As I Libertarian, I feel the government should not regulate consensual acts.  Usually, this means I'm speaking out in favor of legalizing vice.  I'd like to mix things up and speak about legalizing what is arguably a virtue.  Mark 16: 17-18, in every translation I've come across, gives Jesus as saying that picking up snakes and drinking deadly poison without harm is a sign of those that believe.    A small minority of Christians take this literally and test their faith with deadly vipers and strychnine.  Except in West Virginia, their religious practice is outlawed.  Coming from the life insurance industry, people can kill themselves all sorts of ways - alcohol, tobacco, aviation, bungee jumping, and even scuba diving (the underwriters are not found of that one).  If an adult wants to handle a snake, is the government right to outlaw their religion?  Or from a more left leaning cannabis-is-natural perspective - rattlesnakes are natural, too.    I do not handle snakes, and I'm not recommending that everyone does so.  I know people get up in arms about this, that's why I'm slipping this back in May.  I don't want to distract from my most recent article on the attempted murder of my daughter.  I also don't want to come off as preachy in this blog either, but I think considering I've spoken about legalizing vice, it is only fair to apply the same logic to religious freedom.    These people don't die that often, considering they go to church twice a week and handle rattlers, copperheads, and cottonmouths.  Some drink poison, too.  Consider that one fellow near Jolo has been bitten 168 times, and does not seek medical attention.  I don't think their explanation should be dismissed out of hand.  Have a look at this video from the BBC...    Now, I know some of you feel these people detract from other Christians.  I'd like you to consider something:      Not long after 9/11, I saw performance art by a reverend in the Church of Satan. He was protesting the Patriot Act, which I also disagreed with.  He was spouting off about being a terrorist, getting cut up, and eventually attempted to sodomize himself with a crucifix dildo as a metaphor for taking your kids to church.     It's not like his points went over my head, they went well under my feet.  I was not alone in my assessment.  One thing I have to say about him, at least I walked away knowing I didn't agree.  He's pretty straight-up about it.    My former Director, who presents himself as a Catholic, mocked God behind closed doors, as he helped cover a co-worker's attempt on a little girl's life.  She did it to get more work from home days and contracting dollars for her spouse.  There were no graven images in SelectQuote, last I checked, but certainly their deceptions make them seductive in a way the Satanist Leyba is not.     What I'm saying is their are many things in the world to be offended by, pick your battles.Children harmed at SelectQuote