scienfitic evidence for speaking in tongues?

Posted by on 24 Mar 2007 | Tagged as: thoughts on god.

Recently, ABC News ran a story on speaking in tongues.

What was really interesting is that they did a CT scan, looking at brain activity while praying in tongues and compared the scan to a scan while praying in English or listening to gospel music.
They found that while praying in tongues, the person’s frontal lobe became very inactive, meaning whatever they were saying was not controlled by their thoughts. In an English prayer, the frontal lobe is very active, as ones level of concentration increases.

one of the scientists, Dr. Andrew Newberg concluded:
“When they are actually engaged in this whole very intense spiritual practice � their frontal lobes tend to go down in activity. � It is very consistent with the kind of experience they have, because they say that they’re not in charge. [They say] it’s the voice of God, it’s the spirit of God that is moving through them,”

one of the participants (who got the CT scan done), Gerry Stoltzfoos, said:
“I don’t think faith has anything to be afraid of from science. Science validates faith, so bring it on, whatever the facts are, bring it on.”

I thought this was an interesting little story. take a read.
There are some discussions about the story here.

what’s your take on this?

27 Responses to “scienfitic evidence for speaking in tongues?”

  1. on 24 Mar 2007 at 11:28 am 1.Todd Helmkamp said …

    That’s awesome! How cool to see a study that’s sympathetic to not just Christianity, but Charismatic Christianity!

  2. on 24 Mar 2007 at 12:03 pm 2.arzell said …

    I don’t mean to be a skeptic here, but when a person is praying in a natural language the brain is working through the intricacies of that language and trying to make something audible out of conscious thought. When a person is speaking in tongues, it makes sense that brain activity would decrease, but if he were faking (MANY Christians do) lower brain activity would still be the result. There would be no activity from the language part of the brain (or very little) and conscious thought would decrease as there is no end goal for which the thoughts need to be ordered.

    It is unfortunate that many scientists know so little about spirituality that such an experiment is inadequate. It is also unfortunate that many Christians know so little about science or logic to find this experiment as a sign from God to all humanity that Pentecostalism must be the “correct” way to Jesus.

    Sorry if that came off a little strong, but I just don’t see any sense in it.

  3. on 24 Mar 2007 at 6:40 pm 3.Michael J. said …

    I agree with arzell. As a person that grew up in a “tongue-talking” church, I know the reality of faking tongues. I’ve done it. It’s so easy to open your mouth and latch on to few phrases of jibberish and spit it out. I didn’t feel the Holy Spirit moving through me… I didn’t have a personal connection line with the Father… I was an ignorant little boy that wanted to fit in with all the other mutterers in the church. I’m not saying that everyone’s experience with talking in tongues is fake, because I’ve had some genuine and real experiences, but I have talked to several people from my little church that have confirmed my story with their own. Anyone can mutter in nonsense, fall on the floor, shake and spasm, scream, and foam at the mouth, but having a truly unique and personal Holy Spirit experience can not be faked… because it really doesn’t matter if anyone else believes you or not.

  4. on 25 Mar 2007 at 2:24 pm 4.joe said …

    Not to be a skeptic here, but…

    I guess the very first question I would ask the person conducting such a study would be: “How did the control group respond?” If you have a group of people who are speaking in what sounds like jibberish, and it appears to be under the control of an outside force, then what happens when you measure people who are intentionally speaking jibberish? Do you get the same results? And, they’ve only studied eight people…that’s not very many.

    I guess I have a foot in both ponds on this one. I firmly believe in the gifts of the Spirit, including speaking in tongues. But, I have to agree with Arzel and Michael J., I have faked speaking in tongues because otherwise people assumed there was something wrong with me.

    Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in speaking in tongues, but I wonder if it is the same as the other spiritual gifts, in that it is “empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV).

