Is speaking in tongues similar too.........?

Question

Having an epileptic seizure?

Answer 1

I doubt very much whether there is any similarity at all.

Answer 2

You made me laugh! Actually, speaking in tongues as it is referred to in the Bible was the ability to speak in foreign languages (this happened at a time when many people from many regions were in one place)- if you look at Acts 2, it says that every man heard in his own language (verses 5 to11). The way it is often interpreted today, I suppose it could look similar to an epileptic seizure but that is really not being fair to epileptics... And, let's not be insulting, please, to either those 'speaking in tongues' or those with epilepsy.

Answer 3

Speaking in tongues is one of the manifistations of the Holy Spirit mentioned in I Corthinans 12. Speaking in tongues is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. The only requirement of the person that has the gift of tongues is to give the spirit a voice and the words will automatically come out. These words my sound Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, African, and many other languages.

A person that speaks in tongues is communicating to God. The person does not understand what he or she is saying but God does. The spirit inside that person is praying the perfect prayer for that person to God. God will answer that prayer.

Speaking in tongues is a real language! The bible also mention in I Corithians 13 that a person can ask God for the gift of interpretation of tongues in order to understand what he or she is saying in tongues.

Answer 4

no, it is either gibberish or memorized passages. You have to listen closely to know what I mean when I say that. In my church going days... I had an encounter with the charismatic churches... I listened very closely out of curiosity... if you listen very closely, you will notice that the passages and interpretations (translations) uttered are the same words/passages said by the same people. (You can tell just by listening to the English translation... if you try picking up the sentences they are saying and try to memorize them and recall them the following week or whenever the next utterance is.... you'll see that it is the same 6 or so sentences). I don't believe it is from God.... because if I did believe in God... I know God would want to provide us with variety and want to tell us different things. He wouldn't have someone say the same passage over and over and over again... and he certainly would want us to speak to him in a language that we ourselves understand... and that would be audible to His own ears.

But that is just my opinion and observation.

Out of the two, I would be more concerned with epileptic seizure. That involves your life and requires immediate attention.

I'm sure 'God' would be just as happy hearing you speak to Him in English... naturally... and to know and understand what you are saying... so you know you mean it and that what you say is meaningful. Don't you think so?

If there was such a language as 'speaking in tongues'... how come besides the NIV, KJV... nothing was ever translated into the "speaking in tongues" language? I mean, especially since the Bible has been translated into sooo many languages already...


in response to didjlord's "in a way, you are not in control of your tongue..."... that's why speaking in tongues is not real like epilepsy.... because if it's a way of communing with God... one of the fruits of the Spirit is "self-control"...

must be either from the Devil or made-up because it is a show of lack of control. With God involved... "self-control"... orderly...

Answer 5

Having been witness to many a pentecostal tongue babel I can tell you that "speaking in tounges" is simply an abstract way of expressing deep seated emotions in the subconscious. The result is a "spiritual" expereince and from what I've seen it actually may have some benefit to the individual as it seems to be a way of destressing as well as expressing things they might not be able to in plain language.

Answer 6

No.
First, I must clarify which "speaking in tongues" is meant." There are two: "Glossalalia" is the apparently nonsense repetition of syllables that occurs in some Pentecostal denominations and is not any known language (tho it could be unknown to any human, I'm not going there.) It is presented as "speaking in tongues," but most others think it is a psychological manifestation of a kind of ecstasy. Conversely, epilepsy is physical. The other version is actually speaking a foreign language that the person has not learned to communicate the gospel to one present who does not understand the language that the person has learned. This has happened, in the first century church and in the 21st century church. Only, it happens less often than people want to admit.

Answer 7

I concur with sh.
When you don't know the words to a song, you make sounds like La, la, la or Oooh-oo-oo.
When you don't know how or what to pray, you let the words or quasi-words flow, for as sh wrote "the perfect prayer."

I am a charismatic-type of Catholic. However, I don't demonstrate Tongues in front of a live audience because I don't care to put on a show. My Uncle died. Before He left, I prayed in sweet sounds, while driving my car and before going to bed, because---I didn't know what to say or to ask for.
I let go and I let God.
I hope you can interpret what I've written here. It is my own opinion and I am convinced of its validity in my own experience.
I am starring your question, because I am often a sort of Devil's Advocate. Get my drift?

Answer 8

No. Plain and simple, no.

What fascinates me is that although virtually no one who has experienced speaking in tongues sees it as a seizure or gibberish, so many posts here by those who have not experienced it actually feel they 'know' enough to explain it.

And the funny part is, they actually think they are being 'logical'!

Answer 9

Praying in tongues is a freeing experience which enables one to say what ever syllables that come to mind without the fear that one is insulting another. It is a very relaxing experience.

Answer 10

Not if it is truly the gift of tongues. For it to truly tongues there must also be interpretation. If someone is just babbling it isn't tongues.

Many times the speaking in tongues is actually someone speaking a language not known to them but known to one or more of the hearers.

Answer 11

Not at all and it is not lacking any control. It is the ability to speak in a secret language that is between you and the Lord. No one would make sarcastic remarks about twins who create their own language.