One thing many people forget is that the original term used in the Scripture is "serpent," not "snake." And the earliest definition of "serpent" is essentially; a large, scaly thing.....a definition also shared by the word "dragon." The two words were pretty much synonymous with each other when they were first coined, and neither term exclusively meant a legless reptile or something with bat-like wings and breathed fire. So, going upon such a vague definition, nearly any reptile could be described as a "serpent" or "dragon.'
Another good point is that God cursed the "serpent" to crawl upon his belly, implying that the animal did NOT use his belly for locomotion before the curse. This is also subject to interpretation since many lizards and even crocodilians can be said to crawl upon their belly (or drag their belly in the dust; skinks are one example) even though they technically have legs. So its not even for certain the serpent even became legless after the curse.
Furthermore, whatever religion (if any) you may believe in, and however old you think the earth is (6000 yrs or 6 billion), the species of animals that populate the planet this very day did not exist at the creation of the world. There were no ball pythons or leopard geckos or komodo dragons. There were some animals like them, presumably their ancestors, but those exact species were not around.
I am a Christian (or at least I try to be; Lord knows, we're all only human and no one is perfect). This has always been a interesting topic for me and I always try to dispell any misunderstandings concerning snakes and the creature that tempted Eve in the garden. Going by everything I just said, it is my personal belief that snakes, as we know them now, did
not exist before the Fall of Man. I think that the creature that tempted Eve was some sort of prehistoric reptile (perhaps something closer to a dragon as we know) and that after the curse, it birthed the creation of lizards and snakes as we are familiar with today.
Rmorse also brings up a good point. There's many practices and customs and laws in the Old Testament that we do not adhere to anymore. Another example is that if you're disobedient to your parents, they have the right to stone you outside the city. I don't think too many people practice that nowadays!
However, like many have already said, lizards and snakes are just animals and nothing more. Treating them with superstition is ridiculous. After all, attributing blame to those who are innocent just isn'r right. I mean, its wrong for me to say I hate all German people just because the Nazis. Or if I'm prejudice against all Japanese because of Pearl Harbor. Can your mother honestly say that is fair?
Thats just my $.02.