  5. on 26 Mar 2007 at 8:01 am 5.Todd Helmkamp said …

    Hey, guys,

    How is this study in any way invalidating true speaking in tongues? The fact that there is little to no frontal lobe activity indicates that, as Arzell stated, there is no “Ego” (to borrow from Freud) functioning when a person speaks in tongues. This is in direct contrast to when a person prays in a human language, and processes it cognitively. The same would happen if a person were faking it, there would still be cognitive activity.

    So where is the controversy? The article in fact seemed to offer evidence in favor of the reality of speaking in tongues.

  6. on 26 Mar 2007 at 9:37 pm 6.arzell said …

    I was just saying that the study provides evidence for nothing. If they want a control group, they should have people just blather and check their cognitive activity. I think it would be less because they aren’t using language, which is the conversion of thought to verbal sound. It may be possible that verbal sound is not necessarily language.

    From my own experience, there was a time when I thought I could speak in tongues. At this time, when I would be praying in my room and run out of words, ideas, or simply was tired of thinking of things to pray about, I would just blather. I thought that God was making sense out of what I was saying, while I just relaxed and blew brain farts for 5 or 10 minutes. During this time I could be in a trance-like state, conscious state, or even having elaborate day dreams. This all depended on my focus and how tired I was.

    I use this example as my personal evidence that since verbal noise can be disassociated from thought, one can be in a brainless activity by self determination as we all know is achieved by those experienced with meditation. So… If the Buddhists can do it, why can’t the Christians?

    This is in no way proof that the gift of speaking in tongues cannot be real. This is evidence that what these scientists have tried to study is not evidence at all for or against speaking in tongues.

  7. on 26 Mar 2007 at 9:44 pm 7.arzell said …

    Perhaps there is a disagreement among Christians as to whether speaking in tongues is a divine, bodily hijacking, a blathering of syllables with the utmost of motives and hoping that God “caught that”, or something in between. One’s idea may cause difference of opinion as to what this study actually tells us.

  8. on 30 Mar 2007 at 1:50 pm 8.SLW said …

    Thanks Nathan for the post. I understand Arzell’s skepticism. How can anyone, by any scientific convention, validate a miracle. If it could be explained, it stopped being miraculous. The study is interesting, nonetheless, because the Bible says the mind is unfruitful when praying in tongues. That would seem to agree with these findings.

  9. on 30 Mar 2007 at 2:21 pm 9.nathan said …

    SLW,
    Thanks for stopping by. What you’re saying makes sense.

    BUT–is it possible that science could indeed validate some miracles? If we say science can never possibly validate a miracle, aren’t we putting God in a box and effectively saying, ‘God, you have to do it supernaturally–and do NOT do it this way, or that way, or this, or that, because science could prove those correct.’

    Isn’t it possible that God could do a miracle which is confirmed by science? (Maybe not explained by science, but confirmed?)
    That only seems obvious to me–i suggest God serves up miracles any way he deems fit–no matter what ‘limits’ we try to place on him.

    Thoughts?

  10. on 07 Apr 2007 at 2:15 am 10.Chris said …

    I understand when there is skepticism about tongues when there are many who fake an experience. I also however know that there are a lot of people who make claims of christian character and integrity that are frauds as well. I know that before I came to know Jesus Christ as my savior that I was into many things that in our society are unaccepted and considered to be haneous character flaws. When Jesus came into my life I know that moment that all the burden of my sin was washed away, I know the moment when I had the feeling in my heart and my head that I no longer craved the things that I once craved and I can tell you the moment that God so wonderfully baptised me in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with tongues. My life has been forever changed and for over 20 years now I have served the Lord and sought after his ways and his will for my life. Please understand that I know there are people who do not believe but I tell you without a doubt that God changed my life and while tongues are not something that happens to me on a regular basis, it does happen and it is a glorious feeling. I was not raised Pentecostal, I was conditioned nor traditioned to believe a particular way, but I know that I have been given something that made a difference. I am a christian first and foremost, I am pentecostal by experience and I am holiness in standard, but without a doubt I am saved and I DO speak in tongues. Blessings and Grace to each and all!

