Speaking in tongues?

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CivisRomanusSum

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What does it mean when people say they speak in tongues? I’m referring to non-Catholics, particularly protestants of the evangelical type, like those in megachurches. I’m intrigued at these claims. As for as I know, I think this claim has something to do with them believing in baptism by the Holy Spirit, etc. Are they actually able to speak multiple languages without having to learn them? Did they just wake up one morning only to find out that they can speak the world’s languages, even those long dead? Or are these people lying (or insane, depending on how you look at it)?

I have no doubt that this is indeed possible, like for the apostles during Pentecost. It just intrigues me how so many Christians boast of this “ability”. I seriously doubt if they’re genuine haha :))
 
The technical term for this is glossolalia. As you may know this phenomenon also appears in some charismatic Catholics. Google “glossolalia.” There are tons of articles by both believers and non-believers. Also do a youtube search for “speaking in tongues.” Some of the stuff you see there is rather shocking.

My understanding of the authentic phenomenon is that it exists in two forms. 1) People speaking in a language previously unknown to them; and 2) People speaking in what St. Paul called angelic tongues. In the first instance it would be like me speaking Russian to someone from Moscow who didn’t speak English. In the second case I understand that if someone is speaking in “angelic tongues” someone else should be interpreting the speech for those listening.

It happened at Pentecost. St. Paul speaks of it happening on at least a couple of different occasions. So the phenomenon is obviously real. However, my suspicion is that the vast majority of the people “speaking in tongues” in these mega-churches and on youtube are simply babbling because they think they’re supposed to.

Peace,
 
CivisRomanusSum said:
What does it mean when people say they speak in tongues? I’m referring to non-Catholics, particularly protestants of the evangelical type, like those in megachurches. I’m intrigued at these claims. As for as I know, I think this claim has something to do with them believing in baptism by the Holy Spirit, etc. Are they actually able to speak multiple languages without having to learn them? Did they just wake up one morning only to find out that they can speak the world’s languages, even those long dead? Or are these people lying (or insane, depending on how you look at it)?

I have no doubt that this is indeed possible, like for the apostles during Pentecost. It just intrigues me how so many Christians boast of this “ability”. I seriously doubt if they’re genuine haha :))
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This phenomenon is not restricted to Protestants/Evangelicals. There are plenty of charismatic Catholics who would claim the same things.
 
I have seen this within the Catholic church.

In rare cases people make speak languages unknown to them, but this is much less common than speaking in an angelic language. This happened to the apostles on Pentacost. I know accounts of this happening among people whom I trust, but I have not experienced it personally.

Unless you have the gift of interpretation, you cannot understand what is being said when people speak in tongues - they themselves do not actually understand it, but it is generally accepted that it is holy praise of God. The holy spirit gives you the syllables even if you do not understand it.

I have only personally been able to do it a few times, but most others I know find it much easier. It is an experience of complete obedience to God - your human will completely submits to the power of the holy spirit, which can then do what it wishes. It is a deep spiritual experience - most often it is accompanied with a very strong feeling of God’s love for you.

I have not met anyone able to do it who was not previously “baptised in the spirit”.

Hearing large number of people speaking in tongues together is actually quite profound in my opinion. Everyone is murmuring something different, yet it sounds almost musical - it has a feeling of praise, and all the sounds seem to somehow harmonize.

I will admit, I was very skeptical at first, and it seemed quite weird to me. However, after being baptized in the spirit, I had words come into my mind - words pertaining to the sacred Heart of Jesus. They leapt from my mouth, I felt that I could not contain them - I felt as if I had to say them. I had never previously had any notion about the sacred heart, and I only vaguely knew about it. Actual tongues came much later from other spiritual experiences.

I think it might be possible for some people to “fake” speaking in tongues, but I have only personally been able to do it in highly spiritual states - I simply cannot do it unless I completely surrender all of my own volitions to God. I believe that it is a legitimate spiritual phenomenon. Many people I know have had visions while in such a state.
 
Humupower said:
I have seen this within the Catholic church.

In rare cases people make speak languages unknown to them, but this is much less common than speaking in an angelic language. This happened to the apostles on Pentacost. I know accounts of this happening among people whom I trust, but I have not experienced it personally.

Unless you have the gift of interpretation, you cannot understand what is being said when people speak in tongues - they themselves do not actually understand it, but it is generally accepted that it is holy praise of God. The holy spirit gives you the syllables even if you do not understand it.

I have only personally been able to do it a few times, but most others I know find it much easier. It is an experience of complete obedience to God - your human will completely submits to the power of the holy spirit, which can then do what it wishes. It is a deep spiritual experience - most often it is accompanied with a very strong feeling of God’s love for you.

