A Voice From Heaven: Could The Study Of Glossolalia Both Benefit Linguistic Theory And Improve Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

My 2005 Linguistics bachelor of arts thesis argues for an "open minded" approach to scientific inquiry. It not only addresses the possible role of science in the exploration of supposed "supernatural" or spiritual phenomena but also asks if science itself may be enriched by such exploration. It suggests that conventional Western scientific enquiry, is the poorer for its traditional aversion toward enquiry beyond empirically reducible matters. I believe it is apparent that in the current COVID-19 environment, the answer to the fundamental question my thesis asks about the compatibility of science and religion could mean life or death for some people.  The precise area of scientific inquiry with which I am concerned is the field of Linguistics. The supposed "supernatural" or spiritual phenomenon that I would subject to linguistic analysis is glossolalia, known more widely in Western society as the Christian practice of "speaking in tongues".