What do you think of this evidence that speaking in tongues is real?

Question

Here's a summary published in the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html?ei=5065&en=5e07cc1f020ef5b8&ex=1163739600&adxnnl=1&partner=MYWAY&adxnnlx=1163053747-MPwgV9Cezy+eJVY6fC/o/w

There's a link to the actual scientific article, but it's not free to read.

I'd like to hear from believers who think the gift of tongues isn't active, and unbelievers who can provide constructive comments.

Peace.

For those of you who wrote speaking in tongues must always be in an earthly language, how do you mesh this with 1 Cor. 13:1, where Paul references "the tongues ... of angels"? Isn't he telling us that some tongues are NOT languages spoken on earth?

As a point of clarification, I do believe in this gift, but do not have it; I've been given other gifts. My point with this question is to get folks who don't believe to consider this further.

Answer 1

thanks for the report it shows we can give up our will without losing control so that as ST.Pall tells us the the spirit can pray as we should. science finding God?

Answer 2

When the gift of speaking in tongues was first poured out on the 120 disciples in Jerusalem, people around them could understand what they were saying. The gift of this speaking in tongues was for the preaching of God's word to spread all over the earth to people with different language. So today a person who claims to speak in tongues must be understood by others. But speaking in tongues can also be said of those who learn a new language to extend this preaching work.

Answer 3

Tongue speaking is a real psychological phenomena and not supernatural.

Look around and investigate and you will find this same phenomena in non christian beliefs such as spiritualism, Wicca and other pagan religions.

1 Corinthians is not proof that tongue speaking is not human languages because it is just an analogy Paul uses it to stress his point. His point is love is greater than all else.

Look at those who practice tongue speaking. Love is rare and the ecstatic utterance is held above all else.

Paul also predicted the cessation of tongues, but those who believe this doctrine claim it will remain until the end and on into eternity.

the tongues today can be taught and can be learned and it is used in other religions, if it was the same as in Acts chapter 2 then it would only be in Christian churches and only in those churches who agree on doctrine. One proof it it is not from God is God is not the author of confusion, and look at the UPC, Jesus only crowd and their beliefs contradict greatly with the Assembly of God crowd and if this was from God those two beliefs that differ so greatly would not have the exact same experience.

Anyone who claim this is from God is stating that God is the author of confusion.

Where is love in tongue speaking? It is not there.

Answer 4

The ecstatic experiencing of speaking in a "strange tongue" is not unique to Christianity. Many religions have believed in this phenomenon. For example, in ancient Greece, the "mystery religions" practiced it; the Sybil was said to speak in a language only the priests could understand, etc, etc. The basic idea around the world is that there is some "sacred speech" that only the gods/God and a few initiates can interpret. Shamans around the world, for example, often speak in a special language. This is a very standard human cultural invention.

Answer 5

I believe in speaking in tongues, however I don't believe is is a prominent spiritual gift and I do not believe all Christians will or should have this gift.

The bible is very clear on this in that it is not an unknown tongue but the gift of speaking in another language that can and should be translated. It is also not to be done in large groups such as during a large Church service.

I have family members that believe that this gift is required in order to be a Christian and that I am going to hell because I don't speak in tongues.

I hope to see them in Heaven with me some day.

God Bless.

Answer 6

problem is Mormons speak in tonges and people from The Way speak in tounges

Mormons, The Way and Petacostles all have different gospels and different Jesus than eachotehr... so their 'tounges' cannot ALL be real

although we should not limit what God can or cannot do... it is wise also not to fall for everythign hook line and sinker... did you know there are people talkign about 'gold dust' appearing when they pray... sometimes people follow experiences and enthusiams a little tooo too much over the word of God

its probably healthiest not to quench the spirit and not to look down on the possibility God might work a certian way... and at the same time maintain a reaonable caution because its hard for soem people to tell the difference between their raw enthusiasm and God's moving

Answer 7

Peace to you too. Speaking in tongue is recorded in the Bible, but that seems to be the only case or example given. Those speaking in tongue were filled with the Holy Spirit, so they could spread the Word to those around them. Speaking in tongue is one of the many gifts given by God to work for people. I've never heard anyone speaking in tongue, and I don't speak in tongue either. But since there's an example in the Bible, it is true that people CAN speak in tongue, although it rarely happens. I know there are churches that encourage the congregation to speak in tongue, when in fact they are just babbling. This is contradictory to what the Bible teaches, I think.

Answer 8

If they could actually speak a language that could be translated and the person speaking in tongues had no way to learn how to speak it, I'd believe it. Otherwise, I think people just act they way because they feel it is proper in their church. Everybody else does it and if they don't, they won't be accepted. I just don't see biologically what could cause a person to act like that.

Answer 9

I have always felt something in me since I was a child, but it wasn't until I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit that I came to understand what this desire to pray this way actually was.

1 Cor 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

Acts 2:5 ¶ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. {was...: Gr. voice was made confounded: or, troubled in mind}
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 ¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Answer 10

I believe in speaking in tongues, but not the way it is being done in churches today. I believe the whole world is being deceived in this, and I dont see anybody searching the scriptures on how it works.

Answer 11

All that says they found was an altered brain state that goes with it. There is nothing new there. That type of thing has been found in several eastern religions and is pretty well documented.

The fact that someone can alter their brain activity is no sign that it is supernatural. You do it every night when you go to sleep.