Snakes = Evil?

SquirrelCV · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:01 PM

I'm sure we've all dealt with someone who clings to the notion that snakes "embody evil," "symbolize evil," or have some other reference to Biblical serpents.

It usually comes up in casual talk too. Something leads up to the "so what kind of pets do you have" question. Mention snakes, and for most people it's all over. They want to drop the conversation because they think snakes are evil. I just shake my head and say "it's too bad you think that. They make great pets."

Now, I'm Christian. I don't think snakes are/symbolize evil at all.

What do you think?

jbd123 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:18 PM

I'm a Christian too, and I definitely don't believe that snakes are the embodiment of evil. It's just ignorant that people believe they are evil just because there were some evil "serpents" in the bible. Okay...if they were evil it's because they were more than just a serpent...they were filled with something evil. What about the herd of pigs that the prophet cast the demons into? So now are pigs evil?

There are many biblical references where animals were "evil" or had supernatural like powers. That doesn't make that particular species of animal an evil one.

Oh, and what about the story about Moses turning his staff into a serpent that ate the Pharaoh's two priest's serpents? That snake was a symbol of God's power over evil.

leoares27 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:22 PM

I used to work with a girl who read the bible and she also insisted that snakes were the devil she said it was to bad cuz she thought they looked cool. she said she would never have anything to do with them because of the bible. it was weird, cuz she's a "cool' girl and I still get along with her, she doesn't think bad of ppl who have snakes (she actually wants a T)
I just never would have pegged her as someone who thought the way she does!

BlackLava · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:50 PM

i really dont care what people think when i tell them i have snakes

there are a few that just dont wanna have anything to do with them, but most of them get curious and ask a bunch of questions about them, although they dont wanna own any themselves, and others just love them and ask me when they can see my snakes

ive actually been pretty impressed by the number of people who get curious and wanna know about them

telefrag · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:53 PM

I a very unreligous person, and I have some pretty evil snakes.

but seriously, you can use points like "if snakes were evil, why would god still permit them to live on earth?, do they serve as a reminder of temptation, does god tell you snakes are evil, or are you basing it on some story in a book?"

people usually can't hold on to the "snakes are evil" argument very long, because all they are basing it on is interpretation of a line in a story, and it has no other basis.

snakes are in fact one of "gods creatures" with meaning and purpose, and like it or not, they benefit the human race far more than they put it in peril.
Even the most "divine" spirited people can get that.

louise · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:19 PM

i have had many of them experiences. my favorite one was...after i divorced my x husband and i got into snakes, my X mother in law came over to see her grandchildren. she seen i had snakes and she said 'you now have satan living in your house' i told her 'no, he moved out when i divorced your son' that was the worst fight me and her ever got into and i loved it

i believe in God 100% and snakes were supposedly cursed in the adam and eve days. my belief is if God still considers snakes to be evil/cursed then he feels the same way about man cause adam and eve were cursed at the same time as the snake

snakes are not evil. well little max is debatable.

jbd123 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louise

i have had many of them experiences. my favorite one was...after i divorced my x husband and i got into snakes, my X mother in law came over to see her grandchildren. she seen i had snakes and she said 'you now have satan living in your house' i told her 'no, he moved out when i divorced your son' that was the worst fight me and her ever got into and i loved it

i believe in God 100% and snakes were supposedly cursed in the adam and eve days. my belief is if God still considers snakes to be evil/cursed then he feels the same way about man cause adam and eve were cursed at the same time as the snake

snakes are not evil. well little max is debatable.

LOL @ your x mother-in law.... XD

I actually think that Legless lizards are the result of what happened at the garden of eden...It would make sense. And they're not too terribly evil either, I actually would own one if not every single one I have run into for sale was wild caught...

louise · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

I actually think that Legless lizards are the result of what happened at the garden of eden

i agree.

BlackLava · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louise

she seen i had snakes and she said 'you now have satan living in your house' i told her 'no, he moved out when i divorced your son' that was the worst fight me and her ever got into and i loved it

omg, haha!!

blfresh · #10 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 04:53 PM

This is interesting. I get this all the time. I've been a pastor for 32 years and I'm also a theologian. Sooooo..... The Bible doesn't say that snakes are evil. In fact there is one account where people were told to look at a figure of a snake on a pole and they would be healed - hence the serpent in the medical logo. The "snakes = evil" thing is derived from an incident in the garden of Eden where Satan takes on the form of a serpent. It also states the serpent was the most beautiful creature in the Garden. I also think that the idea of serpent = evil is perpetuated not only by Christians who are ignorant but by common pop culture - horror movies, music, stories, tattoos, etc. I'm not at all saying that these things are wrong. I've seen tats of Satan next to a snake, watched a movie about a woman locked in a house with a black mamba by her vengeful husband, young snake lovers dressed gothic carrying their boids in public, etc. etc, ad nauseum. This too perpetuates the myth that snakes are evil. We have to be responsible in the way that we present these wonderful animals. They aren't on this planet to make us feel macho or superior or cool. They serve a purpose and should be respected.

