THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES

by John P. Kildahl ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 26, 1972

John Kildahl has conducted a clinical study of the phenomenon of glossolalia and recorded his findings in this book. As a psychologist he was not concerned with the spiritual authenticity or significance of ""speaking in tongues"" but solely with the psychological factors involved. And yet his conclusions have a bearing on spiritual values. He found, for example, that, while glossolalists are neither more nor less emotionally disturbed than other believers, they do exhibit a pronounced need for group acceptance, and that ""speaking"" invariably produced a sense of euphoric satisfaction in that respect. One may also conclude, tentatively, that the ""tongues"" in which glossolalists speak are not known languages, and that ""interpreters"" invariably offer differing accounts of what was being said. The tongues, therefore, are probably not language, in a proper sense, but a verbal activity to which one finds weak parallels in certain forms of aphasia, in sleep-talking, etc. A quite fascinating work, easily intelligible to the layman, and of value to counselors in the religious field.

Pub Date: April 26, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION