Tongues

I was referring specifically to Hope, SpiritElf. I'm sure there are some that have been verified.

Maybe it's Satanic. Wouldn't you want to know then?

Thanks to all for your input---even those who may scoff at me. No hard feelings---I totally understand disbelief.

As far as it being Satanic, I have already 'disproved' this possibility. My father, who is a very spiritual man, advised me, when I informed him of my new gift, to test it and make sure it wasn't counterfeit---that is, a counterfeit tongue of Satan. Because, unfortunately, Satan can and will mimic this spiritual gift. Naturally, I wanted to make sure that my gift was of the Holy Spirit. My father advised me to say "Jesus is Lord" in the middle of speaking this language---a spirit that is not of God will not allow me to say this. So, I tried it.....and I had, and still have, no difficulty whatsoever pronouncing the Lordship of Jesus. So, that being done, I can now believe even more strongly that it is the Holy Spirit speaking through me.

I have witnessed the gift of tongues being abused, and perhaps even being counterfeited. Therefore, I do not desire to go down those paths. I believe I was given this gift mainly as a 'prayer language', and to draw closer to God. To all those who scoff at this ability, I tell you what. I will have this language analyzed----I myself am very curious as to what language I am speaking. When I find anything out, I will let other curious folk know.

I am, quite honestly, unconvinced by those who claim they will believe in God if 'such and such' is proved to them. A mind made up is not convinced by anything. Peace.....

The Holy Spirit gave the gift of speaking in tongues to the Apostles on Pentacost. They actually were speaking in the different languages of the people present that day, and many were converted. That would be the only purpose of speaking in tongues. We don't need some other language to praise God - we do so in our own language, with words we can understand ourselves. Have you told others about Jesus in this tongue that you have? How could you, when you don't even know what you are saying. I would not take any stock in this. If you want to glorify God, tell others about Jesus - in your own language. Your test to 'disprove' this isn't coming from Satan - how do you know Satan didn't allow you to say that so you would think this couldn't possibly be the work of Satan? That's what he does - tricks people.

Different languages create different moods, if you sit in a room full of people speaking French and another room full of German speakers. You will perceive the overall vibe of the room differently (Apologies to the German-speakers, of course. Sorry friends, your language just sounds kind of angry). It seems reasonable enough to me that ancient Hebrew or what-have-you, sets a good vibe for spiritual revelations. Of course, it would probably depend on how different languages sound to speakers of others, which is something I have no schooling in. Good theory, though.

As for the 'why' of it? Hey, I've said it before and I'm certain to say it again, from time to time, weird stuff happens in this reality. Could be somebeing has plans for you, could also be a galactic fluke, I don't know.

And why can't this be done in the speaker's original language? Do they have to speak a language they don't even know and can't be 100% sure...

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While I was channeling spirits to ask for answers on a certain question, a spirit started speaking a language through me that I was able to identify as German. I had no idea what this spirit was making me say, so I made a request to the spirits that if they don't know english, to bring a spirit to translate to speak through me. Ive never had the problem since.

Is this a joke?

Hope said:

My take on the ability to speak in tongues is that, yes, obviously, our brains are capable of much more than we think they are; however, that being said, what happened to me was not due to an accident or mere coincidence. I believe with all my heart that it's God's Spirit speaking through me. I asked, and I received this gift.

If I want, I can start speaking this language, and then keep on speaking it, even if my mind is totally somewhere else. It requires no concentration, no effort. I have not found this to be true with 'made-up gibberish.'

Druidus, I wish I could record for you my speaking, and I would in a heartbeat, except that it bothers me to be using a spiritual gift for any other purpose than for spiritual purposes. I just wouldn't feel right about it.

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Hope, I see you are a Christian, and might therefore not approve of my suggestion that this might stem from a previous life - much as memories of places not yet visited.

I don't think you need worry about using the 'spiritual gift' - If you have been given it, it is for a purpose. You might actually like to consider that not to use it would be denying what could turn out to be 'knowledge' - and well worth listening to; don't be afraid to use it - the gift was given to you for a purpose - whatever our beliefs are.

Apologies to the German-speakers, of course. Sorry friends, your language just sounds kind of angry

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Anyone heard the tool song "Die Eier Von Satan"

If God existed, and you cannot prove him for his power is in the faith of believers, then why have the Bible, miracles (such as speaking in tongues), and other things which believers say enhance the likelihood of God? You can't choose what you believe, and to a person whose brain is made up differently to that of a religious believer, scientific knowledge is paramount and faith is baseless. So why do people with the kind of brains that can't believe in God exist? They are never going to believe in God unless it is proven to them, and since it can't be proven, does this mean they are going to Hell for not believing in God? I want a Christian's opinion on this (or any other theistic religion).

stemann said:

You can't choose what you believe, and to a person whose brain is made up differently to that of a religious believer, scientific knowledge is paramount and faith is baseless. So why do people with the kind of brains that can't believe in God exist?

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You do choose what you believe. I have no clue what you mean by an unbeliever's brain is made up different than a believer's brain.

You don't choose what you believe.

