33 comments for Holy Ghost People - a documentary by Peter Adair (1967) »

1. I am Jewish living in the Holy Land. Some of us play with snakes over here too, however, these snakes will bite the shit out of you! Maybe it is because you are Christian though…I don’t know?

   Comment by Robert Polson — put July 9, 2005 @ 7:40 am

2. I’m almost sure i saw this video on cable television. If its the same one, i was struck by the elecltric ‘rock’ band playing for the congregation. A fascinating unique mixture of different gospel styles backing the trance dancing style i have seen in other cultures. If i knew anything about Jungian philosophy i’d say its archetypical like talking in tongues. Great job. Thanks

   Comment by al angeloro — put July 16, 2005 @ 10:48 am

3. I’m an Anthropology Major at WCU PA. Just saw that film in my “magic, witchcraft, and religion” class. It was mesmerizing. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The trance states, the Tourette’s like symptoms of their outbursts in tongues. Then the guy getting bitten by the snake. (knowing of their refusal of medical attention) I must say it’s a bit shocking to me how fervently devoted these folk are about their ways. It’s both beautiful and frightening at the same time. It rings slightly of zealots in the avid belief.

   Comment by Eric Thompson — put September 1, 2005 @ 11:26 pm

4. I just saw this in an anthropology class. Apparently, the fellow who led the sermon and was bitten by the snake towards the end of the film subsequently died from that bite.

   Comment by Danielle — put December 9, 2005 @ 9:40 am

5. What I can see is gorgeous but the link to the download of this film appears broken
   The Streaming option is not smooth enough for me to
   appreciate the film
   I would appreciate a pointer to any video or
   soundfiles of Adair’s Holy Ghost People or any other music or video pertaining to Holiness Churches.

   Comment by Phoebe Legere — put January 3, 2006 @ 1:26 am

6. I just saw this documentary in a religion class. I think these people are crazy. It’s a very interesting documentary, but it’s hard to believe that people are this insane!

   Comment by jackie — put January 17, 2006 @ 6:55 am

7. I watched this film in no two of my anth/pych classes and found it facinating both times. If anyone is interested there is a great, short and easy book to read called “Salvation on Sand Mountain”. It it written by a journalist who studies these people by submerging himself into the religion and even takes up snakes!
   P.S~ We know Jackie’s not going to be an anthropologist!

   Comment by michelle — put March 2, 2006 @ 2:17 am

8. […] I showed the film Holy Ghost People in my Anthropology of Religion class last week. The film was made in 1967 and it depicts a service in the Holiness Church in West Virginia. It in, church members are shown in trances, speaking in tongues, convlusing, and handling poisonous snakes. I use the film in a lecture on altered states of consciousness and it does a good, albeit dramatic, job of showing how communion with God is accomplished by one group of Christians. […]

   Pingback by FieldNotes: Notes on the Anthropology of British Columbia » Teachable Moment in the Anthropology of Religion — put March 4, 2006 @ 1:17 am

9. I found this to be fascinating! The faith that these people have is truly amazing. I saw this in an Anth class and I just loved it and would love to see it again. I found these people to be very strong in their faith, brave, and wonderfully unique. And Jackie, did you ever think, for a moment, that just maybe you do some things that people think are insane?

   Comment by Lauren — put March 22, 2006 @ 6:20 am

10. I saw this film about 15 years ago in my anthropology of religion class when I was pursuing my BA degree in anthropology. Now I teach courses in anthropology and philosophy part-time while I work on my doctorate. I always had the dream of teaching a course in the anthropology of religion and including this film but have been unable to locate it. I’m pleased to see that it is still available and being shown in classes today.

    Comment by Douglas Anderson — put July 19, 2006 @ 2:07 pm

11. I just saw this in my Religious Anthro class and I was mesmerized by the vacant yet completely possesed stares of the first interviewees. As grainy and lo-fi as it is it’s actually quite lyrical from an aesthetic standpoint. It’s beautiful to watch as a ritual. The hollowed gazes remind me of Carl Theodor Dryer’s Le Passion De Jean d’Arc and how she just stared into the abyss of divinity. Great work of field documentation!