I have not met anyone able to do it who was not previously “baptised in the spirit”.

Hearing large number of people speaking in tongues together is actually quite profound in my opinion. Everyone is murmuring something different, yet it sounds almost musical - it has a feeling of praise, and all the sounds seem to somehow harmonize.

I will admit, I was very skeptical at first, and it seemed quite weird to me. However, after being baptized in the spirit, I had words come into my mind - words pertaining to the sacred Heart of Jesus. They leapt from my mouth, I felt that I could not contain them - I felt as if I had to say them. I had never previously had any notion about the sacred heart, and I only vaguely knew about it. Actual tongues came much later from other spiritual experiences.
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See, here’s the thing… I never had to submit or “let it flow” when I got the gift. I switch back and forth as though I’m bilingual.
 
I’m not all together grasping this. Why isn’t the Holy Spirit working through ALL the other Christians in this very way then? Doesn’t this make you wonder?🤷

Can you prove this simply isn’t a learned behavior? I’ll admit I have viewed this only on the surface. But these questions come immediately to mind.

Peace
 
I was not able to do it until I was specifically prayed over to receive the gifts of the spirit. I did not receive tongues, but I believe that I received other gifts mentioned by Paul, including exceptional graces. Tongues is a minor gift, but it is often the first one, and sometimes the only one a person gets.

All confirmed Christians have access to the fruits of the spirit - these are necessary to living Christian life.

The gifts of the spirit are exceptional, and these are not necessary for Christian ministry or Christian living, though they do greatly enhance your spiritual life. It took me several months to pray in tongues, however some people could do it fully, immediately after being baptized in the spirit for the first time.

Since it is not a necessity of faith, and since it is not necessary for salvation, I do not feel that there is a specific need for all Christians to have such things. I think it is like a “mini-vocation” - some are called to marry, some to remain single, some to be priests… in the same way, some are called to seek the gifts of the spirit, though they have other primary vocations.
 
GaryTaylor said:
I’m not all together grasping this. Why isn’t the Holy Spirit working through ALL the other Christians in this very way then? Doesn’t this make you wonder?🤷

Can you prove this simply isn’t a learned behavior? I’ll admit I have viewed this only on the surface. But these questions come immediately to mind.

Peace
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It is my understanding that speaking in tongues doesn’t make that person more prayerful than anyone else. The purpose of all prayer is union with Christ. One can achieve a closer walk with the Lord without the gift of tongues. For some people that gift helps them to focus and be open to the Holy Spirit.
 
WoundedIcon said:
See, here’s the thing… I never had to submit or “let it flow” when I got the gift. I switch back and forth as though I’m bilingual.
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I haven’t heard the “bilingual” I have heard bits and pieces of one’s spoken language mixed with jibberish.

Have you heard someone speak fluently a language they did not know through this method?

I have heard an individual speak a fluent language they did not know, but it was under completely different cirumstances than whats in question here.

Just saying, I haven’t in-depth re-searched this. But have recently been observing it. To me, from a fast observation it appears to be learned behavior. However as I mentioned I just started researching this. I do find this interesting.

Peace
 
Think of the Church as the body of Christ. The hands do not need to do the work of the feet. The feet do not serve the same purpose as the eyes, yet all are members of the same body.

As such we have different vocations, we feel affinity for different saints, we participate in different sacramentals, and some of us only participate in four sacraments - baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, and reconciliation while others may experience marriage, holy orders, anointing of the sick, whereas deacons for instance could experience them all!

Each of us serve a different role in the church, and so we display our faith in different ways.

Even among priests and religious, some serve as brothers and sisters, others as priests. some serve the diocese, while others are Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans, Comboni Missionaries… etc
 
Dorothy said:
It is my understanding that speaking in tongues doesn’t make that person more prayerful than anyone else. The purpose of all prayer is union with Christ. One can achieve a closer walk with the Lord without the gift of tongues. For some people that gift helps them to focus and be open to the Holy Spirit.
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Right, I understand this, however I do not understand the gift, or why it happens in only specific churchs. And not randomly everywhere with Christians. Follow my thinking?? So I automatically apply skeptical philosophy.

Peace
 
Dorothy said:
It is my understanding that speaking in tongues doesn’t make that person more prayerful than anyone else. The purpose of all prayer is union with Christ. One can achieve a closer walk with the Lord without the gift of tongues. For some people that gift helps them to focus and be open to the Holy Spirit.
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Yes this is exactly the way I see it. One of the reasons I have had such a hard time being involved in tongues compared to other Charismatics, is because I already had a very developed prayer and devotional life. It’s like putting icing on the icing on the cake… it doesn’t really serve any additional purpose(except making the cake super awesome… 😃 )

I’m not any more holy than any of my charismatic friends. I am not any more holy than many Catholics I know who do not speak in tongues. I would even admit that I am probably less holy than some Catholics I know who are not Charismatic(though I do my best).

