Jane和Will初次約會(huì),想多了解對(duì)方,他們談到了彼此的宗教信仰。Jane的父母來自中國(guó),她是個(gè)佛教徒,Will則在美國(guó)長(zhǎng)大,信基督教。
Professor: That's right, Winnie. When you talk about religion, it's important not to offend other people.
沒錯(cuò),在美國(guó),宗教信仰是私人事務(wù),也是個(gè)敏感話題,所以談到這個(gè)問題的時(shí)候要禮貌、小心, 不然可能會(huì) offend other people - 得罪別人。
Will: So Jane, what religion are you?
Jane: I guess I'm a Buddhist because both my parents are Buddhist. But I'm not really practicing.
Will: I see. So you don't pray very often?
Jane: No. The only time I pray is during the holidays with my parents.
哇,Will 怎么一上來就問人家的宗教,這個(gè)約會(huì)開場(chǎng)白還真少見。
Professor: Right. And what does Jane say?
Jane說,因?yàn)樗改付际欠鸾掏剑运约簯?yīng)該也算是個(gè)佛教徒,不過她并不真的practice。 Professor, practice a religion 就是虔誠地信奉某個(gè)宗教,按宗教教義來生活的意思吧?
Professor: Exactly. For example, a practicing Jew would go to the synagogue every Friday to pray.
哦,a practicing Jew - 一名虔誠信奉猶太教的教徒會(huì)每星期五去synagogue - 猶太教堂禱告。這樣堅(jiān)持不懈也很不容易哦!
Professor: Well, many people think that praying helps them spiritually.
Jane: What about you, Will? What religion do you believe in?
Will: I'm a Christian. Most of my family are Christians too, but my brother converted to Islam.
Jane: Oh really? Why did he do that?
Will: He married a Muslim woman. She wanted them to share the same faith, so he converted.
Will的家人大多是基督教徒,不過他哥哥convert to Islam. Professor, 這是什么意思呢?
Professor: When you change to a different religion, you can say you converted to a different religion.
哦,convert,c-o-n-v-e-r-t 就是改變宗教信仰。Will的哥哥以前也是基督徒,但因?yàn)榻涣藗€(gè)女朋友是Muslim - 穆斯林,所以也改信Islam - 伊斯蘭教了。
Professor: Yes, Winnie. Have you noticed there are two different words used to describe Islam? The religion is called Islam. The people who believe in Islam are called Muslims.
對(duì),伊斯蘭教是Islam, 而伊斯蘭教徒則是Muslims, 也就是“穆斯林”。
Will: Are your parents devout Buddhists? Do they go to the temple often?
Jane: Yes, they go there to pray a lot. Do you go to church often?
Will: I go to church every Sunday.
Jane: Isn't it hard waking up so early on the weekend?
Will: Sometimes, but going to church is very important. I'm a pretty religious person.
聽起來Will比Jane更加虔誠,因?yàn)樗總€(gè)星期天都去church--教堂。對(duì)了,professor, 基督徒去church,佛教徒去temple - 寺廟,猶太教徒則去synagogue,那么Muslims 去那里禱告呢?
Professor: Muslims pray at their mosque.
哦,對(duì)! mosque,m-o-s-q-u-e,清真寺! Will每星期天都要起大早,去教堂,他說這樣雖然有點(diǎn)累,但既然是教義規(guī)定的,他就得執(zhí)行。
Will: So Jane, do you think your parents would be mad if you married someone who isn't a Buddhist?
Jane: Did you say marry? Will, it's only our first date!
Will: I know! But I just wanted to ask you, just in case...
Jane: Actually, my parents have told me that it's OK to marry someone who believes in other religions.
這個(gè)Will,初次約會(huì)就提到結(jié)婚的事兒了! 還好,Jane的父母同意女兒嫁給不信佛教的人! 對(duì)了,Professor Bowman, 在中國(guó),人們可以既拜佛,拜菩薩,又拜太上老君,玉皇大帝??墒俏野l(fā)現(xiàn),西方人只能信一種宗教。
Professor: That's true. Which do you think is better?
我看對(duì)所有神明都崇敬,都拜,那一定就會(huì)有神來保佑你的!
這次的美語三級(jí)跳就播送到這里。