    Comment by Philippe — put September 16, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

12. I think even though Jackie may have been slightly ethnocentric in her remark, people do need to draw the line somewhere and Jackie was just drawing hers. She should be free to state her opinion without any type of criticism, isn’t that what this part of the site is about?

    Comment by Nikki — put October 2, 2006 @ 11:59 am

13. I just wanted to say that all snake handlers are not what u see in these films. The particular groups that are filmed are Jesus Name,or Jesus Only. We do not all believe that way, nor do we all believe that it is the will of God to be bitten and hurt. I am an Holiness Preacher and we as Holiness folks do not believe if God annoints u to take up serpents, that they will hurt u. We believe that if God does annoint u to handle serpents that u will in fact go unharmed, even if the serpent bites u. As an example, read the passage of scripture found in the book of Acts Chapter 28, vs 1-9. This is a good example of how those of us who are Holiness believe the scriptures. Serpent handling along with the other 4 signs are meant to be used to cause unbelievers to turn to God and believe in him. Thank u for the privilage to write this on this site. Bro. Dean Bowling

    Comment by Dean Bowling — put October 16, 2006 @ 7:47 am

14. I recall seeking this film in my cultural anthropology class at the Univ. of Colorado back in 1972. I finally found a DVD of it on Amazon and immediately ordered it. It offers an astounding view of a group of believers who have become obsessed with their church and religion, spending three or four hours a night several times a week, in addition to Sundays, at church. The film is difficult to turn away from, with its scenes of people in trances, writhing on the floor and handling deadly snakes. Just as fascinating are the shots of the small children, bored and weary, being kept up way past their bedtime.

    Comment by John Burgeson — put October 20, 2006 @ 8:09 pm

15. Amen!!Prais God there are Holy true people left in this crazy sinful world.
    Bless all these people who fear and follow our father God!!

    Comment by katherine — put February 6, 2007 @ 8:53 am

16. Pumpkin Brown will always be remembered .The Dolly Pond church will always be remembered!

    Comment by katherine — put February 6, 2007 @ 8:57 am

17. I watched the movie and am still numb by these folks “faith” in what they believe. However being Pentecostal myself we do not believe that “taking up serpents” was taught or reaffirmed by any other writer in the New Testament, therefore Jesus was using this statement to point to what would later happen to Paul in the book of Acts when he “accidently” took up a serpent while building a fire. The other things Jesus mentioned in that passage [Casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, laying hands on the sick] were in fact reaffirmed elsewhere in the scriptures. Yet, taking up serpents was never reaffirmed by any new testament writer.
    It leaves us with the conclusion that we today are “not” to intentionally take up serpents and drink poision to prove our faith in God. If people are so interested in displaying their faith, then prove it by their “works”, thats what the writer James said.
    Faith without works is dead……and he isn’t talking about taking up serpents and drinking poision! All it takes folks is a little Biblical study and one can clearly see the reason that many people have died from snake bites in these movements….its not the will of God! Thanks you for your time, I trust you will study the scriptures for yourselves.

    Comment by Jerry — put July 17, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

18. Rev. Elsie Priest did not die of the snake bite in this film

    Comment by Steven Smith — put September 13, 2007 @ 8:51 pm

19. I teach sociology to fresh/soph classes and have been using “Holy Ghost People” for years. My classes explore the writings of Marx and Durkheim and in watching this film, they compare and contrast the views of these classic sociological theorists. Peter Adair took the absolutely necessary “neutral eye” with this fundamentalist group in this film, which adds validity and honesty to it’s message of religious diversity. I think this is an incredibly well done film — powerful and spellbinding. My students always gasp at the ending bite — and at the sad, worried, but inactive response by the congregation. I wish this film were available on DVD. It really is splendid.

