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University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road, Tyler’s Green High Wycombe, Bucks, England HP10 8HR 790 20S5 AMBROSE, KENNETH PAUL A SER PENT-HAMDLI NO CHURCH IN A MIDWESTERN CITYS A STUDY OF COMMITMENT. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, P H .D ., 197B University M icrofilm s International 300 n . z e e b r o a d , am n a r b o r , mi 48106 © Copyright by , Kenneth Paul Ambrose 1978 A SERPENT-HANDLING CHURCH IN A MIDWESTERN CITY: A STUDY OF COMMITMENT DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kenneth Paul Ambrose, B.A., M.Div., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 1978 Reading Committee: Approved By Professor Russell R. Dynes Professor Alfred C. Clarke Professor Christen T. Jonassen Department of Sociology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Russell Dynes, for the help he has given to me during the course of this study; his help and suggestions were greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Dr. Alfred Clarke and Dr. Christen Jonassen for their suggestions and support. A study such as this could not have been accomplished without the sacrifices made by my wife, Sharon, and my two sons, Scott and Paul. The many days and nights they were alone while I was traveling with the serpent-handlers, attend­ ing the services, working in my office, or developing photo­ graphs in the darkroom can never be repaid, but I so greatly appreciate their support and patience. My appreciation is extended to the members of the serpent-handling church. Without their willingness to permit me in their services, their homes, and their lives, this study could never have been accomplished. While many may disagree with their beliefs and practices, their sincerity, love, and friendship for their religion, and for their fellowmen permeates their church and their daily lives. My thanks are extended to all of them. VITA January 3, 1940 . Born - Lost River, West Virginia 1962 ............. B.A., West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, West Virginia 1965 ............. M.Div., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 1966 ............. Post-graduate Work, University of Edinburgh, Scotland 1967 ............. Minister of Humphreys United Methodist Church, Tornado, West Virginia 1970.. ............. M.A., Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 1970-1972 ......... Teaching Associate, Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1972-1974 .... Teacher, Mansfield Campus, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio 1975-1978 .... Instructor of Sociology, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia PUBLICATIONS Photographs have appeared in the following publications: Curry, Timothy J., and Clarke, Alfred C. Introducing Visual Sociology. Dubuque, la.: Kendall-Hunt Publishing Co., 1977. Pelton, R. W., and Carden, K. W. Snake Handlers: God-Fearers or Fanatics? Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1974. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Sociology Studies in Sociology of Religion. Professor Russell R. Dynes Studies in Urban Sociology. Professor Christen T. Jonassen Studies in Social Stratification. Professor Alfred Clarke iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................... ii VITA ....................................... ............. iii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................... vii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ...................................... 1 Significance of the Study ................... 3 Scope of the S t u d y .......................... 6 Definitions of Terms ........................ 6 Organization of the Study ................... 10 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................. 12 S u m m a r y ....................................... 24 III. METHODOLOGY ...................................... 26 Summary . ................................... 37 IV. T H E O R Y ............. 39 S u m m a r y ......................................... 4 3 V. APPLICATION OF COMMITMENT THEORY TO ASPECTS OF SERPENT-HANDLING CHURCH SERVICES ............... 4 5 Instrumental Commitment ...................... 45 Affective Commitment ........................ 48 Moral Commitment ............................ 51 S u m m a r y ....................................... 58 VI. F U N E R A L S .......................................... 61 S u m m a r y ....................................... 65 VII. SUMMARY OF THE DATA FROM THE INTERVIEWS .... 68 VIII. SUMMARY AND C O N C L U S I O N S ......................... 89 v Page BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................... 95 APPENDIXES ................... 100 Appendix A: Interview Guide ................. 101 Appendix B: Types of Serpents Used in the Church Services and Symptoms of the Snake B i t e s .......................................... 105 Appendix C: Strychnine ...................... 109 Appendix D: Notes From the Diary of a Serpent-Handier ............................ 117 Appendix E: Sample of Field Notes ........... 120 Appendix F: Fundamentals and Government of a Serpent-Handling Church .................... 126 Appendix G: Application of Visual Sociology in a Serpent-Handling Church ............. 134 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Man Handling Serpent During a Service ........... 77 2. The Serpent Was in the Process of Biting ..... 78 3. Group's Attention Immediately Directed Toward the V i c t i m ....................................... 79 4. The Members Supported the Victim Both Physically and Also With Their P r a y e r s ................... 80 5. A Group of the "Saints" Formed Around the Victim . 81 6. A Minister Assesses the Seriousness of the Bite . 82 7. Prayers Offered for Victim ........................ 83 8. Group of Saints Surround the Victim .............. 84 9. Surrounded by Saints, Victim Was Seated on the Right Side of the C h u r c h ........................ 85 10. Victim Removed Outside for Fresh A i r ........ 86 11. Victim at Nearby Home of a M e m b e r .......... 87 12. The Urban Churches Were in the Downtown Area . 136 13. Storefront Church in Urban O h i o ............... 137 14. Bumper Message on Car of a Serpent-Handier .... 138 15. This Photograph Communicates Various Aspects of Com m i t m e n t ..........................................139 16. This Was the Beginning of a " P r ess" ................ 140 17. The Prayer Cloths Were Brought to the Service Where Oil Was Placed Upon I t ...................... 141 18. Members Placing Their Hands on Prayer Cloths and Praying for Them ........................ 142 vii Figure Page 19. Healing Occurred by the Laying on of Hands and the Prayers Offered. All Members Pray at the Same T i m e ..........................................143 20. In the Back of the Church the Children Will Imitate Their Parents by Dancing .......................... 144 21. This Boy Had Fasted for Seven Days in Preparation for This E v e n t ..................................... 14 5 22. Footwashing Was Performed by Both Men and Women . 146 23. These Three Men Traveled Three Hundred Miles to be on a T. V. Talk Show in Order to Testify to Others About Their Faith ......................... 14 7 24. This Woman Held Her Hand Directly Above the Flame for Fifty-Five Seconds and Her Hand Was Not B u r n e d .............................................. 148 25. This Man Held the Flame Near His Face and Was Not B u r n e d ..........................................149 26. Fire is Usually Placed on the Arms or Face, and a Few Will Place Their Feet in the Fire .... 150 27. This Photograph Illustrates That Not Everyone Received the Same Message From