What Do You Really Believe? A Few 'isms' You've Never Heard Of
你真正的信仰為何？幾項你從未聽說過的信仰主義。
語音播放：

When people ask you what your religion is, you may have a simple response such as Christianity, Buddhism, or Taoism. Most people are familiar with these major world religions and thus will have a pretty good idea of what your beliefs are. However, spiritual beliefs can’t always so easily be categorized. What if you aren’t sure what you believe in? Or don’t believe in anything? If so, maybe you can identify as one of the following:

當有人問起你的宗教信仰是什麼，你可能會簡單的回答像天主教、佛教或道教。大多人都很孰悉這些主流的世界宗教，因此也有概念知道你的信仰是什麼。然而，精神信仰不全都如此簡單就可被分類。萬一你不確定你的信仰為何？或不相信任何宗教？倘若如此，也許你會是以下的其中一類：

語音播放：

Atheist
無神論者
If you straight up don’t believe in any God or gods, then you can call yourself an atheist. Atheism is not a religion; it is simply a belief that gods don’t exist. Even some religious people, for example in some sects of Buddhism, could be considered atheists. It is certainly possible to be an atheist and still live a moral and ethical lifestyle.

假如你真的不信神，那你可以稱自己為無神論者。無神論並不是一種宗教；這僅僅只是一種認為神並不存在的信念。即便一些宗教虔誠的人，譬如一些佛教的流派也可能被視為無神論者。成為一名無神論者，又擁有合乎倫理道德的生活絕對是有可能的。

Agnostic
不可論者
The word “agnostic” means “without knowledge.” Agnostics don’t necessarily deny the existence of gods, they just aren’t sure. According to agnostics, how could we humans ever really know if God exists? They argue that there is no tried and tested way for us to prove the existence of God.  

「agnostic」這個字原意為「無智慧」。不可論者不一定表示他們否認神祇的存在，他們只是不確定。據不可論者所言，我們人類怎麼可能真的知道神明存在與否？他們主張沒有任何可信的方式讓我們證明神的存在。

語音播放：

Pantheist
泛神論者
Have you ever wondered if perhaps all the religions have something good to offer? And how can a person choose just one of them to identify as? Well pantheists believe that God does not belong to any one religion. God is one with the sky, the trees, the earth, and the entire universe. Pantheists believe that we should practice humility and wonder with the world around us.

你曾想過也許所有宗教都有某些部份是好的？人怎麼只能選擇其中一種呢？泛神論者相信神明並不屬於單一宗教。神性存在天空、樹木、地球及整個宇宙之中。他們相信我們的行為應該維持謙卑且對周遭事物保持驚奇。

Vocabulary 好字精選

1. categorize (v) to classify something into a category  將…分門別類
Our latest product is categorized as an over-the-counter drug.
我們的最新產品被分類成非處方用藥(成藥)。

2. sect (n) a spiritual/religious group, usually a part of or different than a major group  派系，流派，分支
Jennie is a member of a strange Christian sect that believes the world is going to end next year.     
Jennie屬於一支奇怪的天主教流派，他們相信世界明年就會毀滅。

3. ethical (adj) moral  合乎道德的
Bonnie is a woman of high ethical standards.
Bonnie是位道德標準很高的女士。

4. necessarily (adv) as a necessary result  必定，必然；必要地，必需地
Drinking a few drinks per night doesn’t necessarily make one an alcoholic.     
每晚喝幾杯酒並不代表是個酒鬼。

5. deny (v) to say something is not true  否認
Marc denied that he had stolen the toy. 
Marc否認他偷了那個玩具。

6. humility (n) having a modest of humble view of oneself  謙卑，謙遜
The billionaire was known for his honesty and humility.  
那位億萬富翁因誠實與謙卑而有名。

Phrases and Sentence Patterns 句型解析

1. identify as (phr) to consider as a certain identity 與…認同，
Kasim identifies as Sikh.
Kasim認同Sikh的看法。

2. straight up (phr) honestly, truthfully 真實的，真的，的確
Please answer my question straight up.   
請直接了當的回答我的問題。

3. tried and tested (phr, like an adj) recognized by many as reliable or successful  有公信力的，歷經考驗的，經證明是可信的
Our tried and tested new product will leave your house mosquito free!
我們的新產品證實能讓你的家沒有蚊子出沒！

4. A + be + one with + B (sentence pattern) A and B are/become the same thing  合而為一
When Jackie looked up at the starry sky, she felt at one with the universe.
當Jackie抬頭看著滿天繁星，她覺得她與天地合而為一。

Exercise 課後練習題

1. This novel should be ______________ as a romance.
這部小說應該被歸類成愛情小說。
2. In some ____________ of Hinduism, people believe that walking on hot coals can prove your faith in God.
印度教某些流派裡有人相信在炙熱的煤炭塊上行走可以證明你對上天的信念。
3. There are many _______________ issues raised by the topic of testing drugs on animals.
動物試藥的主題揚起許多道德議題。
4. Being a Buddhist doesn’t ______________ mean that you have to be a vegetarian.
身為佛教徒不一定表示你得要吃素。
5. You can’t ______________ that I look good in this jacket, right?
你無法否認我穿這件外套很好看，對吧？
6. Brett’s friends told him that he should practice more ______________ and stop bragging about how cool he was.
Brett的朋友說他需要更謙虛，然後停止吹噓他有多酷。
7. According to his personal profile, he _______________ as Muslim.
根據他的個人檔案，他認同成為回教徒。
8. Nick, _____________, I promise not to be mad if you tell me what you did.
Nick，直接說吧。我答應你假如你告訴我你做了甚麼，我不會生氣。
9. This ______________ recipe produces the most delicious veggie burgers you’ll ever eat.
這經過考驗的食譜製作出你曾嘗過最好吃的蔬菜漢堡。
10. My great-aunt is now _______________ the Earth. That is to say, she has passed away.
我的嬸婆現在回歸大地。也就是說，她已經過世了。

解答：
1.categorized
2.sects
3.ethical
4.necessarily
5.deny
6.humility
7.identifies as
8.straight up
9.tried and tested
10.one with

Comprehension Questions 閱讀理解

1. Kurt thinks that maybe there’s a God, but there’s no way he can know for sure. How would his beliefs be categorized?
a. Agnosticism.  
b. Christianity.     
c. Atheism.
d. Pantheism.

2. Do Pantheists believe in God?
a. No. They only believe in the universe and everything it contains.
b. Not really. They think that there’s no tried and tested way to know.  
c. Sort of. They think that a god might have created the universe and everything it contains.
d. Yes. They think that the universe and all that it contains is the same thing as God.

解答：
1. Kurt認為神也許存在，但他找不到方法可以確認。他的宗教信仰被分為以下何類？
a. 不可論者
b. 天主教徒
c. 無神論者
d. 泛神論者

2. 泛神論者是否相信神的存在？
a. 不相信。他們只相信宇宙及宇宙間包含的所有事物。
b. 不太相信。他們認為無法證明這是可信的。
c. 有一點。他們認為某位天神可能創造了宇宙以及天地事物。
d. 相信。他們認為宇宙與天地萬物與神共存。

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