Many questions, little answers yet but I am on track

Here are my questions:
1. Are tongues speaking christians a)authentic, b)genuine but misguided c) psychologically conditioned d)demonised or e)all of the above(circumstance dependent) ? How can I test this in myself and others?
2. Did Jesus go to hades when he died? (today you will be with me in paradise to the thief, and the apostles creed which says he went to hades based on an interesting interpretation of 1Pet3)...What happens to us when we die? (e.g. are we asleep. conscious, disembodied...Lazarus and rich man parable etc)
3. How can I learn to pray? Is speaking God's word back to him in prayer a subtle attempt to manipulate him, like the 'name it and claim it' theology of the word of faith movement? How should we use the bible when we pray?
4. In church we are exhorted to live a victorious christian life? What is "victorious christian living"? How do we practically do this?
5. Should there be a place for tongues/prophecy/words of knowledge/prophetic prayer/interpretation/discernment in the corporate life of the church? How are they defined? What does the bible recommend for our corporate worship?

Answers on a postcard to... or you could just leave me a comment...