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Being slain in the Spirit is a religious phenomenon that occurs in many contemporary Charismatic or Pentecostal church meetings. It was also extremely common in early American (late eighteenth-century) Methodism, particularily at camp meetings and love feasts. Many prefer to refer to the phenomenon as "falling under the Spirit's power", "falling before the Lord" or "resting in the Spirit".

Although any personal encounter with God's glory and power can result in one falling, typically, being "slain in the Spirit" is associated with occasions of public prayer ministry when the laying on of hands is practiced. In such settings, church members or attendees come forward to the front of the church to receive a special work of the Holy Spirit from the Pastor or service leader. Often a significant amount of time is spent singing and praying during the church service before this point. Attendees are then prayed over and touched by the service leader, the Spirit of God comes upon them, and they fall -- usually onto their backs. In most cases, their fall is broken by deacons, catchers, ushers or orderlies behind them to prevent injury.

In the context of this experience, many Christians believe that they have been healed or given a special blessing by God. Others report seeing visions or hearing God's voice.

The phenomenon is probably an example of Religious ecstasy, and many argue that it can be explained by psychological antecedents.

Whether voluntary or involuntary, "falling before the Lord" as a human response to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is seen by many Pentecostals and Charismatics as a phenomenon that is in harmony with the Scriptures. In the Bible, falling while in the presence of God was at times also accompanied by manifestations of trembling, physical weakness and deep sleep.

Instances of voluntarily falling before the Lord to worship or pray may be found in Genesis 17:3 and Joshua 5:14. References to voluntarily falling as the result of being overwhelmed by a divine presence are found in Numbers 22:31, Judges 13:20, Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 3:23, Ezekiel 43:3, Ezekiel 44:4, Daniel 8:17 and Matthew 17:6.

Instances of involuntarily falling before the Lord as the result of being overwhelmed by a divine presence are found in 1 Kings 8:10-11, Daniel 8:27, Daniel 10:8-11 (possibly implied), Acts 9:3-4 (also Acts 26:14) and Revelation 1:17.

Both voluntary and involuntarily falling before the Lord can also occur as the result of a power encounter – the power of God overtaking the power of a demonic force that has sought to control or oppress a person. References to falling in the context of power encounters are found in Mark 3:11, Mark 9:20 and Luke 8:28.

Some Christians argue that the practice is neither described nor prescribed in the Bible, and that it is, at best, merely psychological phenomena or, at worst, satanic in origin. However, proponents of the doctrine resent this statement, stating that it is impossible to be satanic, because it occurs in services centered around satan's enemy, Jesus Christ.

Some see similarities in the manifestation of this phenomenon to a form of seizure disorder, though there may be a similar, if not superior, psychological benefit as is found in ECT seizure therapy.

See also

Toronto blessing

God Struck Me Dead, Voices of Ex-Slaves by Clifton H. Johnson ISBN 0-8298-0945-7 describes similar experiences in the accounts of nineteenth century African American spirituality.

The 1967 film Holy Ghost People by Peter Adair documented an Appalachian Pentecostal church service in which several people are slain in the spirit.

Similar experiences are also reported by those who experience a Kundalini awakening.

• Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity
• Christian theology