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

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.

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

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?

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!

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.