Abstract
A survey of the religious and psychological literature on glossolalia (“speaking in tongues”) reviews the various ways that have been used to try to understand this fascinating practice. At the present time an impasse has been reached: glossolalists can no longer be viewed as suffering from psychopathological disorders or from sociological deprivation. Insights derived from the psychology of the self and narcissism, as presented in the works of Heinz Kohut and D.W. Winnicott, are used to suggest new approaches to understand glossolalia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kohut, H.,The Restoration of the Self. New York, International Universities Press, 1977;The Search for the Self Volume 1, Ornstein P., ed. New York, International Universities Press, 1978:The Search for the Self, Volume 2, Ornstein, P., ed., New York. International Universities Press, 1978; “Disorders of the Self,”The InternationalJ. Psychoanalysis. 1978. 5.9, 4 (reprint); Winnicott, D.W.,Playing and Reality. Penguin Books, 1971.
Rogers, C. L., “The Gift of Tongues in the Post Apostolic Church,”Bibliotheca Sacra. 1965.122 134–143; Hunter, H., “Tongues-Speech: A Patristic Analysis,”J. Evangelical Theological Society, 1980,23, 2, 125–137: Kelsey, M.,Tongue Speaking.' New York, Doubleday & Co., 1964; Gillespie, T. W., “A Pattern of Prophetic Speech in First Corinthians,”J. Biblical Literature, 1978,97, 1, 74–95; Currie, S., “Speaking in Tongues,”Interpretation, 19, 3. 274–294; Dodds, E. R.,The Greeks and the Irrational. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1951.
Kelsey, M.,op. cit.; Williams, G. H., “A History of Speaking in Tongues and Related Gifts.” InThe Charismatic Movement, Hamilton, M., ed. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1975.
Bruner, F. D.,A Theology of the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1970.
Sherrill, J.,They Speak with Other Tongues. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1964.
Quebedeaux, R.,The New Charismatics. New York, Doubleday & Co., 1976.
This is mentioned in the above-mentioned work by Morton Kelsey.
Lombard, E.,De ta Glossolalie Chez les. Premiers Chrétiens et des Phénoménes Similaires. Lausanne, Bridel, 1910.
Cutten, G. B.,Speaking with Tongues: Historically and Psychologically Considered. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1927.
Mackie, A.,The Gift of Tongues. New York, George Doran Co., 1921, p. 257.
Flournoy, T.,From India to the Planet Mars. Geneva, 1900.
Boisen, A., “Economic Distress and Religious Experience: A Study of the Holy Rollers.”Psychiatry. 1939,2, 185–194.
—,Religious Crisis and Custom. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1945.
Stolee, H. J.,Speaking in Tongues. Minneapolis, Augsburg Press, 1963. This is a reprint of the original 1936 work with an update provided in the added introduction.
Hoekema, A.,What about Tongue-Speaking? Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1960.
Burdick, D.,Tongues-to Speak or not to Speak. Chicago, Moody Press, 1969; Stott, J. R.,The Baptism and the Fulness, Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press, 1964.
op. cit., p. 199.
Goodman, F.,Speaking in Tongues. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press. 1972.
Samarin W., “Sociolinguistic vs. Neurophysiological Explanations for Glossolalia,”J. for Scientific Study of Religion, 1972,11, 3, 293–299.
—, “Language in Resocializauon,”Practical Anthropology, 1970,17, 6, 269–284;Tongues of Men and Angels. London, Macmillan Co., 1972.
Hine, V. H., “Pentecostal Glossolalia: Toward a Functional Interpretation,”.J. for Scientific Study of Religion, 1969,8, 2, 211–226.
Ibid., 217.
Sargant, W., “Some Cultural Group Abreactive Techniques and Their Relation to Modern Treatments,”Procedures of the Royal Society of Medicine. 1949, 42, p. 367;Battle for the Mind. New York, Doubleday & Co., 1957; Frank, J. D.,Persuasion and Healing: A Comparative Study of Psychotherapy. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press. 1961; Maslow, A. H.,Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences. Columbus, Ohio State University Press, 1964; Wood, W.,Culture and Personality Aspects of the Holiness Religion. Paris, Mouton, 1965; Pattison, M. E., “Speaking in Tongues and about Tongues,”Christian Standard. Feb. 15, 1964.
Zaretsky, I., and Leone, M., eds..Religious Movements in Contemporary America. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1974, p. 276.
Lasch, C.,The Culture of Narcissism. New York, Warner Books, 1979, p. 89.
op. cit..
Vivier, L.,Glossolalia, Unpublished thesis. University of Witwatersrand. available in microfilm at the University of Chicago, 1960.
Plog, S., “UCLA Conducts Research on Glossolalia.”Trinity, 1965,3, 38–39.
Found inop. cit., pp. 422–423.
Hartmann, H.,Essavs on Ego Psychology. New York, International Universities Press, 1965.
Lapsley, J., and Simpson, J. H., “Speakingin Tongues.”PastoralPsychology, 1964,15 144, 48–55 (part 1); 1964,15, 146, 16–24 (part 2).
Ibid., part 2,
Ibid..
Richardson, J., “Psychological Reinterpretations of Glossolalia: A Reexamination of Research,”J. for Scientific Study of Religion,12, 2, 199–207.
Kildahl, J. P.,The Psychology of Speaking in Tongues. New York. Harper & Row, 1972. pp. 50–51.
Ibid., p. 79.
Richardson, J.,op. cit., 382.
Vivier as quoted in Richardson,ibid., 204–205.
op. cit., p. 257.
Pattison inibid., p. 419.
op. cit., 219.
Pattison inop. cit., p. 445.
Ibid., p. 431.
Altizer, J. T.,Radical Theology and the Death of God. Indianapolis. Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1966.
Keen, S.,To a Dancing God. New York, Harper & Row, 1970, p. 40.
Miller, S.,The Dilemma of Modern Faith. New York. Harper & Row, 1963.
Robinson, J.,Honest to God, London, SCM Press, 1963.
In Frank, S.,Glossolalia. Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1967.
Kelley, D.,Why Conservative Churches are Growing. New York, Harper & Row, 1972, pp. 78–84.
See, for instance. Felicitas Goodman's evaluation inop. cit., p. 247–248.
See reference #1.
Hutch, R., “The Personal Ritual of Glossolalia,”,J. for Scientific Study of Religion. 1980,19, 3, 255–266.
Turner, V.,The Forest of Symbols. Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 1967; Van Gennep. A.The Rites of Passage. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1960.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castelein, J.D. Glossolalia and the psychology of the self and narcissism. J Relig Health 23, 47–62 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999899
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00999899