Why Tongues? The Initial Evidence Doctrine in North American Pentecostal Churches

Book excerpt: The modern Pentecostal movement has been studied many times in relation to its theological and sociological background. Previous studies, however, have not focused on the disctinctive doctrine of that movement: the teaching that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Within a very short time of its proposal, acceptance of this doctrine was so widespread as to become the hallmark of the movement. Insistence on such a doctrine led to many being asked to leave their denominations, and thus to the founding of other denominations. This book attempts to answer the question: "Why?" And specifically: "Why Tongues?"