Holy Ghost People (02 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

[aimeeirene]

I'm from southern WV and I'm familiar with these kinds of churches. You should be slow about criticizing them and saying it's not scriptural. These are good people and what they are experiencing is real to them. There is scripture to back this stuff up and what is order and disorder is relative to whom you ask/open for personal interpretation. There is order. It's just different than what you are accustomed to.I know it's different but still try to be understanding. Best Wishes -Amy

[crjetpilot]

I believe these are good people, no argument there. I do think exposing children to this foolishness is dangerous to their physical and mental well being. If people all of a sudden started believing in human sacrifice (claiming that Abraham was going to offer his son as a sacrifice, until God stopped him), should that be allowed too? It's a slippery slope. God forbid if groups like these ever seize the political power that Baptists or Evangelicals have in rural America!

[JesusGurl2011]

@LivingMindfully1975........Th­ey are not stupid..It was just a scripture misinterpreted..And I believe God Honored Their Faith Anyway.Godbless

[justmedrj]

Some people are to educated Ever learning and never coming to the knowage of the truth. Amen

[LivingMindfully1975]

@aimeeirene .........People can do anything and attach a scripture to it in an attempt to justify what they're doing. This is what happens when uneducated people of blind faith interpret scriptures. Picking up poisonous snakes is religious stupidity, it is not true spiritual practice.

[Thomas314161]

People should have faith like this in God. A lot of people are like amphibians, all nice on Sundays, but notorious crooks the rest of the week. The USA is drowning in scams that have robbed people of pensions and life savings & the economy is failing. I believe in leaving wild snakes alone. It is that serpent spirit that the saints shall overcome and emerge victoriously in Christ's Name. I wish I lived in a strong Christian community that have faith like these people.

[LIQUIDFLUIDR12X]

...do they keep SABBBATH ??

[oshun1235]

I belong to a Catholic Charasmatic Church...yes it's a Catholic thing too....depends on how close you want to walk with God....and I can tell you first hand.. The Baptism of The Holy Spirit is real. We speak in tongues, heal, get slain in the spirit..prophesize..everything except handle snakes. And afterwards you are so happy because you are in love...with Jesus. It's like the lady said everyone looks good.

[davy75az]

@thevirgo9 They still do handle snakes and hold services once a week but its not on Sunday. There is another Holiness church in Gauley Bridge that is very similar , but they are not snake handlers.You can hear the loud music coming out of the church but it isnt the same church was was pastored under bro, Preast.

[davy75az]

@1skinnyguy I agree. It amazes me that so many " Christians focus on the snake handling part, but totally miss the main aspect of humble , clean , sanctified Christian living. I was raised this exact way, accept we didnt handle serpents .These churches claim to have a pentecostal fervor, but are Holiness in belief- which makes them different from mainstream charismatic Pentecostalism.

[1skinnyguy]

Sweet, precious children of Jesus. My brothers and sisters in Christ. Speaking simple truth, no ceremonies , no rituals; just pure joy and praise in song and worship. Courteous, calm and kind.

To "crjetpilot"'s comments: No, no need to worry about these people "seizing" political power. They are not entangled in politics. They are merely humble servants of the Lord. And I've never seen the power of God disturb a small child or even wake a baby. There is true peace in these gatherings.

[teddy1066]

Funny how Christians marginalize and judge these humble people. I am an Atheist but if I was religious then I would probably find a church like this.

Snakes, poison, tongues - its no crazier than believing god impregnated a 13 year old virgin and that after a man died he came back to life three days later.