    Comment by Anne Bevilacqua — put December 2, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

20. I think it would be hard to find a sweeter-seeming group of people than the people in this film. I think you have to admire them for putting their money where their mouth is at least. I would really love to visit a church like this. I would also love to know more about the people in this film.

    Comment by Andrew Rush — put January 25, 2008 @ 2:47 am

21. […] Distributor: Available from GPod […]

    Pingback by Religion Films » Blog Archive » Holy Ghost People — put January 29, 2008 @ 6:39 am

22. I really enjoyed this film and I would love to visit a church like this. I personally would not take up the serpents but I feel that these people are looking to please God in any way possible by literally interpreting the bible. I believe they are genuinely good hearted and kind people who don’t intend to bring harm to others but they are there to help those in need, and no one is being forced to go this church, but anyone is welcome. This is just another form of cultural values, ideas, and behavior being expressed, of a people living in a different social class to form diversity in our society. This is not a good idea if you value your health, but no one is going to this church and handling the serpents in order to commit suicide.
    The people of the Holiness church in Scrabble Creek West Virginia are very serious about their faith and they will do anything that the Bible says is right to do based on their literal interpretation. The chapters in the book of Mark “These things shall come to them that believe, in my name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak in new tongues they shall pick up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall in no wise hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” are taken literally. I personally take the bible literally in many areas but I believe in the text where Jesus gives the great commission Mark 16:15-19 He is stating that if we were to accidentally pick up a serpent as Paul did or accidentally drink a deadly thing then we would be protected if they were babptized in the Holy Spirit (saved). This does not mean that we should test God by putting ourselves in dangerous situations. This film closely resembles the film Bisha in some ways because they believe that if you have done nothing wrong then your tongue won’t blister, and you won’t die from the snake bite but if you are not in Gods grace then you might die as in Corinthians Chapter 28 versus 1-9 when Paul was bit on the hand but survived.

    Comment by Wayne — put March 27, 2008 @ 10:43 am

23. hello I would just like to say this . I amm 26 yrs old I gre up in a small pentecostal church in southern illinois about 5 hours south of chicago , although we did not take up the sepents in our services at the church , I recently started about 2 yrs ago attenting a pentecostal church that does handle . about 4 months ago I had my first experience with the drinking of the poison and hey guess what I am still here glory be to god .. …. so I guess he does have a purpose for me here .. peple can call us crazy , brain, cultish, you can call me anything you want , because I believe what the bible says , I also believe 100% in the word of GOD..if you have never experienced this you really should. you do not need to take up the serpent but you can always watch …. michael illinois

    Comment by michael — put April 14, 2008 @ 2:39 am

24. I found out the fellow in the video that was bitten was Elsie O. Priest. He did not die from the bite that day and lived a very long age. There are several snake churches here in this part of West, Va. If you want to know more just google Elsie O Priest…. I may have mixed up the spelling… try if diferent ways.. I really admire the faith of these folks.. For more on this visit www.myspace.com/bluefieldbluegrassband

    Comment by Chris Dorton — put December 12, 2008 @ 5:59 am

25. […] Michelle Ramirez (University of the Sciences in Philadelphia): There’s always the classic “Holy Ghost People” by Peter Adair, which shows folks in Appalachia (in what very much looks like trance-like states) handling snakes. [You can also get this documentary in a series of six YouTube clips starting here; I’ve embedded below another clip that contains some of the most relevant footage] […]

    Pingback by Trance Captured on Video « Neuroanthropology — put June 15, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

26. […] “Holy Ghost People” by Peter Adair, which shows folks in Appalachia (in what very much looks like trance-like states) handling snakes. You can also get this documentary in a series of six YouTube clips starting here […]

    Pingback by Trance states and ethnographic film | refractal — put June 27, 2009 @ 12:01 am

