Speaking in Tongues?

Question

What exactly does it refer to and what religion uses that practice?

Answer 1

To me, it's like the language of God.
God doesn't speak "english" or "german"
and when his Spirit moves through a
person, speaking to a crowd
it comes out sounding quite jumbled.

Real "speaking of the tounges" occurs
when there is someone present
that is blessed with the interpretation.
There isn't much purpose in
speaking through someone if there's
noone there to also translate it to the
crowd of worshippers.

This practice can be seen in many different
Christian groups, depending upon the
energy in the crowd, and the need to
get a message across to a group of
people.

It's hard to tell these days what is acting
and what is genuine, but if you find
a good church family, full of sincere worshippers, God is in that sanctuary,
and will very likely have a message
for the group.

Answer 2

In Acts, the people talked in tongues at Pentecost. Acts chapter two in the Holy Bible.
There were people from many different regions with different languages present for Pentecost. Well, when the Holy Spirit came down and filled the people they started speaking in tounges... aka.. everyone understood what was being said even though there were many different languages present.

I know the Pentecostal religion still uses this practice.
I don't know about any others. However, the Bible tells us not to talk in tongues without an interpreter present.

Answer 3

Mainly Christians - They do it when they run out of words to pray - the faith is so much, they don't realize this fact. Even they wouldn't know what they spoke or communicated - because of that it doesn't count as speaking - there is another word in the English language for this and it's called - Jabber - or Gibberish - this is when you don't know what you are talking about !

The funny thing is almost everyone jabbers the same thing - though they claim that they mean something different.

Answer 4

Christians believe that the Holy Spirit (who is sent by God as to comfort and strengthen human beings) gives Christians the gift of "speaking in tongues". This can take several forms - I used to know the Greek names, don't ask me now!
1. Being given the gift to speak a foreign language without instruction, often in order to preach the gospel to people who speak other languages
2. Being given the gift of a private, supernatural prayer language, which the speaker may or may not entirely understand - some Christians pray in tongues when "words have failed them", or when they are at the end of their tether and are not able to formulate any logical prayer to offer to God
3. Being given the gift to receive messages from God in a supernatural way, which the speaker may or may not understand himself - this gift goes hand in hand with the gift of interpretation of tongues, which another person in the congregation may exercise.

Many people are totally freaked out by tongues. Including many Christians. However, the book of Acts details the gift of tongues being given to the early Church, and Scripture documents that it is an authentic gift. Please note that any looney who talks in tongues without interpreting his words (or having an interpreter present) is committing a sin. This gift, when it is exercised in public, must be used with sensitivity, as it should never be used to alienate others. I know lots of nutbar weirdoes have given this gift a bad name.

I attend an Anglican church and lots of people pray in tongues there. But we don't get weird about it. It's a private gift that anyone can ask for. Certainly no-one ever PREACHES in tongues, that's a bit mad... what would the point be?

Answer 5

I think speaking in tongues is simply when the person is trying to say like a million words in 10 seconds and they all go flowing together like 10 Bone Thugs-n-Harmony songs all being played in fast forward all at once.

Answer 6

People who speak in tongues are called Pentecostals...there are many different denominations who are Pentecostals...Assemblies of God is one of them (that is where I go)...speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced in Acts chapter 2..."They spoke as the Spirit gave utterance." It is a language, and it is real. Hope that this helps.

Answer 7

In my opinion, fanatics who take the bible literally and who don't know how to teach speak in tongues. According to the bible, speaking in tongues does not help anyone who doesn't understand what is being said. Praying in English for me works. My advice for anyone is to avoid charismatic churches who teaches all of that kd[[sdk,, dkkdooe, w00wkmchid, and go to either a baptist or non-charismatic church.

Answer 8

Depending on the listener and the context; an unknown foreign language (xenoglossia), as meaningless syllables, or as an unknown mystical language; the utterances sometimes occur as part of religious worship.

Answer 9

utter nonsense

pretentions about speaking languages of higher powers

look out for "Pentecostal" churches / denominations

a few include
Assemblies of God
Church of God
Church of God of Prophecy
United Pentecostals
Pentecostal Holiness
many others including a slew of "Charismatic" organizations

Answer 10

It means speaking words that nobody understand. These are people claiming to see God that nobody sees, telling truths that could never be verified, show kindness that cannot be felt and claiming facts that never happen.