 Many writers have attempted to designate one person , often Hensley , as the progenitor of Appalachian religious snake handling . Although these writers have emphasized Hensley 's role in propagating the practice , Kimbrough notes that claims that he originated it are usually unsubstantiated by research , and the origins of the observance are unclear . Hood and Williamson argue that the beginnings of Pentecostal snake handling rites cannot be ascribed to a single person , and that the observance arose independently on multiple occasions . There is no doubt among historians , however , that Hensley helped spread Pentecostal snake handling throughout the Southeast , and that media coverage of Hensley 's ministry was influential in prompting various churches to include the practice in their services . 
