Voices from the Gods: Speaking with Tongues

Glossolalia (paranormal speaking in tongues) and zenolalia (paranormal speaking in allegedly foreign languages) are features of many sub-cultures and religions. The most obvious example is Pentecostalism, where every believer in many denominations is expected to speak in tongues at least once – the gift in other cultures being limited to individuals, shamans and mediums. This book, first published in 1978, surveys the practice of ‘speaking in tongues’ in anthropology, Christianity and spiri...