Question for atheists, skeptics, etc.?

Question

Some Christians believe in speaking in tongues. (If you do not know what I am talking about, you probably won't want to answer this question.) I have attended hundreds of religious events where Christians would speak in a language I could not understand or even recognize as being an actual language rather than babble. Every single one of them who does this claims that it is REALLY the holy spirit causing this to happen.

Here's my question: What is happening?

A) They are faking it and lying
B) Something is actually happening, and they are not intentionally lying
C) Other (If so, please explain)

Answer 1

Speaking in tongues is also known as glossolalia. It is a minor seizure disorder, usually triggered by feelings of intense joy, and seldom diagnosed or treated because of its religious significance. Broca's area, part of the supplemental motor cortex of the frontal lobe, is responsible for converting mental thoughts into the nervous signals required to operate the vocal tract and produce intelligible speech. EEG analysis always finds a neural-electric seizure focus in Broca's area when glossolalia occurs. One important function of Broca's area is to arrange the speech elements (roughly, syllables) in proper sequence immediately before they are spoken. When glossolalia occurs, the sequence of the syllables is scrambled, often with a discernible pattern. Although people who speak in tongues imagine they are speaking a "special" language, it's really just a scrambled version of their native language. Digital recordings of glossolalia have been successfully unscrambled to reveal the exact words the speaker intended when the glossolalia came pouring out. There is evidence to suggest that, once a person experiences spontaneous glossolalia, they often learn to achieve the seizure state more easily with practice.

Having said this much, I will refrain from commenting on the religious value of speaking in tongue....

Answer 2

Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Speaking in tongues might actually mean something along the lines of a deep scriptural interpretation that uses metaphor unfamiliar to the listener.

How would you tell if the holy spirit is at work? You can't feel it as a physical sensation. If you could, that reminds me of feng shui with the wind and water.

1 Corinthians 14:9
So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

Answer 3

First, they have the expectation that the holy spirit is going to "visit" them, and inspire them to speak in tongues. They've most likely heard this "language" before and can to some extent reproduce it, especially if they're feeling inspired and having an emotional response to their experience. After time, it's likely they will get better at speaking in tongues, and continue to claim its the holy spirit. In short, the expectation acts as a placebo.

It would be fascinating for someone to record several of these instances and try and find some connection or logical connection between them. Shouldn't we expect one if they are really being visited by the holy spirit?

Answer 4

I'm not sure what goes on in the mind of a person claiming to be speaking in tongues...that statement, "speak in tongues", is translated into using different languages. Tongues=languages. Nothing more. Nothing spriual. I find it grossly embarrassing to witness it because although they seem to want to be close to God, they're either not reading or understanding the word. So I think it's "C"...they are trying too hard and not understanding enough. These are poor misguided souls. Dont judge them, just pray for them.

Answer 5

the only time that happens during one of those "traveling churches" or one where everybody yells out "I WANT TO BE SAVED!!!" the people at those are yelling out unintelligible noises. they dont mean anything. and if they say they are speaking in tongues then they dont know what that actually is. when you speak in tongues you are speaking but everybody around you can understand you in their own language (or the language they can best understand). i think it is a bit of the last two B and C. something is happening that is making them shout like a lunatic but its not "divine inspiration". its themselves. its the same thing as when you have sugar at a party. the sugar doesnt make you hyper, its the expectation and the party that makes you hyper. same here. they expect something amazing to happen so it does. so something is happening but it isnt god.

Answer 6

I've been to several pentecostal churches in my life, and I do believe that some of them are faking. However I know that in those communities, many believe that you aren't truly saved or filled with the "holy spirit" until you receive the gift of tongues ... so this indoctrination might cause someone to unconsciously do it, due to their desire of being accepted and to confirm their own salvation. The subconscious mind is a powerful thing.

Answer 7

It is a form of Psychosis, a mental delusion encouraged by the minds desire to experience what others claim to be contact with `God`. Science has investigated this condition, and concludes that there is no "language", just the delusional ramblings of a malfunctioning brain/ mind/ mental faculties. Lets be honest, if an all knowing, all powerful `God`had something to say, do you imagine he would let those falling, shaking, and babbling clowns carry the message ??

Answer 8

I am an atheist, but my parents aren't, so I often accompany them to church (sometimes I learn things and it's kinda stupid to be ignorant to something you don't agree with). Anyhoo, the church claims to be nondenomination, but is rapidly turning Pentecostal. The people seem to have a contest with the whole speaking-in-tounges thing. One will start off, another will start too but only louder, and then another starts screaming and rolling around on the floor, and the next starts being so disruptive by shouting this babble nonstop that they have to be taken outside.

It seems fake to me; they do it only after another starts it,
sometimes during the offering and tithe or even when the pastor is giving announcements. It makes me nervous.

Answer 9

Certainly, some are of the A vareity - have you seen Borat?? He fakes it in the movie - and no one around him knows he is faking it...they all found it believable...

Studies have been performed in which teenagers are given non-alcoholic beer in a party atmosphere, and they begin to act liek they are drunk. It is the power of suggestion, combined with the power of wanting to belong to a group. And, no one wants to be left out of the group that they are trying to be a part of - so many might fake it, but subconciously. Completely delusional...

I wish to make the distinction that B's description of "something else happening" does not mean GOD IS RESPONSIBLE - something else can be a mental issue, social issue, etc.

Answer 10

Ritual can induce a powerful alteration of consciousness. What onew sees/experiences may have a certain type of "truth" that can never be imperically proven as "true." Whether this is tapping another aspect of reality or self-deception is debatable, and not something anyone here will prove or disprove.