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'When you no longer believe in eternity, every moment counts -- A memoir of breaking free and reinvention
'From the outside, Tom Tilley's childhood seemed ordinary. The first son of a pastor, he grew up in a beautiful country town where life revolved around football, his loving family and their Pentecostal faith. But behind church doors, a strictly enforced set of rules included a looming ultimatum: if Tom didn't speak in tongues, he'd go to hell and be outcast from his close-knit, devout community.
'The older Tom became, the more he questioned the teachings of the church, especially around speaking in tongues. And the more he heard about his parents' adventurous lives before they found God, the more he wanted the freedom to make those 'mistakes' that the church forbade. Eventually, after years of suppressing his doubts in silence, Tom spoke up. Having the courage to do so came at a huge personal cost, leading to a decision that would take his family to breaking point. What happened next is surprising, and Tom's journey to independence will inspire readers to ask what's true in their own lives and who they really are.
'Told with empathy and searing honesty, Speaking in Tongues is a powerful coming-of-age story about questioning the life created for you and building your true self, one recycled brick at a time.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Sound recording.
- Large print.
Works about this Work
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y
Tom Tilley in Conversation
John Safran
(interviewer),
2022
24659423
2022
single work
podcast
interview
'Tom Tilley in conversation with John Safran about Tilley's recently published memoir, Speaking in Tongues.'
-
Tom Tilley on Growing up ‘hardline’ Pentecostal: ‘It Was Weird – It Was Speaking in Tongues'
Brigid Delaney
(interviewer),
2022
single work
interview
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 6 May 2022;
-
Tom Tilley on Growing up ‘hardline’ Pentecostal: ‘It Was Weird – It Was Speaking in Tongues'
Brigid Delaney
(interviewer),
2022
single work
interview
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 6 May 2022; -
y
Tom Tilley in Conversation
John Safran
(interviewer),
2022
24659423
2022
single work
podcast
interview
'Tom Tilley in conversation with John Safran about Tilley's recently published memoir, Speaking in Tongues.'