Pre-modern belief + bad exegesis = dying too young. I guess that he died doing what he believed, that counts for something. It does, doesn't it?

Link: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/01/death-of-snake-handling-preacher-shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/?hpt=hp_c3 (via shareaholic.com)