Religion

English writer G.K. Chesterton once noted that “America is a nation with the soul of a church.” Religion—and Christianity in particular—has indeed shaped the social and political structures of the United States. The evidence of religion’s influence is not hard to find: The U.S. president takes the oath of office by placing his hand on a Bible and ends his vow

with “so help me God.”
英國作家卻斯特頓曾經指出「美國是一個以教會為靈魂的國家」。宗教，尤其是基督教，
確實塑造了美國社會與政治結構。宗教影響的證據不難找到。例如：美國總統將手放在聖
經上宣誓就職，在誓言結尾時說「請上帝助我」；
The Supreme Court is called into session by a crier announcing, “God save the United States and this honorable court.” U.S. coins bear the inscription, “In God we trust.”From its founding until the present day, Americans have been a people of strong religious faith.
最高法院開庭時是由一位傳令員宣佈：「上帝拯救美國與此受尊敬的法庭。」；美元硬幣上刻有「我們相信上帝」一詞。從建國到現在，美國人一直有強烈的宗教信仰。
While many of the Founding Fathers held strong religious beliefs, they recognized the danger of having an official state religion. Of course, most of them were at least nominal Christians— especially Protestants—so the religious freedom they had in mind was Christian religious freedom. Nevertheless, the principle they established was broad enough to include other religions, as well.
雖然開國元勳之中有許多人有堅定的宗教信仰，他們也意識到建立一個正式的官方宗
教的危險。當然，他們之中大多數都至少是名義上的基督徒——以新教徒為主——所
以他們當時所想的宗教自由是基督教的宗教自由。不過，他們建立的原則也寬大得足
以包容其他宗教。
As a result of the atmosphere of openness to religion, many religious groups and sects—and many strange cults—have sprung up in America. For the first hundred or so years of America' history, religious toleration was extended primarily to Christian denominations.
基於這種宗教開放的氣氛，是許多宗教團體與宗派，還有很多奇怪的異教都在美國興起的原因。美國歷史的頭一個一百年左右，宗教信仰自由主要是The 1800s saw the development of several new American religions, such as Mormonism,
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Science. In the 20th century, with the influx of immigrants from Asia and the Middle East, more and more Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have begun to practice their religion—and to find converts— in America. And although anti-Semitism was once common, people of Jewish faith now enjoy the freedom to worship, as well.
十九世紀時美國發展出一些新的宗教，諸如摩門教、耶和華見證會以及基督教科學會等。廿世紀時，大批移民自亞洲與中東湧入，愈來愈多的印度教徒、佛教徒與回教徒開始在美國從事他們的宗教活動，也找到一些改信他們宗教的人。而反猶太教的風氣雖然一度盛行，但信仰猶太教的人現在也享有崇拜的自由。
擴及到那些基督教的支派。
The New Age movement, which has borrowed mystical teachings from Eastern religions, has
grown in popularity since the 1980s. Some people have rejected faith in God entirely and
devoted themselves to Satanism and the occult. Modern American society has taken religious tolerance to mean that just about anything can be an acceptable religion.
自八十年代起，引用了東方宗教神秘學說的新世紀運動開始風行。有些人已完全棄絕對上帝的信仰而全心投入撒但教派與其他神秘宗派。現代美國社會已把宗教自由詮釋為任何信仰都是可接受的宗教。
The New Age movement, which has borrowed mystical teachings from Eastern religions, has
grown in popularity since the 1980s. Some people have rejected faith in God entirely and
devoted themselves to Satanism and the occult. Modern American society has taken religious tolerance to mean that just about anything can be an acceptable religion.
自八十年代起，引用了東方宗教神秘學說的新世紀運動開始風行。有些人已完全棄絕對上帝的信仰而全心投入撒但教派與其他神秘宗派。現代美國社會已把宗教自由詮釋為任何信仰都是可接受的宗教。
Ironically, along with the growth in religious pluralism, there has been an accompanying trend toward secularism in American society. Radical secularists have emphasized the separation of church and state and have attempted to remove traditional Christianity from public life. In 1989 the American Bar Association held a workshop to promote ways to use litigation against religious groups.
頗具諷刺性的是，當美國社會走向宗教多元化的同時，反對宗教信仰的世俗主義趨勢也隨之而起。激進的世俗主義者強調政教分離，並已試圖將傳統The American Civil Liberties Union seeks to brand any religious expression at a public event as a violation of the Constitution. Nativity scenes at Christmas (that is, the “winter holiday”) have had to be removed from government property, and prayers before school graduation ceremonies and sporting events have been banned. Civil libertarians>/U> have turned the First Amendment on its head, so that “freedom of religion” has become “freedom from religion.”
美國公民自由聯盟設法將所有在公眾活動中進行的宗教行為視為違憲。聖誕節（也就是「寒假」）的耶穌誕生一景，不得出現於政府機構。而學校畢業典禮與運動競賽開始前的祈禱儀式也被禁止。人民自由意志論者完全扭曲了憲法第一修正案的原意，使得「宗
教自由」成為「免於宗教的自由」。的基督教信仰自大眾生活中連根拔除。一九八九年，美國律師協會舉行過一個座談會，提倡以訴訟對付宗教團體的一些方法。
Without religion, however, there would be no America. That fact was recognized by French
statesman Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831 and observed, “Religion in
America... must be regarded as the foremost of political institutions of
that country.”
然而，如果沒有宗教，就不會有美國。法國政治家托克維爾於一八三一年訪問美國時，
即觀察到這個事實。他說：「美國的宗教?必須被視為該國最重要的政治機構。」
Early American legislator Daniel Webster added, “Our ancestors established their system of government on morality and religious sentiment.” And if America leaves its religious foundation behind, it faces an unstable and uncertain future. But as long as America remains “one nation under God,” in the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, it will be “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
早期的美國立法者——韋布斯特補充道：「我們的祖先以道德和宗教情懷建立政府制
度。」如果美國將其宗教基礎置之腦後，就要面對一個不穩定與不確定的未來。但是
，只要美國維持其效忠誓詞中的「神所帶領的國家，就能不分離，且全民皆能享有自
由與公平。」




