CHARLESTON, W. VA. –
A West Virginia Pentecostal pastor who used poisonous snakes during religious services has died of a rattlesnake bite. Mack Wolford, who just turned 44, was killed by a snake he had owned for years. Wolford was performing a religious ceremony when the incident happened. Wolford’s father, who was also a serpent-handling pastor, died in the same way nearly 30 years ago.[i]
In a recent article by published by the Washington Post, Ralph Hood wrote:
Thedeath of Pastor Randall Mack Wolfordfrom a serpent bite over this Memorial Day weekend has raised once again a familiar pattern: a serpent handler is bit, he or she succumbs to the bite, and media coveragefocuses upon questioningwhat is arguably America's most unique form of religious expression.
The fact that this took place in America is understandable, since there are now an estimated 40,000 types of Christianity practiced here by people who hold a variety of beliefs about their Bible. Hood continues:
“Pentecostal g…
A West Virginia Pentecostal pastor who used poisonous snakes during religious services has died of a rattlesnake bite. Mack Wolford, who just turned 44, was killed by a snake he had owned for years. Wolford was performing a religious ceremony when the incident happened. Wolford’s father, who was also a serpent-handling pastor, died in the same way nearly 30 years ago.[i]
In a recent article by published by the Washington Post, Ralph Hood wrote:
Thedeath of Pastor Randall Mack Wolfordfrom a serpent bite over this Memorial Day weekend has raised once again a familiar pattern: a serpent handler is bit, he or she succumbs to the bite, and media coveragefocuses upon questioningwhat is arguably America's most unique form of religious expression.
The fact that this took place in America is understandable, since there are now an estimated 40,000 types of Christianity practiced here by people who hold a variety of beliefs about their Bible. Hood continues:
“Pentecostal g…