also provides a rich analysis of this phenomenon from historical, social, religious, and psychological perspectives.
- ISBN10 1282360809
- ISBN13 9781282360808
- Publish Date 1 January 2008
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 3 June 2015
- Publish Country US
- Imprint University of California Press
- Format eBook
- Pages 301
- Language English