A southeastern Kentucky woman was bitten by a snake during a church service and later died, a law enforcement officer said.Linda Long, 48, of London died Sunday at University of Kentucky Medical Center, said Brad Mitchell, a detective with the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.
Long died about four hours after the bite was reported, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Officials said Long attended East London Holiness Church. Neighbors of the church told the newspaper the church practices serpent handling.
Lt. Ed Sizemore of the Laurel County Sheriff's Office said friends went with Long to a local hospital Sunday afternoon, and she was taken to UK.
"She said she was bitten by a snake at her church," Sizemore said.
Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in Kentucky. Snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine. Police said they had not received reports about snake handling at the church.
Snake handling is based on a passage in the Bible, in the Gospel of Mark, that says a sign of a true believer is the power to "take up serpents" without being harmed.
Church officials could not be reached for comment.
The funeral was scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Arthur's Chapel Church in Rosehill, Va., according to the Rosehill Funeral Home.

Serpent's revenge (http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/15947581.htm) :rant:

Apparently she's not a true believer. I wonder if the church will kick her out.

So.....why are they handling venomous snakes?
This reminds me of that guy that jumped into the lion pit.
It would appear that God does not save who don't want to live.

I thought you took the fangs out Bart; no, I thought you did Homer! Dolt.

So.....why are they handling venomous snakes?


Because their holy book tells them that *True Believers* (tm) can handle them without harm.

Wouldn't it be the truest demonstration of Darwinism in action that there could ever be for all true-believing Christians to do as their good book says and handle poisonous snakes regularly??.... and also, if bitten, to forsake all medical treatment in favor of being cured by 'God'.........??

'True believers'? So the snake somehow knows who the 'true believers' are? hah

The very fact that this woman agreed to do something this ridiculous for her religion was prove enough that she was very much a true believer.

'True believers'? So the snake somehow knows who the 'true believers' are?

According to BibleGod,......yes.

The very fact that this woman agreed to do something this ridiculous for her religion was prove enough that she was very much a true believer.

Thing is, she didn't talk to the snake first to see where its' loyalties lie.

Shoulda given Snape or Harry a call first.

Can Snape speak Parseltongue?