What happens in the brain of a person when they speak in their personal prayer language, or in tongues? It seems as though the part of the brain that is highly activated when a person speaks normally takes a rest – a sort of sabbatical – to use a religious term. This would makes sense because the Bible tells us that if we allow the Holy Spirit to pray through us, as in speaking in tongues, it’s really not us praying, but the Spirit of God in us.
“For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. ”
1 Corinthians 14:14
An ABC news broadcast in July of 2008, Speaking in Tongues – The Science, explains this practice of the Christian faith in medical terms. In the study, Dr. Newberg’s team scanned the subject’s brains while they spoke in tongues, using their personal prayer language. Subsequently, the images showed that the frontal lobe of the brain was significantly less active than when the subjects prayed in their normal English language. Another study by Dr. Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania, published in 2006, showed similar results.
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.”
Psalm 139:14
These studies are yet another example of science validating aspects of the Christian faith. They serve as a reminder of how amazing God, our Creator, designed each of us.
Have an awesome day!
Resources Related to Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in Tongues Scripture Listing
Research Related to the Faith and Health Link
Other blog posts about the Research on Faith and Health.
Articles and presentations on the Spirituality, Religion and Health Research
Joey Basta says
October 18, 2011 at 10:05 AMWow, what amazing research! I love to hear about awesome evidence that proves again that our Lord is for real. Thank you Dale for this great post and the work you do that helps us understand the Faith & Health Connection. Amen!