【双语阅读】同一个国家不同的信仰_英美文化

【双语阅读】同一个国家不同的信仰

Part of the problem for Muslims and Buddhists in America could be their small number: few Americans have a Muslim relation or a Buddhist friend. But since being few in number has not prevented Jews from eventually becoming the most popular religious group in the nation, this is not a good enough explanation on its own. Osama bin Laden did not help American Muslims by attacking America in Islam’s name, but Mr Putnam and Mr Campbell坎贝尔 believe another factor is at work: the fact that Muslims, Buddhists and Mormons do not have a place in what people have come to call America's Judeo-Christian framework. Tolerance of Jews and Christians only? That is not quite so impressive.

穆斯林和佛教徒在美国地位不高也许是由于人数有限，毕竟也没几个美国人跟穆斯林抑或是佛教徒有什么瓜葛。但是话又说回来了，尽管信徒不多，犹太教还是成了美国最具影响力的宗教，所以说，这症结并不在人数上。本拉登打着伊斯兰的旗号恐怖袭击美国，这对于在美的穆斯林来说，实在不是什么“锦上添花”的事，但是普特南和坎贝尔却坚信他们之所以处于劣势地位还是另有原因的，那就是：穆斯林，佛教徒还有魔门教徒都游离于美国渐渐兴起的‘犹太基督教框架’之外。难道美国只能接纳犹太教和基督教么?这可不怎么好啊。

Worse, anti-Muslim feeling may be growing. In a recent survey the Public Religion Research Institute found that 45% of all Americans, and 67% of Republicans, agreed that the values of Islam were "at odds" with America's way of life. Two scholars from the Brookings Institution, E.J. Dionne and William Galston, worried aloud this month that divisions over Islam inside America may now be deeper than they were ten years ago. George Bush tamped down anti-Muslim feeling, but some of today's Republicans―Newt Gingrich, with his wild crusade against sharia, is a spectacular example―seem intent on stirring it up. What chance does Aunt Susan stand against the demagoguery of fear?