In Dennis Covington’S Book Salvation On Sand Mountain And

Dennis Covington was not biased when it came to writing Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia. Covington did not have a preconceived notion or bias towards snake handling. Prior to Covington's involvement with the snake handlers, he was in a spiritual place in his life were he was not for or against snake handling. When Covington was assigned to cover the Reverend's trial, he did not come with the intention of becoming a member of the snake handling community. The book represents his experience as a snake handler and his spiritual journey on Sand Mountain. There is undeniably a sheer strangeness with the snake handling practices. Before reading the book, I was unaware that snake handling was used

Dennis Covington writes about a unique method of worship—snake handling, in his memoir, Salvation on Sand Mountain. He begins as a journalist, looking in on this foreign way of life; however, as time progresses he increasing starts to feel a part of this lifestyle. As a result loses his journalistic approach, resulting in his memoir, detailing his own spiritual journey. Upon the conclusion of his stay in this world, Covington realizes the significance of this journey, and argues in his memoir that we cannot entirely know ourselves until we step outside of our comfort zone and separate ourselves from our norm.

A Study of the Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land And the Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca

Upon reading about the historical and religious background of Ancient India, one can clearly assume that the country was strongly influenced by three main religious teachings: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. These three sects in religious thinking have many similarities as all recognize the life-cycle and the need of liberation, they worship one central deity that used to be a human who gained enlightenment and they all recognize the existence of the eternal soul and after-death re-incarnation. However, they also share a lot of differences that mark the underlying principles of practicing them. I will identify the scope of differences and similarities in these ancient religions in an attempt to understand why each attracted followers, why

Power is an important part of this process as possessing power creates a divide between the snakes and the handlers: one that increases the trust between the human and the unpredictable animal. Throughout the book and the film, it was noted that if the snakes happened to bite, then that what was the Holy Spirit wanted, and everything is just as it should be (HGP). Through Covington’s account of the Summerford trial, it became clear that power was something that was sought over, and that people were willing to risk their entire lives to achieve that. In the case of Darlene Summerford, the wife of the accused Glenn Summerford, she stated that one of the reasons why she participates in the snake handling rituals is due to the possession of power (DC: 41) According to Summerford, possessing the knowledge that you have control over the snakes is something that keeps the snake handlers of the Pentecostal church to keep coming back for more (DC: 41). Power in this context was also demonstrated in the film, The Holy Ghost People. For instance, the people who were experiencing the most feeling and sensation of the Holy Spirit throughout the service were the ones who were looked up to and thought of as more powerful, because of the presence that was within them coming from the Holy Spirit itself (HGP). Overall, this notion of power and how

The Indian religions were composites of ceremonies and attitudes of the most diverse sort, no single technique of conversion could be employed. Conversion required both the introduction of Catholic Christianity and the extirpation of existing native religions, and of the two tasks the latter was the more difficult one.[xi] Modern anthropology demonstrates that the elimination of pagan traits was only partial. In Indian societies of the twentieth century, even in the areas of most active Christian labour, residual pagan forms survived.

Being a religious person, as I read, I compared and contrasted my experiences in church with those of the snake-handlers. Though there are distinct differences to contrast, when thought about more deeply, there is also a similarity between the two denominations. The glaring differences include the snake-handling versus no snakes; the loud, chaotic music versus quiet, serene music; and the shouting and proclaiming God’s name versus quiet prayer to God. However, the one sentence that Covington wrote

The religion detailed and examined throughout Don Talayesva’s “Sun Chief” can be difficult to understand and near impossible to appreciate. At first glance to the casual reader it can appear shallow and ridiculous; a religion created around the wants and needs of the Hopi but not based on any empirical or even supposed sacred evidence. When coupled with The Sacred Canopy however, the reader begins to understand the simplistic beauty of their religion providing necessary guidance and support to the Hopi tribe. The reader also is able to relate to Don’s religion in terms of the love one has for his or her own dogma and the importance it plays in an individual’s life.