I meant, everbody's brain works differently. Some people, like the Rain Man, have exceptional mental talents. Have have no sense of right or wrong and go around killing people. Some think rationally, others don't. Some need proof in order to accept something, some only need to be told it and they will believe it. The idea of God is more acceptable to some people than others.

So, why has God created people who will never believe in God because they do not accept things until these things are proven conclusively to them?

***MOD POST***

Please stay on-topic.

Off topic posts have continued and have been removed. The question is "What do non-christians think of 'speaking in tongues'? ".

As a non-believer, I am completely unconvinced by glossolalia (speaking in tongues) in every instance I have ever encountered. I would love to hear the results of your particular experience given sceptical study. Unfortunately, I get the feeling from your posts that you will really only seek out a religious authority to "test" your ability. Please, I beg you. Go to a local university, ask the language department to help you. I am sure you will find someone who will try to get the bottom of it.

From my meager research online, I find that glossolalia is a universally human phenomena. Seemingly isolated groups of traditional peoples perform this activity, usually in religious ceremonies. Lapps do it, Japanese Shintoists do it, Inuits do it. They are surprisingly similar, but all studies seem to show that there is a repetitive pattern of phoenetic units, but nothing that could be really considered "language". If you know of scientific studies that indicate otherwise (or anything really, as I am profoundly interested by the topic).

Perhaps most damaging to the legitimacy of divine causes of Christian glossolalia, the first record of this occurring in Christian traditions (aside from possible NT references) is in the year 1900. It appears that the practice was unheard of for nearly two millennia, which seems unlikely if it is a gift from God. Since 1900, it has caught on among charismatics and pentecostals, eventually spreading throughout the Christian denominations (especially in the 70's).

I would suggest that you either grew up with this tradition (your father is apparently familiar with it) and may have picked it up by simple subconscious observation. Also, it seems that you truly wished for this ability and your expectations may have caused it to happen in the first place. I wouldn't say this, except that I am almost entirely sure that your faith is fairly unshakable, and I wouldn't want you to lose this enviable (psychosomatic) experience.

Essentially, I think what you have is a brain function (rarely used) that can cause a pleasureable experience. Sort of a spiritual masturbation (excuse the imagery). But I beseech you still, PROVE ME WRONG! I would love nothing more than for you to be speaking perfect Hebrew. A short recording would lead to possible conversion and further praise of your God. What better use of this ability?

well put dorsk

Good points dorsk.

Linguistic analysis of glossolalia finds that it almost always consists of phonemes, consonant clusters, &c familiar to the speaker; in fact, it's usually phonetically identical to the speaker's native language. The patterns, furthermore, are not consistent with a language.

Hope said:

Sure, no prob.

I was visiting a friend, and went to her church this past Sunday morning---a charismatic episcopal church, which was a totally new, yet neat experience for me.

Anyways, toward the end of the service they invited whoever wished to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, to see this minister standing to one side of the sanctuary. I immediately felt strongly in my spirit that I was supposed to go to him. I resisted at first, then finally gave in. To make a long story shorter, I simply prayed out loud with the minister and several other people, and silently I asked God to give me the gift of tongues. Nothing happened. I was convinced God had not answered my prayer.

Well, when I told my friend and another woman, they both encouraged me, and this woman told me she was sure that God had given me the gift---I simply didn't realize it yet. She told me that when I got in my car to drive home, and was all alone, to try speaking out. So that's exactly what I did. And boy was I floored! I knew it wasn't just gibberish I was making up, because it required absolutely no thinking on my part, and I lost complete control of my tongue and mouth. It was the weirdest, most amazing feeling. And though I don't know what I am saying, I can tell I am speaking an actual language, because I keep saying certain words, and there are recognizable patterns. I also heard myself say "Yaweh", which, of course is a Hebrew name for God.

It is not a one-time thing either. I can, at will, speak this language. Stopping and starting it is the only control I have over it. It's freakily cool! The most wonderful aspect of it, though, is how close and real God becomes to me when I am speaking it.
So, yeah, that's the gist of it!

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I don't know. I do believe in the gift of tongues, but I believe this spiritual gift is given to accomplish some purpose for God. Maybe I missed something, but I sure didn't see any kind of a purpose in this experience -- unless it was to make you feel "freakily cool." In the accounts I have read where someone was given the gift of tongues, it was a temporary ability that made communication between two people who would not otherwise have been able to understand each other possible -- in a setting that would serve to spiritually strengthen both individuals. It's not just given so that someone can sit and listen to himself speak a language he doesn't know. I hope I'm not coming across as rude; that's just how I see it.

Katzpur said:

I don't know. I do believe in the gift of tongues, but I believe this spiritual gift is given to accomplish some purpose for God. Maybe I missed something, but I sure didn't see any kind of a purpose in this experience -- unless it was to make you feel "freakily cool."

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Yes, you apparently didn't read more of what I wrote further on. I would dearly hope this experience was not just so I could feel "freakily cool." That was only an initial feeling----though well-justified I would think!!----and not the purpose of this gift. Read more of what I wrote.

Hope, why would you recieve the gift of tongues that no one else in the church or local area could understand? In all NT instances of it, the gift of tongues had a purpose-to be able to communicate with the local people Jesus' teachings. If everyone in the area speaks the same language why would the gift be granted?