Speaking in Tongues in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

A Mixed-methods Study of Interpretations of and Attitudes Towards Glossolalia among Theology Students of Tumaini University Makumira

Abstract

This co-authored article explores interpretations of and attitudes to glossolalia as unintelligible, non-semantic language among the students of theology at Tumaini University Makumira as part of the broader phenomenon of the Pentecostaliation of mainline churches in Africa. We conceptualised glossolalia as connected with the New Testament idea of spiritual gifts and African cultural practices but also as learned social behaviour. A mixed-methods approach combines a quantitative survey with a qualitative study providing further in-depth interpretations. The combined findings reveal that half of the students have spoken in tongues themselves (especially women) and that most of the respondents appreciate glossolalia as a spiritual gift and, more or less, want it to be practiced in the church and not only privately. Furthermore, respondents employed a questionable distinction between genuine glossolalia and fake glossolalia with only the latter causing negative effects. One of these is the discrimination of non-glossolalists as inferior to tongue-speakers which causes serious conflicts in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). As remedies of malpractices, respondents emphasised translation of glossolalia and intensified teachings. The researchers could also show that African cultural resources may provide a positive view of speaking in tongues and its translation. The authors discussed these findings with reference to research from New Testament studies, African cultural perspectives, and contemporary socio-scientific research. This article concluded that awareness of educational but also political aspects, integration of glossolalic practices and the curtailing of malpractices through teaching and socio-political awareness are needed in and for the ELCT.