Boaman79 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 05:12 PM

I agree with those here. I am a Christian as well and believe God cursed them but they are still his creation. Ill tell you what would be evil...a Burm walking up to you upright like they once did according to the Bible..

Praise the Lord for curses. !

Sakara · #12 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 06:06 PM

I agree with what was already stated many times, lol... I'm a Christian as well and don't feel they are evil... God made every living thing and I feel that it is the individual that chooses to be evil, and hence, goes to the bad place when they die... Or to live, accepting God as their savior and go to Heaven... An animal doesn't have that choice to become evil... So if u believe that every living thing is born innocent until they willingly choose a different path, the animal is living off instinct and survival, not choosing an un-Godly path, lol... Hence, they are not evil... A little naughty and mischievous is a different story

TammyJamaica · #13 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 06:32 PM

I think religion is one of the things we are not supposed to discuss on this site...if this is about religion at all....

Anyway before it is locked down, let me just say that NO animal is "Evil". Evil exists only in human beings. Some of them.

SquirrelCV · #14 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TammyJamaica

I think religion is one of the things we are not supposed to discuss on this site...if this is about religion at all....

Anyway before it is locked down, let me just say that NO animal is "Evil". Evil exists only in human beings. Some of them.

I didn't mean for it to be a religion thread. It's more about the bad image that snakes get in general, focusing mainly on how they're seen as "evil."

I agree with you though about the evil in human beings part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blfresh

This is interesting. I get this all the time. I've been a pastor for 32 years and I'm also a theologian. Sooooo..... The Bible doesn't say that snakes are evil. In fact there is one account where people were told to look at a figure of a snake on a pole and they would be healed - hence the serpent in the medical logo. The "snakes = evil" thing is derived from an incident in the garden of Eden where Satan takes on the form of a serpent. It also states the serpent was the most beautiful creature in the Garden. I also think that the idea of serpent = evil is perpetuated not only by Christians who are ignorant but by common pop culture - horror movies, music, stories, tattoos, etc. I'm not at all saying that these things are wrong. I've seen tats of Satan next to a snake, watched a movie about a woman locked in a house with a black mamba by her vengeful husband, young snake lovers dressed gothic carrying their boids in public, etc. etc, ad nauseum. This too perpetuates the myth that snakes are evil. We have to be responsible in the way that we present these wonderful animals. They aren't on this planet to make us feel macho or superior or cool. They serve a purpose and should be respected.

Wow. Thank you for such a well-thought-out response! That's exactly what I was looking for. Pop culture ruins lots of things and creates the stereotypes that make people turn on one another.

angrybananapeel · #15 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 11:27 PM

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life
Genesis 3:14, KJV

You can see how someone might call a snake evil based upon that verse.

telefrag · #16 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angrybananapeel

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life
Genesis 3:14, KJV
You can see how someone might call a snake evil based upon that verse.

so what was a "serpent" back then?

It was sorta like peer pressure, dang that free will... too bad the "serpent" had to suffer for a humans choice... guess that part has held true through time.

angrybananapeel · #17 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telefrag

so what was a "serpent" back then?

It was sorta like peer pressure, dang that free will... too bad the "serpent" had to suffer for a humans choice... guess that part has held true through time.

Hey man. It makes no sense to me. I guess before serpents were cursed they had legs, now they have spurs. Hey, why am I feeding f/t rats? I got lossa free dust everywhere.

Stargazer · #18 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 02:32 AM

If I were going to take the time to respond to someone like that, I would probably read them blfresh's post--it's a good one. However, I usually just ignore those intolerant types. I can't relate to them at all and have never been able to sway their opinions on anything. I just smile and nod or say "Thank you. We are all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view." Something like that.

angrybananapeel · #19 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stargazer

If I were going to take the time to respond to someone like that, I would probably read them blfresh's post--it's a good one. However, I usually just ignore those intolerant types. I can't relate to them at all and have never been able to sway their opinions on anything. I just smile and nod or say "Thank you. We are all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view." Something like that.

Or just remind them to "avoid the Noid!"

Stargazer · #20 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 02:38 AM

Actually, I have a list of 40 things to say to people like that. Here are a few:

1. "I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid."

2. "I don't know what your problem is. But I'll bet it's hard to pronounce."

3. "I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth."

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