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Sunstone said:How would someone know that an episode of speaking in tongues was not caused by, say, schizophrenia or some other disorder? I'm not ruling out that some episodes of it might transcend pathologies, but how would one distinguish between those that do and those that don't?
Members of my church believe in speaking and interpretation of tongues. However, in 57 years as a member, I have never actually witnessed this spiritual gift. I believe that God uses it for His purposes when necessary, but not that it is "evidence" of anything. I definitely don't believe that people speak in tongues without some specific purpose. That would go against common sense, in my opinion (and obviously, as a Mormon, everything I believe is common sense. )Arrow said:Do people still speak in tongues? And on that note, are there people that still perform miracles?
I have my own thoughts, but i would like to know your own.
Thank you all for your input.
-Arrow
dawny0826 said:I speak in tongues when I feel compelled, normally in the privacy of my own home, while I'm praying to and praising God and I assure you that I'm not schizophrenic and am not crazy...in fact it's offensive when others suggest that one who does speak in tongues could possibly have a mental disorder.
Edit: It's a spiritual experience. It's an exercise of faith.
My apologies if you found offense in what I said. I certainly wasn't suggesting that everyone who speaks in tongues suffers from a mental disorder, Dawny.
On the contrary, I was merely wondering how one distinguishes between those who do suffer from a disorder and those who do not. IF I thought that all people who speak in tongues suffered from some disorder, I would not need to ask how to distinguish between those who do and those who don't.
gnostic said:What does it mean to "speak in tongues"?
Do you mean speaking coherently/fluently in different languages?
gnostic said:What does it mean to "speak in tongues"?
Do you mean speaking coherently/fluently in different languages?
Then why is people here speaking of schizophrenia or mental disorder?beckysoup said:IMHO, That's what I think it means.
And now I am confused again.dawny said:Not necessarily.
dan said:Speaking in tongues is twofold.
One purpose is to preach the gospel in another language so others may be converted. I became fluent in Spanish in only five months on my mission to Uruguay. I consider that to be the gift of tongues. There were times when I testified using language and words that I had never learned.
The other purpose is to glorify God, but a translator is required for it to be valid, according to Paul. I have seen men shout "Hibbity dibbity, hibbity dobbity, hibbity dibbity, hibbity dibbity" into a microphone for upwards of an hour, but that is not tongues. I have never seen one of the performances accompanied by a translator.
I have seen miracles before. I would like to think that I had something to do with a few as well, but I hesitate to claim this, even though others say I did. I have a locket that says "Paise the Lord" in Portuguese from a woman who claims my priesthood blessing cured her of cancer. Her cancer did up and vanish, but any number of things could have caused it, according to her doctors.
Christiangirl0909 said:I don't believe people can speak in tongues. Consider the following links to sermons:
Directly on the Issue: What about speaking in Tongues?
Helpful Sermons:
Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit: Does He give them today?
How Does the Holy Spirit Dwell in Christians?