经济学人324:美国的清真寺越来越多

 　　IN EARLY 2010 opponents of a proposed mosque¹ in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, spray-painted “NOT WELCOME” on a sign announcing the new building. Simple-minded vandalism, perhaps; but their scrawl² captured the feelings of an increasingly noisy segment of America’s population. In the months that followed, nasty disputes erupted over planned mosques³ in Wisconsin, California and New York. Some suggested that Islam did not deserve protection under the first amendment⁴, which guarantees freedom of religion as well as speech.

　　早在2010，在墨菲斯堡，田纳西州被提议的清真寺的反对者们就用喷漆在新建筑上表示了“不欢迎”。或许这简直就是头脑简单肆意的破坏，但是从他们的涂鸦中你能感到美国人民们浮躁的片段。在接下来的几个月，在威斯康星、加州和纽约，也纷纷爆发了基于计划建造清真寺的下流的纷争。

　　Yet these mosque projects and others continue. Since the terrorist attacks of September 2001 Islam in America has flourished. The number of mosques has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2011, according to a new report from a multi-faith coalition⁵.

　　然而这些清真寺计划和其他一系列工程仍在继续。从2001年九月开始美国伊斯兰教的恐怖主义攻击开始频繁起来。根据一篇多宗教联合组织的新报道，从2000年的1209座到2011的2106座，清真寺的数量几乎是十年前的两倍。

　　Several factors explain the building boom, says Ihsan Bagby of the University of Kentucky and the report’s main author. The growing size of America’s Muslim population has created a need for more mosques, partly as a reflection of the religion’s growing diversity. Muslims are also increasingly moving away from the cities, where most mosques are sited. The proportion of mosques in the suburbs has grown from 16% of the total in 2000 to 28% in 2011.

　　一些事实解释了建筑物浪潮，来自肯塔基大学的报道主要作者Ihsan Bagby说道。美国穆斯林人口格局的不断壮大创造了更多对清真寺的需要，这也是宗教信仰多元化的一个体现。穆斯林们也越来越多的抛弃自己的城市--大多数穆斯林的所在地。处在郊区的清真寺的比例也从2000年的16%上升到了2011年的28%

　　These findings will probably further rouse those who are worried that radical⁶ Islam will take root in America. But the report suggests such worries are misplaced. Nearly 90% of mosque leaders say they have seen no increase in radicalism⁷ among young Muslims. And most also say that they take a flexible approach to Islam rather than strictly⁸ interpreting its texts.

　　这些发现，对那些担心激进的伊斯兰们会在美国扎根的人们来说，很可能是火上浇油。但是报道也认为这样的担心是片面的。因为近90%的清真寺领袖都表示他们并没有在年轻的穆斯林们里看到激进分子。并且他们也说，他们用灵活的方式培养信仰，而不是强解经典。

　　Other findings back up an earlier report from the Pew Research Centre, which showed that most Muslim Americans have assimilated. Nearly all mosque leaders agree that Muslims should be involved in American institutions and should take part in American politics. They even seem unfazed by the scrutiny⁹ of a suspicious government (see article). Only a quarter say they believe American society is hostile to Islam, well down from 54% in 2000.

　　另一些发现要追溯到一份来自Pew调查中心的更早期的报道，它显示大部分美国穆斯林们已经被同化。几乎所有的清真寺领导都同意穆斯林们应该加入美国体系并且参与美国政治活动。在多疑的政府的监视下他们甚至似乎并不感到为难 (不为所动)。从2000年的54%的高比例到现在只有四分之一的人说他们相信美国社会对伊斯兰教徒们是怀有敌意的。

　　As with other religions in America, the main challenge facing Islam is not radicalism, but secularisation. The good news for mosque leaders is that there is a growing pool of prospective¹⁰ worshippers. The numbers in the report, if accurate, cast doubt on previous estimates, which have put America’s Muslim population at between 1m and 3m. Mr Bagby thinks the number is closer to 7m. Enthusiasts¹¹ for America’s diversity will be pleased to hear that. Others, unfortunately, will be alarmed.

　　和美国其他的宗教一样的，面对伊斯兰的主要挑战并非激进主义，而是世俗化。从清真寺领导传来的好消息就是预期未来会有大批的教徒们加入。报道中的数字，如果够精确，就足够对先前的关于美国穆斯林人口在1百万到3百万的估算提出质疑。Bagby先生认为人口应接近7百万才对。对美国多元化狂热的学者们将会感到高兴。不幸的是其余的可能会担忧了。

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 scrawl   

vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写

参考例句：

• His signature was an illegible scrawl.他的签名潦草难以辨认。
• Your beautiful handwriting puts my untidy scrawl to shame.你漂亮的字体把我的潦草字迹比得见不得人。

3 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

7 radicalism   

n. 急进主义, 根本的改革主义

参考例句：

• His radicalism and refusal to compromise isolated him. 他的激进主义与拒绝妥协使他受到孤立。
• Education produced intellectual ferment and the temptations of radicalism. 教育带来知识界的骚动，促使激进主义具有了吸引力。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

10 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

11 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册