From: utzoo!decvax!yale-com!brunix!gh
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Re: Speaking in unknown languages
Article-I.D.: brunix.1314
Posted: Sat Jan 29 16:16:21 1983
Received: Sun Jan 30 03:06:59 1983
References: ucbvax.747

The "speaking in tongues" phenomenon is known technically as glossolalia,
and there are psychological studies of it (at least one book -- sorry I
don't recall the author or exact title -- and many papers).  It seems fairly
clear that the phenomenon is related to hypnotic states, and there is a
strong correlation between tongue-speaking ability and hypnotizability.

In charismatic Christian circles, both glossolalia and the ability to
"interpret" the message are considered to be gifts ("charisma", in the
pre-1965 sense of the word) from God.  I have known tongue-speakers; they
considered it a very personal matter, and did not like to discuss it with
non-charismatics.

	Graeme Hirst, Brown University
	!{decvax, vax135, yale-comix}!brunix!gh