  11. on 11 Apr 2007 at 4:15 pm 11.Sheryl said …

    Chris, what you just posted is ALL IN YOUR HEAD. Glossalalia (sp?) is no more than the result of the person working himself/herself up to a fever pitch and then babbling nonsense. It is a form of religious hysteria. Primitive African tribes “spoke in tongues” and they were pagans, so it could not have been the “Holy Spirit” speaking through them. As for the feeling that washed over you when Christ “came into your life” — that’s your own psyche talking. Seeing things the way you do is no more than having a caveman mentality. Get realistic!

  12. on 13 Apr 2007 at 8:00 am 12.nathan said …

    Sheryl,
    While i encourage discussion, personal attacks will not be tolerated.
    telling someone they have a ‘caveman mentality’ surely fits in this role.

    Let’s clean up the personal attacks, please.
    i will quickly close comments on this thread if it continues to go out of hand.

  13. on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:31 am 13.Rev. David Williams said …

    What’s interesting about this phenomenon is that it seems unrelated to language. Were this authentic glossolalia, seen through the lens of Christian tradition (Acts 2, particularly) I’d expect the inverse result…a massive and unusual level of activity in the portions of the cortex governing language.

    “Tongues” as defined by the Pentecostal movement of the modern era always seemed strongly analogous to the trance states of other primal religions. I don’t mean that as an insult at all..I have respect for shamanic trance states…but it is certainly not a uniquely Christian event.

  14. on 01 Jun 2007 at 10:03 am 14.nathan said …

    Pastor David,
    perhaps you could elaborate on why one’s spirit speaking must go through the mind’s language center.
    I’m not sure i follow your thought here.

  15. on 03 Jun 2007 at 1:40 pm 15.Dorothy said …

    As a practicing Roman Catholic, I was skeptical of people speaking in tongues — until I saw devout Catholic women of my personal acquaintance also speak in tongues in the prayer circle of our charismatic prayer group. There was absolutely no peer pressure to do this. Personally, I cannot, but I have experienced falling backward without ever having been touched.

    The research is most interesting. Previous posts have made good points, such as to compare scans with those of participants who deliberately babble. Also I concur with the comment about the incident in ACTS, the ability to hear in one’s own language.

    I should also like to hear how brain scans compare with those of people in a self-induced trance; i.e. are those who speak in tongues able to put themselves in a light trance almost instantly?

    Are there corresponding studies on those who have the gift to interpret tongues?

    To what extent has the speaking in tongues been recorded and scientifically been compared to any and all known languages?

    Assuming that one DOES communicate with God when speaking in tongues, is there any way to assess the affect of the “conversation” on one’s conscious or unconscious mind? Or on his personality such that he makes more godly choices during the rest of his life?

    In God’s own time we’ll have more answers. It’s indeed an interesting area for research.

  16. on 28 Jun 2007 at 4:02 pm 16.David said …

    Who are you ? Do you beleive what you read or do you read what you Beleive?

    John 3:8 (New Living Translation)
    8 “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

    John 3:5
    Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    Matthew 7:21 (Whole Chapter)
    “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

    Acts 19:6 (Whole Chapter)
    When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues [ Or other languages] and prophesied.

    Acts 2:4 (Whole Chapter)
    All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [ Or languages; also in verse 11] as the Spirit enabled them.

    We have to beleive what we read. The 66 book love letter was given to you to use and empower you. Your Eternity depends on it.

    In his service for his glory!

  17. on 03 Jul 2007 at 6:39 am 17.Catherine McDonald said …

    It was very interesting reading everyone’s comments. My believe is that we are all spirit and Jesus’ teaching was to remind us of this. Human nature has lost it’s way through the tenants of all religions (they are all man made and have put restrictions on us all). When someone speaks in tongues it is their soul/spirit communicating with the greatest spirit we know – GOD. I don’t know if you will receive this comment or not but I really hope that you do. I have spoken in tongues on three occasions when I have been sorely troubled by overwhelming grief. I did not know what I was saying I only know that I outpoured my intense feelings/hurt to a greater spirit.

