Holy Ghost People (01 of 06)

Peter Adair's 1967 documentary, shot at a Pentecostal service in Scrabble Creek, West Virginia. Documenting the ostensible healing laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, and snake handling as a testament of faith.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Holy
• Ghost
• People
• Peter
• Adair
• Pentecostal
• charismatic
• speaking
• tongues
• snake
• handling
• holy
• roller

[brightbite]

You know, if this were a doc about voodoo, or something else, everyone would be saying, "Wow, cool!" They would not be saying that the people are stupid or retarded, or anything else. Show a little respect, people. These people are just doing the best they can.

[athephi]

Thanks; even as a Hellbound atheist, I'm actually quite happy to see someone make this comment. I tend to agree.

[kodiakfred140]

As a non-religious person, I don't think any of you have the right to critique these people, they're no crazier than any of you.

[robertschelly]

They are doing better than the best they can. It takes great intensity of faith to surmount the natural fear of handling a nice big upset rattler. Take a good look at the old photos; the look in their eyes. It's not easily done.

The Internet has bred millions of callow, instant experts and cynics. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

[dorothy41480]

Joe (my great uncle) was actually bitten many times by snakes, and didn't die until 1997 at the age of 75 from Alzheimer's. He didn't drink or do drugs as has been suggested by earlier comments.

As far as the "speaking in tongues" portion, I am not a Christian but I have studied many languages. With the cadence and enunciations it would definitely appear that they are actually speaking another language. I know that Joe did not study any other languages. So maybe they are onto something? :)

[Acemarksman20]

athephi... you seem to proud of being hellbound... you shouldn't at all.

[oshun1235]

Not true...to the person that wrote about Catholics not speaking in tongues...I am a Catholic Charasmatic, we speak in tongues...phrophesize and practice laying on of the hands...we are slain by the spirit...also if you read your bible the early Jews in Jesus' time spoke in tongues and were shocked when the Gift of The Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles (who were considered dogs) and started speaking in tongues.

[010guitarguy]

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitu

[megasuperawesomezach]

I am a pentecostal, but my church doesnt do anything like this. The only way we are different from Baptist churches, is that we speak in tounges. I think when you play with snakes and drink poison, your basically playing with God! This is going to the EXTREME with your belifs. If I was in a church that did that, I would crap myself twice and I would find someplace to get. I love Jesus, but I aint fixin to pick up no snake.

[teddy1066]

All Christians should drink poison and handle snakes. Amen to that!

[corthew]

@Igottheholyghost1 When the disciples spoke in tongues, everyone heard them in their own language.

But later, when the churches that Paul wrote letters to were doing it, Paul noticed no-one could understand them so he required a translator for the person speaking in tongues.

But I've been in Pentecostal churches and unlike the "unsaved" people from different countries who understood every word the disciples said, it sounded like gibberish to me.

And no translator was present.