Speaking in Tongues and Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit: a Study in Possession
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1984 Speaking in tongues and other gifts of the Holy Spirit: A study in possession Steven G. Herbert The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Herbert, Steven G., "Speaking in tongues and other gifts of the Holy Spirit: A study in possession" (1984). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 5562. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/5562 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1976 Th i s i s an unpublished m a n u s c r ip t in w h ic h c o p y r ig h t s u b s i s t s . A ny f u r t h e r r e p r in t in g of it s c o n t e n t s m u st b e a p p r o v e d BY THE AUTHOR. Ma n s f ie l d L ib r a r y U n i v e r s i t y of Mo n ta n a Da t e : ^ — 4 - & # 4 ---------- SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND OTHER GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: A STUDY IN POSSESSION By Steven G, Herbert B.S., University of New Hampshire, 1980 Presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts University of Montana 1984 Approved by: Chair, Board of Examiners Deffn, Graduate ScScWffT Date ^ / UMI Number: EP41026 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI EP41026 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8106-1346 Herbert, Steven G., M.A., June 1984 Anthropology Speaking in Tongues and Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit: A Study in Possession Director: Dr. Katherine M. Weist Belief in possession, both divine and demoniacal, is becoming increasingly prevalent in Western society. The most s a lie n t example is possession by the Holy S p irit found in the Pentecostal and charismatic movements. The purpose of th is thesis is to elucidate the similarities and dissimilarities between this form of possession and other forms of possession. To accomplish th is , extensive library research was done on the subjects of Pentecostal ism, glossolalia, and possession in general. Concurrently field research was undertaken in the area, Missoula, Montana, by attending Pentecostal services and a Bible study group, and Conducting interviews. Observations made in the field allowed assessment of the lite r a tu r e . I t was found th a t, a t le a st in modern day Pentecostal and charismatic movements, g losso lalia is not a pathological product of stress but a therapeutic response to it. The range of gifts associated with possession by the Holy Spirit is continuous with and overlaps with the "gifts" that result from other forms of possession. No aspect of possession by the Holy Spirit occurs without a non-Pentecostal equivalent. The differences are primarily due to beliefs about possession. The research revealed that forms of possession do not easily fit into distinct types, but that all forms of possession have certain variables and certain constants in common. It was found reasonable to assume that the possessing entity is not a truly external one but is instead, postulated by Jung, to be the "subliminal self," posing in the guise of the individual's belief system for the purpose of the integration of the ego. Thus i t may be th at a ll forms of possession are at least potentially therapeutic. It was concluded that this "subliminal self" has a volitional and omniscient character and tries to maintain the illusion of a separate and external entity, conveying a sense of authority. It was observed that many Pentecostal beliefs appear to be religious abstractions of psychological truths. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep appreciation to all the members of my committee-, Tobie Weist, John Means, and Carling Malouf, fo r th e ir encouragement and constructive c ritic is m . Special thanks goes to Tobie Weist for patience in editing, to Diane Waldo for her help in format and typing, and to both for helping me deal with University red tape. My deepest appreciation also goes to all the pastors of the congregations I visited for their cooperation and welcome to me as an observer. I thank a ll those who allowed me to interview them, both formally and informally. Lastly I thank all those among the groups I visited who shared themselves with me and offered me their friendship. TABLE OF CONTENTS £ase ABSTRACT .............................................................. i i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ i i i CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . ........................................................... 1 The Problem ..................................... 1 T h e o r y...................................... ............................. 2 Field Methodology . ...................................... 6 Organization of the Thesis . , ...................... , ..................... 9 CHAPTER TWO: THE PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC MOVEMENTS . , 11 A Brief History...................................................... ............................. 11 The Pentecostal Movement.............................................................. 15 CHAPTER THREE: PENTECOSTAL SERVICES .................................................. 33 Pentecostal Services in General ....... ..................... 33 Churches and Services in Specific , ..... 36 CHAPTER FOUR: SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES....................................................................... 44 A Brief History of Christian Glossolalia .............................. 44 C hristian B eliefs Concerning Speaking in Tongues .... 46 A Description of the Glossolalia Phenomenon ........................... 53 The Personal Acquisition and Evolution of Glossolalia . 60 Theories and Observations of Glossolalia ............................. , 66 CHAPTER FIVE: THE OTHER GIFTS OF THE HOLY SP IR IT ..................... 86 Word of Wisdom . ..................................... 87 Word of Knowledge.................................... .......................................... 89 Discerning of S p irits....................................................................... 90 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (C ontinued) M2e Faith .... ..................... 92 The Gifts of Healing 93 « The Working of Miracles 96 Prophecy , .................... 97 The Fruits of the Spirit . ............................. 98 CHAPTER SIX: CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS TO POSSESSION BY THE HOLY S P IR IT .................................................. 99 Variations in Possession by the Holy Spirit and Glossolalia in Christianity World-Wide .................................. 99 Parallels to Glossolalia Outside Christianity 101 The Social Context of Possession .............................................. 105 The Classification of Possession .............................................. 110 Manifestations of Possession Phenomena .................... 114 "Gifts" and Other Parallels to Pentecostal ism ..................... 119 The Common Denominators..................................... 125 CHAPTER SEVEN: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................... 128 REFERENCES C ITED ......................................... 145 v CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION The Problem Pentecostal ism has been described as the "Third Force" in Christianity. This was a phase firs t introduced by Van Dusen (1958) to describe a group of denominations d is tin c t from Catholicism and the rest of Protestantism, and has since been used by others (Damboriena 1966, Smylie 1979, Synan 1982). Central to the theology of these denominations is a belief in possession by the Holy Spirit, the main characteristic by which it is defined. For the adherents of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements, this is viewed as a positive and beneficial state, much sought a fte r and desired as a r it e of passage into the movement as a whole. Glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, is considered by traditional Pentecostals to be the sign that one has indeed been "filled with the Holy Spirit." Such possession may continue to manifest its presence with the evidence of certain other gifts as well. This is the most s a lie n t example of how b e lie f in possession is now becoming increasingly prevalent in Western society (Bourguignon 1976:4). At least superficially, possession by the Holy Spirit resembles other forms of possession around the world which are u ltim ately psychologically and socially therapeutic. Because of its increasing prevalence, this behavior should be studied specifically as a form of possession, and it is important to know how similar it is to other forms of ritual, 1 2 ceremonial, and therapeutic possession found in other