  18. on 17 Jul 2007 at 8:37 am 18.ralph said …

    In the book of Acts it is written that they spoke in toungues and those who listened to them were surprised because these were uneducated fishermen but they (the fishermen)were speaking in the languages of the hearers and the hearers heard them and understood them each in his own language. Nowhere is it written that they spoke in some kind of gibberish.(Acts 2:6-12).This was confirmation of the fact that the message of the gospel shall hence forth be heard in all the languages of the world.It is a mandate and commission that is still being carried out today by the Bible Society and missionaries.It was a once-off miracle that God put to use at the disposal of uneducated Galilean fishermen to make a point.

    The only place in the bible where a person prays in spirit and is described is found in 1Samuel 1:13 where the scorned and barren Hannah was pouring her heart out to God and no voice came out of her and Eli the priest thought she had too much to drink and approached her to call her to order. The rest is history as they say.

    The other place is found in Romans 8:26 where Paul wrote that the God the Holy Spirit prays and intercedes for us in groans.

    It is not wrong to pray in groans and mutterings because of the burden that one is subjected to. But it is wrong to force oneself to pray in toungues when one is never under burden of joy or sorrow but just to prove the point that one has been baptised in the Holy Spirit. The intention of such a prayer is rooted in pride and self-worth and it diminishes the importance of the Holy Spirit. When words are lost, and the toungue and mouth are dry, and the heart beat irregular and fear grips us, our spirit takes over and we pray like Hannah. When our joy is great and warm tears pour out, and we suddenly see how insignificant and undeserving we are, our prayers gush out in gibberish in gratitude. I cannot say we cannot use toungues but let every man be guided by his or her conscience. I cannot manufacture my joy or sorrow at a whim , then its a hollow show but praying in strange words or no words at all is serious business and I dread the next moment I shall find myself on my knees needing to pray in spirit. Its not nice but God is gracious enough to have granted us that privilege as a last resort. If prayer was an SOS signal to God what would say of someone who sends it just for the joy of it?

  19. on 17 Jul 2007 at 11:29 am 19.nathan said …

    Ralph,
    saying tongues is not repeated in scripture is quite ignorant.
    1 Corinthians 13:1
    1 Corinthians 14:2, 6, 22
    1 Corinthians 14:39 “Do not forbid speaking in tongues.”

    (you might also want to read other references in these comments!)

  20. on 14 Sep 2007 at 12:49 am 20.Sophia said …

    The first time I broke out spontaneously in tongues was at a time when I was just flipping the TV channels, and chanced upon a scary footage of someone being possessed.

    Panic set in immediately and I froze in fear.
    But in a split second
    a strong river of ‘language’ broke forth from my
    heart. I found myself gushing in tongues
    and felt the panic subsiding.

    Till then, I didn’t know I could speak in tongues.

    Now, having prayed in tongues for years, I cherish
    this gift. It’s a channel of great peace with power.

  21. on 01 Jan 2008 at 10:42 pm 21.Felicity said …

    I’ve been a Christian for 32 years, and speaking in tongues almost that long.

    I have never even HEARD of people “faking it”. To what end? Why would you do that, if you understood the concept of surrendering one’s thoughts and words to the Holy Spirit? The purpose is to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us, FOR us and those we’re interceding for.

    Anyway…the “control group” was the guy (Buddhist?) meditating in a trance-like state. He chose a thought and a word to chant and meditate on. His brain activity showed that his speech and thought processes were highly functional. It may have been relaxing and renewing in a way, but it was totally self-instigated and self-provided activity.

    The woman speaking in tongues was on her feet, highly active physically, and aware of her surroundings, yet the brain areas that control conscious speech and thought were inactive. The spokesperson said that her words were not emanating from her brain’s speech area…rather, from some “other” outside source.

