Serpent-Handling Believers

In some remote churches in East Tennessee and nearby states, Jesus's words in the 16th chapter of Saint Mark are taken literally: "and they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them." Members of these churches describe themselves as Pentecostal-Holiness. Burton debunks the myths surrounding these "snake-handlers" and gives a balanced view of their religion. 84 illustrations.