27. wow its cool

    Comment by jr. — put September 29, 2009 @ 2:35 am

28. […] best tuesday updated HER a little bit–some new links and fresh stuff in the PEOPLE and K9 galleries. this shit weather and early winter darkness is making it nearly impossible for me to function like a human being, and makes the idea of shooting photos seem like the last thing anyone would want to do when you could just crawl in bed and wait for summer instead. i even gutted my bedroom to “make some space” (not a lot!) to shoot in if the mood ever strikes me. (which it’s not, by the way) now that it’s just me in the apartment, i feel like it’s ok to have every single piece of furniture i own crammed into one room.i’ve been watching a lot of documentaries lately, sort’ve to prepare myself for the vastly unentertaining wasteland of television programming i will have to survive once sons of anarchy goes off the air. i watched born into brothels, which was the most depressing piece of film i’ve ever had to watch. but it did help fuel my arguement that artists are mostly complete bullshit because ANYONE can make beautiful shit. and i just finished downloading searching for the wrong eyed jesus, brother’s keeper, (both as suggested by molly) and holy ghost people. i would LOVE more suggestions for any documentaries about the rural south, appalachia/”mountian folk”, serpent handlers, etc etc..absolutely in love with that photo. i’ve got the best boys in my life.i have been watching this flashy little boxer for a couple of days now (the idea of adopting her for myself is totally botched–she is NOT an apartment dog at all. and having her around really solidified my loyalty to boston terriers, frenchies and other SMALL smashface dogs.) and you can really see how impressed popeye is with the whole situation. as if it’s not bad enough he gets shuffled around from one apartment to another, now he has to deal with this. poor little man. […]

    Pingback by best tuesday « — put November 18, 2009 @ 12:24 am

29. I have been doing research on glossolalia (speaking in tongues) for a paper. It was suggested to me several times to watch Holy Ghost People, which I did end up doing. I have actually watched it several times in the last couple days. It is totally amazing! I love the music and the people.

    One thing I have come across in my research that some people may be interested in is this :

    “…textual scholars are agreed that Mark 16:9-20 was not part of the original Marcan text. The most trustworthy extant Greek manuscripts end with Mark 16:8″.

    pg. 14 of Tongues: To Speak or Not To Speak, The Nature of Glossolalia/ By Donald W. Burdick

    So this means that the part of the bible that people interpret as literally telling them to handle snakes and drink poison was not part of the original bible, but was added later.

    For those fundamentalists out there: I am not attacking your religion. The guy that wrote this book is a theologian and a total believer.

    It is a little strange, though, to interpret literally a text that has been imprecisely translated and added to.

    Comment by Maria — put November 19, 2009 @ 9:18 am

30. From what I’ve read, glossolalia is little more than meaningless utterances, and that the language centers of the brain experience a lower level of activity during these episodes.

    Comment by John Burgeson — put November 21, 2009 @ 7:15 am

31. I am British and last year moved to Scrabble Creek in Gauley Bridge WV. I became obsessed with the abandoned “House of Prayer” a few buildings away from my home. I was photographing the building inside and out, the junk that was left there was fascinating to me, old bibles, children’s toys, a row of toilets, a broken piano….. It was later I heard rumours of snake handling services which brought me to find this film.

    They church has moved to a new building and though I have not dared enter they still play great raw and aggressive music for the holy soirit accompanied by strange moaning from the congregation. I am viewed with suspicion by the congregation as I sit on the boulders outside just listening.

    Comment by Gavin Wissen — put July 8, 2010 @ 9:10 pm

32. Hi Gavin — I’d be interested is seeing what the church in the film looks like today. Can you e-mail one or two of them to me? My e-mail is jburgie@mac.com. Thanks,

    Comment by John Burgeson — put July 10, 2010 @ 1:12 am

33. Scrabble Creek services are held every Friday evening with a once-a-month service on the second Sunday. Its very small. Most of the members are directly related to Rev. Preast. To be correct, his name was spelled Elzie Otis Preast, and not the female ” Elsie”. The church is pastored by his son -in -law, and they do not meet regularly on Sunday mornings.Snakes are not handled every service if you choose to attend.

    Comment by David Burnette — put July 28, 2010 @ 10:51 am

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