VOA慢速英语--研究称美国黑人希望宗教服务能解决种族平等问题

A recent public opinion study finds that most Black Americans who attend religious services go to ones that are mostly Black. However, the same study suggests those who answered the opinion study would like their religious centers to become more racially diverse and to seek racial equality.

The Pew Research Center organized the opinion study that included 8,660 Black adults across the United States. The study found that Black Americans attend religious centers more regularly and pray more often than Americans do as a whole.

The study also found that among Black adults who attend religious services: 60 percent attended ones in which the top religious leader and most of the congregation are Black. Twenty-five percent are part of congregations made up of many racial groups while 13 percent are part of congregations that are mostly white or another ethnic¹ group.

When asked whether religion is very important in their lives, 59 percent of Black Americans said yes. In comparison, 40 percent of all U.S. adults answered yes. Asked if they prayed every day, 63 percent of Black respondents said yes, compared with 44 percent overall.

The Pew study also spoke² to 30 Black religious workers. Some of them predict that attendance at Black religious centers will decrease while multiracial congregations will increase. Dr. Clyde Posley Jr. is a pastor³ of the Antioch Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He explained, "I don't think there should be a Black Church. There isn't a Black heaven and a white heaven." About 61 percent of the people who were asked in the study said that congregations should be more racially diverse.

Historically, Black religious centers have influenced efforts toward racial equality. However, the Pew study found that nearly half of respondents said Black religious centers are less influential⁴ today than 50 years ago.

The religious workers said too few felt Black pastors⁵ have been influential in recent struggles against racism⁶. Reverend Harvey L. Vaughn III is the pastor of Bethel AME Church in San Diego, California. He said, "When you look at Black Lives Matter, this is the first time that there has been any political uprising and the church isn't spearheading it."

The Black Lives Matter movement says it protests against racism and police violence toward Black people.

Reverend Sandra Reed is the pastor at St. Mark AME Zion Church in Newtown, Pennsylvania. She said, "...The AME Zion Church is known as the Freedom Church." She said it was influential in dealing⁷ with social issues in America; "...we sort of lost that," she added.

Reverend Mario Powell is a Black priest, in charge of a Jesuit middle school in Brooklyn, New York. He said Catholic religious leaders need to speak more about racial issues.

Tia Noelle Pratt is a sociologist⁸ studying racism in the U.S. Catholic Church. She advised the Pew study. She told the Associated Press in an email: "We still don't have the church taking a necessary stand against systemic racism."

Words in This Story

diverse – adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other

congregation – n. the people who regularly attend religious services

pastor – n. a minister or priest in charge of a church or parish

respondent –n. a person who gives an answer to a question, especially as part of a public opinion study

spearheading – v. a person, thing, or group that organizes or leads something

posting – n. a public announcement of something

1 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

4 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

5 pastors   

n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士，以及主日学的老师？ 来自互联网
• Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳，还是志愿的事奉呢？ 来自互联网

6 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 sociologist   

n.研究社会学的人，社会学家

参考例句：

• His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
• Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。