美國語文第五冊 第259期：宗教 社會的唯一基石（01）
Religion is a social concern; for it operates powerfully on society, contributing in various ways to its stability and prosperity.
宗教為一種社會關照，就維系社會穩(wěn)定繁榮來說，宗教通過不同方式對社會影響甚大。
Religion is not merely a private affair; the community is deeply interested in its diffusion;
宗教不僅為個體信仰，宗教傳播更為引起社會公眾的高度關注，
for it is the best support of the virtues and principles, on which the social order rests.
因為，仁慈與信念才能維持社會秩序的正常運行，而宗教則為其提供最有力的支持。
Pure and undefiled religion is to do good; and it follows, very plainly,
純真虔誠的宗教旨在行善，顯而易見，它所遵循的信條是，
that if God be the Author and Friend of society, then, the recognition of him must enforce all social duty,
假如上帝締造了社會，上帝是人類朋友，那么，對上帝認知勢必強化社會的所有職能，
and enlightened piety must give its whole strength to public order.
知禮明義的誠信勢必為社會公眾秩序的堅韌基石。
Few men suspect, perhaps no man comprehends, the extent of the support given by religion to every virtue.
鮮少有人質(zhì)疑，或許無人意識到，就維系并推動人類每一善行來說，宗教究竟能走多遠；
No man, perhaps, is aware how much our moral and social sentiments are fed from this fountain;
人們可能無從獲悉，人類道德與社會感知究竟從宗教精神源頭擷取多少營養(yǎng)？
how powerless conscience would become without the belief of a God;
假如，不再信奉上帝，人類良心將會變得極度脆弱；
how palsied would be human benevolence, were there not the sense of a higher benevolence to quicken and sustain it;
如果內(nèi)心缺乏更為高尚的激勵機制甚至維系向善，人類仁愛悲憫將會茍延殘喘；
how suddenly the whole social fabric would quake, and with what a fearful crash it would sink into hopeless ruin,
社會構建系統(tǒng)無一避免隨即產(chǎn)生動蕩，從而引發(fā)整個系統(tǒng)的可怕崩潰毀滅：
were the ideas of a Supreme Being, of accountableness and of a future life to be utterly erased from every mind.
即至高無上的存在、責任擔當意識，以及對未來生活的祈求展望將從每一個心靈完全抹去。
And, let men thoroughly believe that they are the work and sport of chance;
因此，不妨讓人們由衷相信，他們才是向善機緣的實施與推動者，
that no superior intelligence concerns itself with human affairs; that all their improvements perish forever at death;
不會有先哲神明關注人類生活，他們所有努力身后已化為灰燼。
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