Dennis Covington’s Salvation on Sand Mountain begins by focusing on the trail of Glenn Summerford. This creates a great stir in the small town of Scottsboro, Alabama, and what begins as a typical journalist seeking a hot story on an uncommon subject turns into something more. In some ways, Covington goes on a personal quest to further understand faith, though this is something that is not directly or explicitly stated in the novel. A large part of the book focuses on the snaking handling experience; and chronicles the untypical, mysterious, even strange, rural people who live in a small town in the Southern Appalachia and who devoutly believe in this religion. Once the pastor, Glenn Summerford, is convicted of trying to kill his wife with snakes from the church, the Church of Jesus with Signs Following becomes the spotlight of controversy and intense public scrutiny. However, as the novel progresses, the reader sees that the Salvation on Sand Mountain is really a story about Covington exploring the human condition, this strange religion, and his own soul.

As Stein explains, this scriptural backing and myth has led to the widespread practice of serpent handling. The scripture provides the clarity that MacMillan defines as central to religious experiences. While the mythology has existed for centuries, Stein stipulates that the practice of serpent handling in Appalachia originated in the 20th century. The relatively new practice must be explained and understood in practical terms of anthropology. Stein and Stein provide five categories of religious rituals: technological, therapy, ideological, salvation, and revitalization. Since the ritual is focused on individual faith and action to follow the word of God, it can best be characterized as a salvation ritual. Stein and Stein explain that salvation rituals are focused on the “religious experience of the individual,” “have some mystical experience,” and in which an individual “is changed in some way, temporarily or permanently.” (Stein and Stein 86) Snake handling is a fundamentally individual experience. While parishioners go to church and watch the ritual together, there is no external pressure for an individual to take up snakes. Instead, believers are told that they will be moved by the Holy Ghost to take up snakes. Children are kept far away from the practice, revealing that believers want an individual to be fully aware and ready for the ritual if they should eventually

Molloy, M. (2012). Experiencing the World’s Religions. Tradition, Challenge, and Change (6th ed.)Chapter 5. Retrieved from https://newclassroom3.phoenix.edu/Classroom

In the King James’ Version’s Gospel of Mark, chapter 16, verse 18, it is stated that, “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” This reading has been looked at under many different shades of light. This speculation has led to many different ideas about the seriousness of the translation of the word of the Lord. For over a century, people of Appalachia have taken this line of the bible and turned it into the focus of the Christian worship services. How strictly should these Pentecostals take the word the bible? What makes these snake-handlers so different from other Christians? What can the serpent-handlers do to make their worship

Indigenous religions exist in every climate around the world and exhibit a wide range of differences in their stories, language, customs, and views of the afterlife. Within indigenous communities, religion, social behavior, art, and music are so intertwined that their religion is a significant part of their culture and virtually inseparable from it. These religions originally developed and thrived in isolation from one another and are some of the earliest examples of religious practice and belief. The modern world; however, has taken its toll on these groups and many of their stories, customs, and beliefs have been lost to, or replaced by, those brought in as a result of popular culture and the missionary work of Christians and Muslims.

     Hinduism and Christianity are two religions that have been around for thousands of years. These religions have developed philosophies on certain subjects that can be compared in order to show their similarities and differences. Some of the main subjects that can be reflected upon are the paths to

Zeus hurls his thunderbolt and the world trembles. Odin invites fallen warriors in the halls of Valhalla for a drink. Jesus Christ spreads the words of his father and gathers disciples. Buddha sits and meditates the meaning of the universe. Across the world there have always been mythological stories. From the first civilization to modern times, mythologies help explain the vents of the world and attempt to provide answers for unanswerable questions. Though every mythology appears different, if one looks close enough, commonalities appear. Joseph Campbell spent his life studying mythologies and religions along with compiling the commonalities amongst them. This study on the works of Joseph Campbell focuses on the following areas: