bobb (02/02/83)
"Speaking in tongues" is, as has been mentioned, an example of God communicating
with and through men and women. The languages involved are not always "other-
worldly." They were not in the first occurrence, in which "every man heard them
speak in his own language" (Acts 2:6). I remember reading of an incident in
which a man at a church service (who I think was a visitor) spoke in what was
to him and nearly everyone else an unknown tongue. However, another man informed
the speaker later that he had been speaking perfect Polish. The reference for
this is a book investigating the practice (which I recommend) entitled "They
Speak with Other Tongues," by John Sherrill (I think the title and author are
correct; I can find the book again if anyone wants confirmation.) This book
also discusses the linguistics of the unknown language(s) spoken.
Nowhere is there anything but anecdotal or unverified
claims for claimed "answered prayers" or "miraculous healings".
I challenge anybody to provide objective (scientific if you wish)
evidence for any of this.
The January issue of SCIENCE 83 (could be the December issue of SCIENCE 82) has
an article by William Nolon (author of "The Making of a Surgeon") describing one
of his experiences. He had a patient, a woman minister, who had cancer. While
in the hospital before surgery, she had a heart attack. When Dr. Nolon visited
her to assure her that postponing surgery would not be dangerous for her type
of cancer, she told him (words are not exact), "You won't have to operate. God
is going to heal me." The surgeon didn't believe her, and later did another
exam -- in fact several. Not only did he not find the cancer -- he did not even
find the scars from the original biopsy. Dr. Nolon does not believe that this
was a healing, but he is unable to provide a better explanation. He just
doesn't believe. He calls it an "unexplained remission" but admits it is the
first case he knows of in which the "remission" was predicted by the
patient.
For more cases like this, watch -- if it available on your TV -- "The 700
Club." When healings are reported to them, they verify the facts before
featuring the stories.
As for the statement
If you will do this experiment in faith, I can promise you --
on the authority of God's Word, that it will change not only
your mind, but your life.
I might remark that I think Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and yes, even
Hare Krishna and the Moonies, can make identical claims.
Of course, any and all religions can make claims. The question is: are the
claims valid? Religious claims, like any others, can be tested. Often a little
trial is more effective than much discussion (for net.physics readers:
remember the cold-milk-and-hot-tea problem?). My "claim" is that the claims
of Christianity are valid. Try it and see!
Bob Bales
Tektronix