英语听力：自然百科 印度的繁华旧梦：Goa（在线收听） |
In 1498, the Portuguese became the first Europeans to reach India by sea. They came in search of spices and Christian souls, spices they found in abundance, but the Christians they would have to generate for themselves. The capital city of old Goa quickly became the center of the Christian church in Asia. Conversions to Christianity were voluntary at first, but in 1560, the inquisition（天主教的异端裁判所，宗教法庭） came to Goa, and many were forced to convert （改变宗教信仰）or suffer gruesome（可怕的） consequences. Today, the Catholic legacy in Goa is still strong. From the outside this church looks those belong to Spain or Portugal. But inside flower garlands(花环) and incense decorated the altar（教堂的祭坛） unlike any western Christian church.
Comparatively modern, the Hindu temples in Goa are an architectural oddity（怪异物）. During the Portuguese inquisition, Hindus took their religion to the hills and built temples in clandestine communities like Poda. These lamp towers are found nowhere else in India, and it is their distinct Portuguese colonial style that really sets them apart. A little ironic, as it was the Portuguese who destroyed the original temples, but the octagonal towers and pillared facades(建筑物的正面) are more commonly seen on churches.
One can find evidence of this blending of religions everywhere you go. Each year Goa celebrates liberation with freedom dance, and honors its freedom fighters, many of whom were imprisoned or killed by the Portuguese. It is a proud day for a state that has struggled to find its identity through centuries of religious turmoil, colonialism, and finally integration into the second most populous nation in the world. |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/zrbaike/2010/257311.html |