@Word Bank
oath of office (n phr) 就職宣言
vow (n) 誓言
inscription (n) 銘刻；題字  

denomination (n) 派別；分派 

influx (n) 流入；湧到
convert (n) 改變信仰者
litigation (n) 訴訟
civil libertarian (n) 人民自由意志論者 

foremost (adj) 首要的

allegiance (n) 忠誠

 

@The Day's Phrase
It pays to be careful when you travel alone
一個人旅行時，處處小心總是值得的
I'd better check if the door is locked.
我得查查看門是否已關了

What's it about ? I've never heard of it.
那是關於什麼? 我從未聽說過

Stunning scenery and a wide range of activities
draw tourists to the coast of northwest Florida
絕美的景色與五花八門的活動，吸引遊客前往佛羅里達西北海岸

It doesn't bother me at all. I'm used to it.
我沒關係, 已經習慣了.
No, I can't read the paper with all that noise.
不, 我沒辦法在那樣吵的情況下閱報.

This organization provides hope, one piece of jewelry at a time
這個組織透過一件件珠寶交易，為人帶來希望

What would you say if we go shopping after dinner? Would you be interested?
你有興趣吃完晚飯後去逛街嗎?

That's a good idea to go over and introduce yourself.
走過去自我介紹是個好主意

Today's vending machines are becoming even more convenient
時下的自動販賣機變得更便利了

I have things to do. You go ahead and do what you want to do.
我有事要作, 你先自行做自己的事吧.

What's the best way to improve your vision?
哪種方法最能改善視力？

Just be patient. It's going to be over soon.
要有耐心, 事情很快就會過去的

Why wait to finish school to start a business?
要創業，何必等到畢業後？

Thank you for your concern and help. You're so good to me.
謝謝你的關心及幫忙. 你對我真好.

Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's not your fault.
別擔心. 我相信不是你的錯.