Look up Glossolalia in the online Skeptics Dictionary, a good article there, quite short, but shows that "speaking in tongues" is rubbish.
What is the WTS take on Speaking in Tongues?
by Lion Cask 30 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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designs
The first time I ever went out in Service as a JW I encountered a couple who spoke in Tongues. The wife opened the door and within a few seconds of coversation she went glassy eyed and opened up, her husband was behind her walking in circles with a large Bible held in both hands muttering.
Very impressive when your 12
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Lion Cask
I can say with complete honesty that I heard my daughter speaking in tongues on several occasions. It was absolutely amazing and completely incomprehensible. She was about a year old at the time. Here's another example.
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PSacramento
Biblically, speaking in tounges was a gift of the HS that allowed a person with NO prior knowledge of that LANGUAGE to speak that Language.
That is made clear in acts:
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
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Chalam
Biblically, speaking in tounges was a gift of the HS that allowed a person with NO prior knowledge of that LANGUAGE to speak that Language.
That is made clear in acts:
Yes but Paul makes it clear tongues can be a heavenly language.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (English Standard Version)
The Way of Love
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (New International Version, ©2010)
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:1-18 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Corinthians 14
Intelligibility in Worship
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 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. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Blessings in Christ,
Stephen
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PSacramento
Yes but Paul makes it clear tongues can be a heavenly language.
Yes, I would assume that the "language of the angels" would be unique, but a gift given by the HS has to be functional, yes?
Why would the HS give the gift of "Angelic Language" to a person speaking to one that doesn't understand it?
Acts makes it cleare that the people spoke languages that were understood by those they were speaking to ( and not understood by those that didn't speak the language).
A person speaking "angelic" to someone that only speaks German makes NO sense, I don't see the HS compelling anyoen to speak Chinese to a person that only speaks spanish, do you?
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Chalam
Why would the HS give the gift of "Angelic Language" to a person speaking to one that doesn't understand it?
Romans 8:26 (New International Version, ©2010)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
1 Corinthians 14:4 (New International Version, ©2010)
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves
1 Corinthians 14:14 (New International Version, ©2010)
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (New International Version, ©2010)
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Acts makes it cleare that the people spoke languages that were understood by those they were speaking to ( and not understood by those that didn't speak the language).
Agreed, clearly described the situation in Acts 2.
A person speaking "angelic" to someone that only speaks German makes NO sense, I don't see the HS compelling anyoen to speak Chinese to a person that only speaks spanish, do you?
The Spirit interceedes with God on our behalf i.e. He prays for us as we do not know what we should pray for, see Romans 8:26 etc.
Blessings in Christ,
Stephen
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Band on the Run
I was very, very ill, bordering on death, for decades. A friend heard good word of mouth about a faith healer. I am very Episcopolian and the Society's takes on demons had me terrified. She drew a large crowd of fairly sophisticated people. When medicine does not help you, you try to open your horizons. She sang some ok songs. Then people came forward to be slain in the spirit. Each person fell backwards in a slump. It looked choreographed. Normal people fall normally. People would come wtih scarves to cover the private parts of women that might be showing. This was not a Pentecostal crowd.
I went up. A priest assured me hynopsis was involved and I could not be hurt. My mind focused on demons. My mom, my friend and I went up. She reached out to me with her arms, ordering me to be slain. I felt absolutely nothing. My goal was to let loose of my inhibitions. My mom did not feel anything, my friend felt nothing. All around us a sea of people were being slain.
We were disappointed and wary. If I could have some hope for five minutes, it would be grand. I pondered why God created me unable to be hynoptized.
A high school classmate's father was a Pentecostal pastor. The hs girls flocked to his church b/c of crushes on boys. I noticed that no one spoke in tongues, until he revved up the anxiety letter. One person started,, soon I was the only one not doing it. Well, I was the only audience member. He stayed in control. He started going around to people, touching them, imploring them back to reality. He was fascinating. I was condemned for not speaking. Did I pray to God not to speak that night!
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Band on the Run
It is becoming increasingly popular over the time, probably with the expansion of Spanish Pentecostalism over Roman Catholicism in South and Central America. The core group of Pentescostals comprise the same group most likely to become Jehovah's Witnesses.
Pentecolisms, like the Witnesses, has taditionally been viewed a religion of the underclass. Thirty years ago, though, it gained a stronghold in Roman Catholicism and some nonPentecostal Protestant denominations. I am interested in what happened to make it more mainstream. I believe it as deceitful as the Witnesses.
As I said before, only the pastor and I were not speaking in tongues after he stoked the anxiety levels. As a teenager, the psychological process was all too evident. I imagine there is quite a rush to join the crowd and lose your individuality. A law school classmate who graduated Swarthmore, one of the very intellectual colleges, spoke in tongues in our suite. She was no demon. I did ponder moving out. Real people always break down my notions of right and wrong. There was no way I was going to admi and admit that I feared demons. I prayed to God for strength against them, esp. since I did not believe in their existence.
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designs
Interesting experiences Band. In the town I live in we have a few groups that speak in tongues and for a short while holy laughter when it was popular. Riverview Evangelical, Assembly of God, and a Pentecostal group that meets at the community center. Different views of God but they seem to go for the same effect. I went over to Pastor Synder's home, head pastor of the Assembly of God fellowship, he handed me a pamphlet as I left on the excruciating pain experienced in the fires of Hell. Pleasant fellow.