Michael said:
Lori_7, do you think that Godly gifts (such as speaking in tongues) “run in the family”. Doesn’t that seem odd to you? Why would magical ability run in the family? It seems that God would bestow such “gifts” upon people, not based on the familiar lineage, but upon the person’s merit.
Why do you suppose that some people are given these Godly gifts when they are young? Are they more open than the other children? Do you think it’s odd that some children don’t understand what’s happening and so they ask their parents and are told – you know, you’re grandparent had such “gift”. Why would God give a gift to someone who is too young to understand it?
Well Godly gifts one explanation ... and, you know, they used to say: “It runs in the blood.”
But, what is the truth? It’s actually sounding a little like genetics isn’t it? Genetics can skip a generation. Things can be inherited on the paternal or familiar side (X or Y chromosome linked).
Is it godly inspired or genetically inherited I wonder?
As to glossolalia, that is, speaking in tongues – you know the Greek cult of Aries was quite famous for this. I guess because they were pagan it was devils-don huh? And of course many many many other peoples speak in tongues - Buddhists, Shinto, Pagans, Hindu – and Atheists too.
I’m sorry Lori_7, but it is scientifically observable and measurable event not unlike any other biological reality.
It’s also a great way to convince people of God. I can think of no better way than to reinterpret a real biological event such as temporal lobe seizures (something so personal as the act of speaking) and using it to convince the person of Godly inspired gift hood - speaking in tongues. The Pentecost’s are quite famous for it, and they are the fastest growing religion in Christendom. Not unlike their Greek Pagan Brothers – who also utilized the natural occurrence of biological induced (and genetic based) temporal lobe seizure to great religious effect "Speaking in Tongoues".
Ok, so after reading this response, I had to do an "age-check", you know, to make sure I wasn't talking to some seven year old kid. And of course, I'm horrified to find that you are just a few years younger than I. But then I saw that you were a medical doctor, and it all made sense again. I'm sure that you may know a thing or two about biology and pharmaceuticals, but you don't know anything about God or the Holy Spirit.
Let me first ask you this...have you ever known anyone who spoke in tongues? If the answer is yes, would you be specific as to the nature of your relationship? If no, then have you ever even been a witness to someone speaking in tongues, or any other physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit?
I grew up surrounded by it. I've also seen plenty of people fake it for attention or whatever.
"Runs in the blood"? What kind of inbred, appalachian mf'ers have you been talking to? lol I suppose that it's possible that there is some genetic apptitude or predisposition for it, but that would remain dormant or undeveloped without the realization of the Spirit. But that doesn't really make sense. It's described in the Bible as a gift of the Spirit, and that God is no respecter of persons, and that nothing is impossible with Him. And an indwelling of the Holy Spirit wouldn't be contigent upon genetics, and neither would the ability to speak a specific language, whatever the language may be. I mean, if He can raise the dead, and give sight to the blind, then He can give speech to a mute too, right?
Isn't it a bit unusual that this seizure's only symptom is this altered "language"? You're a doctor...aren't most seizures multi-symptomed, and the affects of which much less "structured"? I mean, we're talking about drooling, kicking, screaming, contorting, swallowing your tongue. Even if you call it incoherent babbling, everything else about the person seems to be aok while it's happening. It's obvious that they're in control of themselves very well, accept of course, for the babbling.
And these are self-induced seizures right? Because it's obvious that the people "afflicted" with them get to pick and choose where and when they have them, and at their convenience. Don't you think that's a little odd? Ok, where are we...genetically predispositioned to have self-induced seizures...what?
Oh yea, seizures that are not only related to or caused by any specific health problem or illness, but also apparently have no detrimental mental or physical affects on the body. Certainly this is rare too right? Don't most seizures cause brain damage? Damage whose severity depends upon the intensity and duration of the seizure? Well, you would assume that a seizure that would cause the kind of behavior that we're talking about, and that I've been witness to many times, would have to be fairly severe. And I've seen it last for a long time. Grandma at a prayer meeting back in the day....she could go in and out for hours. And grandma was smart as a whip and the picture of health until she had a stroke a couple of years ago...at 80 years.
So, we've got this weird, and of course undocumented, genetic disorder, which causes the ability or predisposition to have self-induced seizures, whose only symptom is a very specific and controlled babble, and that are not related to or a symptom of any other illness or condition, and do not cause any detrimental physical or mental affect on the person who has them.
Interesting.
