Glossolalia is derived from two New Testament Greek words: glossai meaning “tongues” or “languages” and lalien, “to speak.” Glossolalia or speaking in tongues has most often been identified with Pentecostal and Charismatic faith traditions. Glossolalia is usually but not exclusively a religious phenomenon. Glossolalia consists of words and utterances made by an individual that resembles a language unknown to the person speaking. Individuals practice glossolalia in private or public worship settings in which the speaker may also be in an excited psychological state or may enter into a blissful and peaceful meditative or prayerlike stance. Groups within Pentecostal and Charismatic movements agree that glossolalia is a manifestation or gift of the Holy Spirit, but disagree as to whether or not it is the certifying initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Pentecostals and Charismatics believe that through the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit, they are speaking a...
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Nolen, K.L. (2020). Glossolalia. In: Leeming, D.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24348-7_262
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