Building mosques
建造清真寺
Answering the call
褒贬不一，议论纷纷
Despite opposition, the number of mosques in America is increasing
尽管反对声此起彼伏，清真寺却在美国建的如火如荼
Mar 10th 2012 | WASHINGTON, DC | from the print edition
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We all need buildings to help us along
IN EARLY 2010 opponents of a proposed mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, spray-painted “NOT WELCOME” on a sign announcing the new building. Simple-minded vandalism, perhaps; but their scrawl captured the feelings of an increasingly noisy segment of America’s population. In the months that followed, nasty disputes erupted over planned mosques in Wisconsin, California and New York. Some suggested that Islam did not deserve protection under the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion as well as speech.
2010年初，反对者们在这所新的建筑物上用漆喷出“离开这里”的标语来抗议已在田纳西州默夫里斯伯勒城市提议建造的一所清真寺。这或许就是纯粹的破坏公物，可是这歪歪扭扭的喷漆字样正中一群躁动喧嚣的美国市民的下怀。随后的几个月里，事先计划的清真寺引发了恶劣争论在威斯康辛，加利福尼亚和纽约三州频频爆发。一些美国市民表示伊斯兰教没有资格接受宪法第一修正案来保证其宗教自由和言论自由。
Yet these mosque projects and others continue. Since the terrorist attacks of September 2001 Islam in America has flourished. The number of mosques has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2011, according to a new report from a multi-faith coalition.
然而这些清真寺建筑工程一波未平一波又起。自2001年9月份恐怖袭击以来，伊斯兰教在美国发展一日千里。据一个多信仰联合会的最新报道，十年来，清真寺的数量接近翻倍，从2000年的1209所直逼2011年2106所。
Several factors explain the building boom, says Ihsan Bagby of the University of Kentucky and the report’s main author. The growing size of America’s Muslim population has created a need for more mosques, partly as a reflection of the religion’s growing diversity. Muslims are also increasingly moving away from the cities, where most mosques are sited. The proportion of mosques in the suburbs has grown from 16% of the total in 2000 to 28% in 2011.
报道的主要作者，肯塔基大学的伊赫桑•巴格比声称，致使清真寺发展迅猛的因素有很多。首先，美国穆斯林人口的增长意味着需要建造更多的清真寺，在一定程度上这也反映了宗教文化多元结构不断丰富。还有，穆罕默德信徒也正在不断从城市中迁离，而城市是大多清真寺的驻地。最后，市郊清真寺数量的比例从2000年的16%跃升到2011年的28%。
These findings will probably further rouse those who are worried that radical Islam will take root in America. But the report suggests such worries are misplaced. Nearly 90% of mosque leaders say they have seen no increase in radicalism among young Muslims. And most also say that they take a flexible approach to Islam rather than strictly interpreting its texts.
有一些人一直对激进的伊斯兰教会在美国落地生根耿耿于怀，而这些发现或许会进一步让那些人忐忑不安。然而，报道显示这类担忧毫无必要。近90%的清真寺领袖表示他们没有在青年教徒中发现激进主义滋生的迹象，并且多数人也表明他们对伊斯兰教的态度能伸能缩，而不是苛刻地望文生义。
Other findings back up an earlier report from the Pew Research Centre, which showed that most Muslim Americans have assimilated. Nearly all mosque leaders agree that Muslims should be involved in American institutions and should take part in American politics. They even seem unfazed by the scrutiny of a suspicious government (see article). Only a quarter say they believe American society is hostile to Islam, well down from 54% in 2000.
其它调查结果也支持了皮尤调查中心的早期报道，显示出大多信奉伊斯兰教的美国人已经同化。近乎所有清真寺领袖都赞同穆罕默德信徒应该参与到美国制度体系中，去参政议政。政府对此怀疑，进行了严格的调研，领袖们却安之若素（见文章）。仅25%的人认为美国社会对伊斯兰教不怀好意，与2000年的54%比，呈明显下降。
As with other religions in America, the main challenge facing Islam is not radicalism, but secularisation. The good news for mosque leaders is that there is a growing pool of prospective worshippers. The numbers in the report, if accurate, cast doubt on previous estimates, which have put America’s Muslim population at between 1m and 3m. Mr Bagby thinks the number is closer to 7m. Enthusiasts for America’s diversity will be pleased to hear that. Others, unfortunately, will be alarmed.
相对于美国其它宗教，伊斯兰教所面临的主要问题不是激进主义，而是宗教的世俗化。未来日益见长的教徒人数，对清真寺领袖来说不外乎是个福音。先前的估计美国穆罕默德信徒的人口已介于100万到300万人之间，如果报道中的人数准确，这便让人对先前估计疑团满腹。巴格比先生认为人数会接近700万。听到这个消息，美国多元社会的拥护者会怡然自乐。很不幸，这会让其他人诚惶诚恐。
from the print edition | United States
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