It is simply a different way in living the Christian life.
 
What happened at Pentecost was that persons from various geographical areas were able to understand in their own language the words that were spoken in (probably) Aramaic (or perhaps Greek).

Speaking in tongues was rarely reported in Christendom from A.D. 100 to 1800.

The modern Pentecostalism movement started in 1900. “Speaking in tongues” started on January 1, 1901, when a student of Rev. Charles Parham’s Bible school in Kansas, Agnes Ozman, prayed earnestly that she would receive the gift, and sure enough, her prayer was answered. She started “speaking in tongues.” Soon the whole school was doing it, and it spread from there.

Since no one heard any early Christians “speaking in tongues,” no one knows how it sounded. All we know is how it sounds now, based on Agnes Oznan’s example. I used to belong to a Catholic charismatic prayer group, and it’s my opinion that everyone copies from everyone else. I think “speaking in tongues” is merely uttering random syllables. It has been studied by professional linguists, and no lanuages have ever been identified.

But the definition of prayer is the lifting of the heart and mind to God. People who “speak in tongues” certainly do that!

That’s my :twocents:
 
GaryTaylor said:
Right, I understand this, however I do not understand the gift, or why it happens in only specific churchs. And not randomly everywhere with Christians. Follow my thinking?? So I automatically apply skeptical philosophy.

Peace
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The point of the gift as it is often describe to me, is that it allows you to continue to praise and marvel in God even after you exhaust the restraints of your native language.

God is holy, mighty, powerful, merciful, loving, just, good, kind, beneficent, wise, forgiving… eventually you run out of adjectives, and yet the heart still desires to praise. Tongues allows you to still pray and say that which is pleasing to God when you have exhausted the limits of language.

I think this phenomenon is actually wide spread in terms that there are many in churches around the world who can participate in this. It’s just with our well defined mass structure, these gifts do not have a part in our normal worship liturgy, and so they only belong in extra-liturgical activities.

Certain things can only be accomplished in fasting, others in prayer, still others through works of the body. Just as the fruits of the holy spirit are only realized in confirmation, the gifts of the spirit are only conferred in baptism of the holy spirit.

Consider apparitions of the Blessed Virgin - she does not appear to everyone, yet many of the most noted ones were to people who would seem to be chosen at random to the outside observer.
 
Right, well everyones (name removed by moderator)ut has been helpful. IMHO it is easier understood to view this as a prayer. I have seen this occur intentionally, and on command. Which would then make more sense to view this as prayer.

Peace
 
Humupower said:
The point of the gift as it is often describe to me, is that it allows you to continue to praise and marvel in God even after you exhaust the restraints of your native language.

God is holy, mighty, powerful, merciful, loving, just, good, kind, beneficent, wise, forgiving… eventually you run out of adjectives, and yet the heart still desires to praise. Tongues allows you to still pray and say that which is pleasing to God when you have exhausted the limits of language.

I think this phenomenon is actually wide spread in terms that there are many in churches around the world who can participate in this. It’s just with our well defined mass structure, these gifts do not have a part in our normal worship liturgy, and so they only belong in extra-liturgical activities.

Certain things can only be accomplished in fasting, others in prayer, still others through works of the body. Just as the fruits of the holy spirit are only realized in confirmation, the gifts of the spirit are only conferred in baptism of the holy spirit.

Consider apparitions of the Blessed Virgin - she does not appear to everyone, yet many of the most noted ones were to people who would seem to be chosen at random to the outside observer.
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Right but now this is also getting off track. Miracles happen daily through the Holy Spirit, however they do not happen as we will, but as God wills, and when he wills and to whom he wills. This more accurately explains the Holy Spirit through the BVM to whom its willed by God. And more often with Children for the simple reason they are Innocents who are not living in their ego.

But yes fasting also induce’s an altered state of mind. This works simliar to sleep deprivation. You are weakened, thus you quickly eliminate the defense’s which uphold the illusion of the ego.

Peace
 
Actually, speaking in tongues is one of the Catholic church’s best kept secrets. If you ask around your church, you will find a group of Catholics that call themselves Charismatics who speak in tongues today. The word charismatic I believe comes from the word charism which refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in tongues is actually one of the gifts or signs that the Holy Spirit is present and very much alive in a person. Speaking is tongues is not just for the Protestant but for the Catholic as well but unfortunately, only a few Catholics have discovered what it is to be a Charismatic and speak in tongues.

