Summary Of Salvation On Sand Mountain

Salvation on Sand Mountain covers the religious journey of Dennis Covington and the fulfillment he gets out of his religious experience with the snake handling practice that is verging on suicide. Covington's journey begins when the newspaper that he is employed by, sends him on an assignment to cover the trial of the Christian preacher from Scottsboro, Alabama. The preacher, Reverend Glenn Summerford is on trial and accused of trying to murder his wife- Darlene. The night of the incident, the reverend became intoxicated and was raging with jealousy, which lead him to hold a gun to Darlene's head and forced her to stick her hand in a cage full of diamondback rattlesnakes (the snakes had been kept in the possession of Glenn and Darlene for

Covington's investigation continues and we see the story quickly evolving from Glenn's trial to the careful unfolding of Covington's spiritual experience. Throughout the book, we learn that there is something about the snakes that quickly draws Covington to the snake handlers and ultimately leads him to attend the religious services. At the beginning of his religious journey, Covington starts off at Glenn's church and eventually branches off attending services at other churches over the Appalachia region. His constant attendance and involvement gives proof that Covington is undeniably drawn to the spiritual intensity and fellowship exhibited by the snake handlers within the church. His fascination leads him to feel spiritually connected to the snakes and ultimately takes up snakes himself. During his spiritual process, Covington has a strong sense that he has somehow been a part of the snake handling culture in his past in one way or another. His intuition and his inability to shake off the notion of his connection with the snakes leads him to look into his family history and the Sand Mountain region. The more Covington looks into his connection, the more he becomes

Durkheim states that religion can meet an individuals basic human needs. We see proof of Durkheim's three theoretical perspectives in Salvation on Sand Mountain with Covington's journey with the snake handlers. Covington's religious journey began while investigating the trial of former Reverend Glenn Summerford. While covering the story, the author stumbles across the snake handling community and from this point forward, the story evolves into the author's own religious progression. Shortly after being assigned to cover the trial, the author discloses that he was in a place in his life where felt that something was missing in his life. However, he was unable to find the missing piece which he knew would help him fill the void within. Covington had been yearning to feel spiritually fulfilled, like he felt when he was growing up and attending the Methodist church in the lake. Around the world, people turn to religion because it helps them feel a spiritual fulfillment that no other means can provide. The rituals or symbols associated with a religion helps strengthen and unify the bond between an individual and a higher power or the religious community. For many snake handlers in the Appalachian region, snake handling was interpreted as a sign of Biblical obedience. The act it self was a life transforming religious experience that made the people of this