Dennis Covington writes about a unique method of worship—snake handling, in his memoir, Salvation on Sand Mountain. He begins as a journalist, looking in on this foreign way of life; however, as time progresses he increasing starts to feel a part of this lifestyle. As a result loses his journalistic approach, resulting in his memoir, detailing his own spiritual journey. Upon the conclusion of his stay in this world, Covington realizes the significance of this journey, and argues in his memoir that
different practices they perform, according to the branch they belong to. One branch that has gained much attention is the snake-handling Christians. Snake handling Christians mostly belong to the Pentecostal ministries. In his short story, “Salvation on Sand Mountain” journalist Dennis Covington writes about his visit to Southern Appalachia, where he first visited a snake handling church. Covington also
Beowulf is an epic about a hero seeking fame and fortune by doing heroic deeds and protecting his people. Dennis Covington, who is the author of Salvation on Sand Mountain, Is a man who writes about the snake handling rituals in Scottsboro, Alabama. Both of these men are on a quest, which is a search for what someone wishes to know or have, to achieve fame and to belong. The quests of Dennis Covington and Beowulf are very similar, but they also share some differences. In this epic, Beowulf is a
all three to form an overall definition of religion based on the work we have done throughout the semester. The three books that I am referring to are Ann Schiller’s Small Sacrifices, Rane Willerslev’s Soul Hunters, and Dennis Covington’s Salvation on Sand Mountain. Ann Schiller’s Small Sacrifices explores religious change among the Ngaju in Borneo, Indonesia. She elaborates on the Indonesian government’s demand on the Ngaju to conform to one of the religions they deem acceptable. In conforming to
family and I went to the Haridwar, the place situated in the lap of Uttaranchal state in the Northern plains of Himalaya mountains covered with the sanctity just like a mountain covered with snow. It is known for its ravishing scenery, religious significance, tourism, and for its admirable culture in Indian history. As soon as my feet touched the sand coarse holy land of salvation, I felt an eternal bliss. The red, blue, purple, and pink flowers were enjoying the cold harmonious breeze on the beautiful
In Salvation on Sand Mountain, the emotional frustrations, cultural hypotheses, and literary images provide insight into the ethics of the author, Dennis Covington. During his dangerous undertakings while submerged in the religious practices of Appalachia, Covington incites anxiety within the reader when discussing worship services involving snakes, and inquisitorial thought when revealing the number of casualties involved, in turn showcasing his own passions and morality. Covington’s rectitude,
share are their physical features. The two provide lush, green and natural environments filled with plentiful amounts of food. Golding describes the island as, “a great platform of pink granite thrust up uncompromisingly through forest and terrace and sand and lagoon to make a raised jetty four feet high. The top of this was covered with a thin layer of soil and coarse grass and shaded with young palm trees” (12). The island and Garden of Eden both had plentiful amounts of supplies essential for survival
crazy, and the list goes on and on. However, one of the negative stereotypes that tend to stick out more prominently than others is that people in Appalachian folk are crazy, serpent handling, Christians. In order for the people of the Appalachian Mountain region to figure out a way to get over this stereotype and move forward in their quest to be no longer considered “outdated”, they must first break down and fully understand what they are going up against. The region’s religion is characterized by
In the novel Salvation on Sand Mountain and in the epic poem Beowulf there is a main character that is going on a quest. A quest is a mission that a person goes on to find some sort of self knowledge whether they are aware of it or not. I believe that Dennis Covington’s quest and Beowulf’s quest are more similar to each other than they are different. Covington’s stated reason for beginning his quest was because he was a journalist and he covered the trial of Glenn Summerford and then he was invited
Dennis Covington’s is to find out more about his family heritage and his spirituality (Covington 114). In Salvation on Sand Mountain, Dennis says, “My journey with the snake handlers had become not so much a linear progression through time as a falling through levels of platitude toward some hard understanding of who I was. I did not know where or when I would arrive
Mountains—they are unequivocally distinctive. Some would believe that mountains are God’s creation that surpasses the heavens, and others would say that the world evolved to form such megalithic structures. Whatever the case, no other creation can match the height of Mount Everest. The tallest man-made buildings are not in relative comparison. When beholding the site of Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world, an individual could never imagine a more vast creation. Burj Khalifa stands
Violent Femmes - Add it up The disc player drones on as I recline peacefully on the pure white sands of my very own desert island. I am the only human being on this island. Ah, peace at last, but as the days turn into weeks and the weeks to months and the months to years I wonder; why have I not gone completely insane? Sentenced indefinitely to solitary confinement on my paradise prison. Yes, it has been a struggle to maintain my sanity, but I have one very special companion; the Violent Femmes
Fable." Readings on Lord of the Flies. Ed. Bruno Leone. Sand Diego: Green Haven Press, 1997. 88-97. Houston, Daryl L. 1995 "Golding's themes" taken from http://www.lookup.com/Homepages/95416/golding.html The Concise Encyclopedia Of Modern World Literature (1963) ,edited by Geoffrey Grigson, New York, Hawthorn Books Inc., pg. 189-190 Woodward, Kathleen. "The Case for Strict Law and Order." Readings on Lord of the Flies. Ed. Bruno Leone. Sand Diego: Green Haven Press, 1997. 88-97.
Roughly 70% of the human body are made of water. The average human can only live without water for about 3 to 5 days. Nothing can exist without out water, water is the source of life. Mircea Eliade (1996) states “Water symbolized the who potentiality; is “fons et origo”, the source of all things and of all existence (p.188). So it makes sense that water plays such a huge role in the religion. While the Islamic, Judaic, Hindu, and Zoroastrian religion may all be different but they do all have practice
which Ralph never loses altogether and it is for her that the majority of things. Therefore, when he does things to get closer to society and believes that his father will come to rescue them. He does not become savage because he keeps the hope of salvation, and when the sailor who rescues them finally arrives and is sure that he is safe, after suffering a cruel persecution, he cries, and prays at the thought of Simon and Piggy, murdered for being sensible. All the evil he has seen on the island, a
Introduction The following pages are my best attempt at writing my very first major project. I pray that it will contain the truth of what God had me learn at the Churches of God retreat center in January of this year. Although my notes seem extensive, it’s virtually impossible to literate all that was taught and shared during this class. However, Dr. Statts, I have confidence that these pages may express at least a hint of your spellbinding teachings. Upon returning to my home church in Dover,