Words & Phrases
[L88P1 & L88P2]

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Lesson [L88P1]

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Translation[L88P1]

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Lesson [L88P2]

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Translation[L88P2]

Index9

English USA
Lesson 88, Part 2

  音 L88P2J.MP3[537KB]

 

MARTIN:

Professor Markel, how many religions do people in the United States practice?

 

 

 

MARKEL:

I don't think anyone knows. Most of the large religions of the world are practiced here.

 

 

 

SALAH:

Many religions with small numbers practice their religion here too. That's an important thing about the United States. People have the freedom to practice their religion.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

Where do they practice? Where do they meet?

 

 

 

SALAH:

Do you mean if they are small?

 

 

 

MARTIN:

Yes. I know about churches for Christians and synagogues for Jews and mosques for Muslims.

 

 

 

SALAH:

Many people meet in homes.

 

 

 

MARKEL:

In community meeting rooms.

 

 

 

SALAH:

I am a Muslim. Sometimes I go to mosque. But we don't have a mosque in this town. We hold our meetings in the community building. We take our things on Friday and make it a mosque for that day. The men meet early in the morning. The women meet in one of our homes.

 

 

 

MARKEL:

On Sunday, some Koreans use the same community building for their church.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

I know religion doesn't have to have a building.

 

 

 

MARKEL:

That's right. Sometimes the building is a problem.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

How is that?

 

 

 

MARKEL:

Let's look at Christian churches for example. Some groups built very large churches in the city long ago. Then the people moved away from the city. There is no one to go to these big beautiful churches.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

But other people live in the city. Can't they use the churches?

 

 

 

MARKEL:

Sometimes they do. But sometimes the neighborhood is a different religion. Maybe the new people in the neighborhood are Hindu or Buddhist or something different.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

Do most people want to have a building for their religion?

 

 

 

MARKEL:

Yes, I think so.

 

 

 

SALAH:

But not everyone. Native Americans often have their important celebrations outdoors. They want to be close to nature.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

It seems religion and culture are almost the same.

 

 

 

MARKEL:

They aren't the same. But of course they are very close.

 

 

 

SALAH:

I agree. But people from different cultures may have the same religion. For example, Muslims live in the United States, Saudi Arabia, and West Africa, and many other places. They all practice the same religion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARTIN:

Professor Salah, do you teach religion in your classes?

 

 

 

SALAH:

No. I teach about religion. I compare religions. I teach about the larger Western religions.

 

 

 

MARKEL:

I teach about the larger Eastern religions.

 

 

 

MARTIN:

Are young people interested in religion?

 

 

 

SALAH:

I'm happy to say that many of them are.

 

 

English USA L88P2J
Courtesy of Voice of America