The Catholic church has many devotions that guide you along life’s journey. There are some who pray the rosary to the Blessed Mother, some who follow and pray to the saints, others who attend daily Mass, etc. Praying in tongues is nothing more than being filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus returned to heaven to reign with His father, he told his disciples He would send another, “The Comforter”, who would help the apostles in their journey. Jesus did not leave us alone even though he departed from this earth. He left us a vey powerful gift in the form of the Holy Spirit and it would serve many Catholics well to tap into that power.

Speaking in tongues is a God kind of language that most Charismatics or Protestants do not understand even as they speak it. The reason is because it is a language from the Holy Spirt (God) to God the Father Himself. Think of it like this. When you pray in your own language, you know what you’re saying and you have the knowledge of what you’re asking for. If you have ever been in desperate circumstances, you probably prayed from deep inside your heart. Maybe you didn’t say any words, but your heart expressed such sorrow that you felt it and knew it and knew that God would understand. I think speaking in tongues is similar to the cry of the heart because you don’t really understand what’s coming out, you just know that the Holy Spirit is working on your behalf and that God hears you.

Speaking in tongues can take the form of prayer or praise and worship and it is one of the highest forms of communication with God as I see it. As a Catholic, you can experience this gift too. If you are serious or curious enough, please find a Charismatic group in your church. Whether you speak in tongues or not, seek the Holy Spirit. He is waiting for an invitation into your heart. There he can begin helping you, inspiring you and guiding you along life’s journey. For you are not alone.

God Bless
 
I don’t know about highest form.

Since God created all man, the voice of the Holy Spirit exists for all men. This isn’t some mystical phenom which only certain individuals are entitled to. The only choice is if you choose to listen or entertain the opposite side of your brain. Thus you make a rational choice to follow Christ.

Contemplative, Meditative prayer is the path of the Catholic Mystics. A perpetual State of Grace allows the interaction of the HS to occur by those who remain on the 9th step of Jacobs Ladder. These are souls like the Prophet Daniel. St Teresa of Avila. St John of the Cross. Sister Lucia. This is very different than one praying the Rosary or chosing to speak in tongues.

Peace
 
GaryTaylor said:
Right but now this is also getting off track. Miracles happen daily through the Holy Spirit, however they do not happen as we will, but as God wills, and when he wills and to whom he wills. This more accurately explains the Holy Spirit through the BVM to whom its willed by God. And more often with Children for the simple reason they are Innocents who are not living in their ego.

But yes fasting also induce’s an altered state of mind. This works simliar to sleep deprivation. You are weakened, thus you quickly eliminate the defense’s which uphold the illusion of the ego.

Peace
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I didn’t mean it as a digression, the point I wanted to make is that there are many aspects of the spiritual life and God’s works in the world. Sorry, I tend to ramble…

There are so many different devotions, prayers, and vocations, and tongues is but a small part of the spiritual life of some within the Church. I think it is a real spiritual phenomenon, but acquiring it and participating in it are not part of the greater work of salvation, so it is not something that needs to be accepted or practiced by anyone who is not called to it. My experience is that it tends to be central to certain communities within the Church. Certain parishes tend to be more Charismatic, others not at all.

Most people I know who participate in it do generally seek to deepen their relationship with God, so it is a spiritually helpful thing to them. I have seen tongues as a jumping off point into a deepening spiritual life. Others don’t need that jumping off point, they find their way to the rosary, deep contemplative prayer, daily mass, etc without any kind of charismatic experience.
 
Humupower said:
I didn’t mean it as a digression, the point I wanted to make is that there are many aspects of the spiritual life and God’s works in the world. Sorry, I tend to ramble…

There are so many different devotions, prayers, and vocations, and tongues is but a small part of the spiritual life of some within the Church. I think it is a real spiritual phenomenon, but acquiring it and participating in it are not part of the greater work of salvation, so it is not something that needs to be accepted or practiced by anyone who is not called to it. My experience is that it tends to be central to certain communities within the Church. Certain parishes tend to be more Charismatic, others not at all.

Most people I know who participate in it do generally seek to deepen their relationship with God, so it is a spiritually helpful thing to them. I have seen tongues as a jumping off point into a deepening spiritual life. Others don’t need that jumping off point, they find their way to the rosary, deep contemplative prayer, daily mass, etc without any kind of charismatic experience.
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Yes I believe we are on the same wave length now my brother. Good talking to you to help me work this out in my own mind. Hope it wasn’t fustrating:D

God Bless, Gary
 
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