    Those of us who speak in tongues need no explanation. We know how it is, Who is activating it, and many times we know much good is being accomplished by these prayers. (I have some amazing accounts of my own).

    Those who don’t believe in it have shut the door on their own spiritual enlightenment, and should be left in peace.

    Those who FAKE IT…good grief, whatever for? Did you ever hear of not pleasing man, but pleasing GOD? First things first..get your relationship with HIM up and running before you go on to the deeper things. Forgive me if this sounds condescending, but really…you’re harming your own relationship with God. Get real with that, first. Read that Bible of yours, read it again and read it again…renew your mind with it, and let the Holy Spirit show you the truth, as Jesus promised He would.
    Blessings to all,
    Felicity

  22. on 28 Dec 2009 at 5:21 pm 22.Josh said …

    I was just going through everyones comments.All I have to say is that when someone speaks in tongues, it is by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and I think its best not to say anything agaisnt it or judge it by saying its false as Jesus has said that any sin is forgiveable, except anything said against the Holy Spirit.Just what came into my mind reading these comments.
    Josh

  23. on 29 Sep 2010 at 1:31 pm 23.steve said …

    I was trained as as a doctor and believe if you check the scientific proof of miracles you will have people standing on both sides. I like the scripture is Isaiah 55, God says my ways are not your ways , and my thoughts are not your thoughts. So men operating in limited dimensions trying to put God under their puny microscopes is quite funny. I also have found in my personal life the reality of Christ and His Word.
    The ignorance of man and the pride of man never ceases to amaze me.

  24. on 29 Sep 2010 at 1:45 pm 24.steve said …

    The man Arzell who comments above , I think you must think s everyone should be impressed with your knowledge of God or perhaps science. Or perhaps you think because of a few blind studies he can find God or not find him, he is to funny to believe. When you are proud and ignorant and cant see it you should just not comment The bible says the fool in his heart says there is no God. Many people have actually been , there, and done that spoken in tongues under the unction of the Holy Spirit you better at least consider perhaps you dont know everything and try to use the foolishness of science to prove the existence of a unlimited God , I also enjoyed reading a recent article on the internet about the bones put in a prominent place which represented as the great scientist said for many years these bones show the ape man as one , But recently they found out it was fake. Only human and ape bones stuck together, meshed broken and smashed together , Who is trying to deceive who.

  25. on 06 Apr 2013 at 4:52 am 25.Jesutola said …

    I was very happy when I found this article, until I began reading the comments and saw again that many Christians refuse to believe what the bible plainly says about speaking in tongues. I know no better way to live than to believe God’s Word. Thank God for scientific evidence, but science or no science, faith is the evidence! “In my name, they shall speak with new tongues!” Even if science says tomorrow that tongues are fake or something, I’m gonna keep speaking in tongues because Jesus, Luke (Acts) and Paul are 3 credible witnesses (by the Holy Spirit), the truth has been established in the Word. Nathan, please mail me if any such article shows up again thanks!

  26. on 24 Jun 2013 at 5:47 am 26.jane air. said …

    One; If people truly are “speaking” in tongues, then what are they saying? What language(s)? Why would god speak in a way no one can understand?

    Two; If someone’s frontal lobe is reduced in function, then their reasoning, decision-making, and language skills must be impaired.

    Three; What was the control group for this “study”?

    Four; Would the “study” have known who was faking it?

    Five; Does “speaking in tongues” make an individual feel more “holy”, or is it the temporary reduction in frontal lobe function?

    Six; Was this “study’s” data compared with similar data from people engaged in meditation or under hypnosis?

  27. on 06 May 2014 at 6:07 am 27.Henry said …

    Yeah, this has been done for thousands of years.
    It’s called meditation.

    If I said “I speak gibberish while worshiping Zeus” you would think I was completely bonkers.

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