TODD: So, are you going to come for brunch with us tomorrow?
REBECCA: What time?
TODD: 11:00. We'll meet at the restaurant at eleven.
REBECCA: I'm sorry. I won't be able to come then.
TODD: Why not?
REBECCA: I go to Mass at 10:30.
TODD: Mass? I didn't know you were Catholic.
REBECCA: Yes, I am.
TODD: Hmm. Do you go to Mass every Sunday?
REBECCA: I try to.
TODD: I wasn't raised religiously, so I don't quite understand some things.
REBECCA: Like what?
TODD: Why do Christians call their leaders pastors,but Catholics call their leaders priests?
REBECCA: Oh, that's just traditional. But there is something I should tell you.
TODD: What? REBECCA: You just talked about Christians on the one hand,and Catholics on the other.But that is not the way to say it in English.
TODD: Why not?
REBECCA: Because Catholics are also Christians.In America, there are two main groups.There are the Catholics, and there are the Protestants.But they both follow Jesus Christ, so in English they are both called Christians.
TODD: So you use the words Catholic and Protestantand not Catholic and Christian?
REBECCA: Yes, that's right.We Americans don't talk about Catholics and Christiansbecause Catholics are Christians too.
TODD: It's very confusing.
REBECCA: I know, but it's a mistake Chinese speakers often make.I am a Catholic. All Catholics follow Jesus Christ. So of course I am a Christian.Sometimes when Chinese people ask me about my belief,they say, "Are you Catholic or Christian?"But in English that question is nonsense.It is like saying, "Are you a woman or female?"And some people might even be offended by the question.
TODD: I see. So when I meet religious people in America,I should ask, "Are you Catholic or Protestant?" Is that right?
REBECCA: Yes. There you go.
查德：你明天要跟我们去吃早午餐吗？
丽蓓嘉：几点？
查德：11 点。我们 11 点在餐厅碰面。
丽蓓嘉：很抱歉，那时我到不了。
查德：为什么呢？
丽蓓嘉：我10点半去做弥撒。
查德：弥撒？我不晓得你是天主教徒。
丽蓓嘉：我是的。
查德：你每个周日都去做弥撒吗？
丽蓓嘉：我尽量。
查德：我没有宗教信仰，所以有一些事不太了解。
丽蓓嘉：比如什么？
查德：为什么基督徒称指导者为“牧师”，而天主教徒称为“神父”？
丽蓓嘉：那只是传统。但是有件事我应该告诉你。
查德：什么事？
丽蓓嘉：你刚刚区分成基督徒和天主教徒。但是英文不这么说。
查德：为什么呢？
丽蓓嘉：因为天主教徒也是基督徒。在美国有两大团体：天主教徒和新教徒。他们都是基督徒，所以英文都是基督徒。
查德：所以你们是用天主教和新教而不是天主教和基督教。
丽蓓嘉：没错。我们美国人不说天主教徒和基督徒因为天主教徒也是基督徒。
查德：很难理解。
丽蓓嘉：我知道，但是中国人常常说错。我是天主教徒，所有的天主教徒都信奉基督，所以当然我也是基督徒。有时候当中国人问到我的信仰，他们说：“你是天主教徒还是基督徒？”但是在英文里这样问没有意义。这就好比问人“你是女人还是女的？”。有些人甚至对这种问题反感。
查德：我懂了。所以当我在美国碰到有宗教信仰的人，我应该问：“你是天主教徒还是新教徒？”，对吗丽蓓嘉：对了，没错。 |