Speaking in Tongues

How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality

The spiritual practice of speaking in tongues –a form of communication with the divine through speaking words in an unknown or unrecognizable language– has invited a lot of speculation and skepticism over the years. To many, it seems like the stuff of horror movies, or old-timey religious revivals. But charismatic Christianity, for which speaking in tongues is a central practice, is one of the fastest growing Christian movements in modern history. So why has it not only persisted, but recently gained momentum? What exactly is happening to the mind and body when people engage in this practice?

We’ll talk to Josh Brahinsky, anthropologist and author of a forthcoming book on speaking in tongues, about his years researching people taking part in this practice, and why it’s far less rare and extreme than many people think. And how neuroscience is showing real changes in the brain that point to tongues as an effective method of prayer and even mindfulness. We’ll also talk to Shavon Gartrell, youth pastor at Glad Tidings Church in San Francisco, about what it feels like to let go, drop in and give her tongue to God.