A practice understood in different ways
“Speaking in tongues” is commonly used to describe vocal prayer or speech understood by participants as inspired by the Holy Spirit. In many Pentecostal and Charismatic communities, it is connected with spiritual experience, worship and ideas about baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Interpretations vary. Some Christians regard tongues as a form of prayer or praise that does not depend on an ordinary human language. Others understand the biblical accounts as referring to speech in languages unfamiliar to the speaker but recognizable to listeners. Still other Christians do not treat the practice as part of their worship.
The subject therefore brings together questions about salvation, spiritual experience, biblical interpretation, community tradition and the relationship between religious practice and scientific observation. This page introduces the collection without presenting one denominational position as definitive.
Reading with context
Descriptions of religious practice reflect the communities and sources being discussed. Individual congregations and believers may use similar terms in different ways.
Topics covered in this section
Introduction
Definitions, comparisons between faith groups and a brief history of the practice.
Biblical passages mentioning tongues
An organized guide to passages commonly discussed in Christian teaching about tongues.
Denominational beliefs and practices
How selected Christian traditions describe, encourage or question the practice.
A visitor essay supporting tongues
An archived perspective submitted by a visitor, presented as an individual viewpoint.
Scientific studies of speaking in tongues
Research-oriented discussion of observation, interpretation and the limits of available evidence.
Archive note · Reviewed 18 September 2026