Jane和Will初次约会，想多了解对方，他们谈到了彼此的宗教信仰。Jane的父母来自中国，她是个佛教徒，Will则在美国长大，信基督教。
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. When you talk about religion, it’s important not to offend other people.
没错，在美国，宗教信仰是私人事务，也是个敏感话题，所以谈到这个问题的时候要礼貌、小心， 不然可能会 offend other people – 得罪别人。
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 怎么一上来就问人家的宗教，这个约会开场白还真少见。
Professor: Right. And what does Jane say?
Jane说，因为她父母都是佛教徒，所以她自己应该也算是个佛教徒，不过她并不真的practice。 Professor, practice a religion 就是虔诚地信奉某个宗教，按宗教教义来生活的意思吧？
Professor: Exactly. For example, a practicing Jew would go to the synagogue every Friday to pray.
哦，a practicing Jew – 一名虔诚信奉犹太教的教徒会每星期五去synagogue – 犹太教堂祷告。这样坚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，不过他哥哥convert to Islam. Professor, 这是什么意思呢？
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 就是改变宗教信仰。Will的哥哥以前也是基督徒，但因为交了个女朋友是Muslim – 穆斯林，所以也改信Islam – 伊斯兰教了。
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.
对，伊斯兰教是Islam, 而伊斯兰教徒则是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.
听起来Will比Jane更加虔诚，因为他每个星期天都去church–教堂。对了，professor, 基督徒去church，佛教徒去temple – 寺庙，犹太教徒则去synagogue，那么Muslims 去那里祷告呢？
Professor: Muslims pray at their mosque.
哦，对! mosque，m-o-s-q-u-e，清真寺! Will每星期天都要起大早，去教堂，他说这样虽然有点累，但既然是教义规定的，他就得执行。
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.
这个Will，初次约会就提到结婚的事儿了! 还好，Jane的父母同意女儿嫁给不信佛教的人! 对了，Professor Bowman, 在中国，人们可以既拜佛，拜菩萨，又拜太上老君，玉皇大帝。可是我发现，西方人只能信一种宗教。
Professor: That’s true. Which do you think is better?
我看对所有神明都崇敬，都拜，那一定就会有神来保佑你的!
这次的美语三级跳就播送到这里。