Grasping the Sacred: Disability, Media, and the Embodied Theology of Appalachian Serpent-Handlers

Abstract

This thesis examines the intersection of embodiment, disability, and religious practice within the serpent-handling churches of Appalachia, focusing on how these communities interpret bodily risk and impairment through their theological framework. Drawing on disability theory, media studies, and ethnographic research, the study argues that serpent-handlers' internal understanding of disability, rooted in biblical literalism and divine obedience, differs sharply from external portrayals that sensationalize their practices.

Central to the analysis is the "victim-hero paradigm," which distinguishes between disabilities acquired involuntarily (viewed as afflictions requiring healing) and those resulting from intentional religious ritual (seen as marks of faithful obedience). The thesis further analyzes how popular media, particularly photography, employs visual rhetorics (wondrous, sentimental, exotic, and realistic) to frame serpent-handlers as cultural "others," mirroring historical representations of disabled bodies. By contrasting the communities' self-perception with their mediated depictions, the study reveals how dominant narratives obscure the theological and historical complexities of serpent-handling, reinforcing stereotypes of Appalachian religiosity as deviant or irrational.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, the research challenges reductive portrayals of serpent-handling, advocating for representations that acknowledge the agency, theology, and lived experiences of these practitioners. The study underscores the ethical stakes of documenting embodied faith and the cultural frameworks that shape perceptions of risk, devotion, and difference.