又中又英 | Dicey Topic | 褚简宁

　　Religion is a dicey topic (sensitive topic) for columnists. That's why most columnists stay away from expressing an opinion on which religion is better than others. I wouldn't touch the issue with a ten-foot pole. If you wouldn't touch something, such as discussing religion or eating raw oysters, with a ten-foot pole, it means you avoid it completely. I also wouldn’t touch steak tartare with a ten-foot pole because this French dish consists of minced raw beef mixed with raw eggs and seasonings. I had dinner a few years ago with Hong Kong friends who ordered steak tartare to share. I told them I would never eat raw beef.

　　I sometimes listen to an American political commentator whose YouTube show has a large following. He doesn't discuss religious topics but sometimes points out that he is an agnostic. An agnostic is a person who believes nothing is known or can ever be known if God really exists. My late mother was a very religious person, but I have some agnostic friends who believe it is impossible to know if there is a God. Do not confuse the word “agnostic” with the word “atheist”. An agnostic is different from an atheist.

　　An atheist is a person who doesn't believe in religions such as Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism, or that God exists. I have many friends who are atheists. An agnostic neither believes nor disbelieves in God. They simply believe there is no proof or that there can ever be proof that God exists.

　　对专栏作家来说，宗教是个敏感的议题（dicey topic）。因此大部分的专栏作家都会对此保持距离，不去发表哪个宗教比较好的意见。我也完全不愿意触碰这个议题（wouldn't touch the issue with a ten-foot pole）。若你不愿以十呎长的杆子（a ten-foot pole）去碰某事，例如讨论宗教又或吃生蚝，那即是你完完全全避开它，不想沾上边。我也完全不愿碰（a ten-foot pole）牛肉他他（steak tartare），因为这道法国菜包含了免治生牛肉混合生蛋和调味料。我几年前跟一些香港朋友吃晚饭，他们叫了牛肉他他（steak tartare）分着一起吃。我告诉他们我永不会吃生牛肉。

　　我有时会听一个美国政治评论员的节目，他的YouTube频道有许多的粉丝。他不会谈论宗教的议题，但有时会指出自己是个agnostic。An agnostic是不可知论者，相信我们不知道或无法知悉神是否存在。我先母是个虔诚信教的人，但我也有些持不可知论（agnostic）的朋友，相信我们不可能知道世上到底有没有神。大家可不要混淆agnostic与atheist这两个字啊。一个不可知论者（agnostic）跟一个atheist是完全不一样的。

　　An atheist是无神论者，不相信任何宗教，例如基督教、伊斯兰教或印度教，也不相信有神。我有许多朋友是无神论者（atheists）。而不可知论者（agnostic）不是相信也不是不信有神。他们单纯认为没有证据，或不可能有证据证明有神。

[email protected]
Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