077　religion

Words
Christianity Buddhism lslam Taoism Christian Buddhist muslim tao monk priest belief god
Temple church teachings bible pray pope cathedral mosque shrine reincarnation atheist

Phrases
Attend a church service
Hold religious beliefs
Believe in (a ) god/hell
Have faith in
Worship (a) god
Life after death
Go on pilgrimage

Beginner
A: do you believe in god?
B: not at all. I’m an agnostic. Go you?
A; I’m not sure. Why don’t you believe there is a god?
B; I think everything has a scientific explanation rather than a theological one.
A: I basically believe in science over theology. I mean, I believe in evolution for example. However, there are many things that science hasn’t explained yet.
B; I’m sure that science will explain everything eventually. I think that the strangest thing about religion is that so many religions people act in ways that their religion claims are wrong.
A: for example?
B; religions preach tolerance, but many wars are caused by intolerant religious fanatics.
A; yes. Such people don’t appear to be acting in accordance with their religious beliefs.

Intermediate
A: hi! What are you watching?
B: it’s a programme about islam. It’s very interesting.
A: wow! So many people! Where are they and what are they doing?
B: they are muslims on a pilgrimage to mecca. Muslims call this pilgrimage “haj”.
A; why do they go there?
B; muslims believe that every man who is able should go on a haj at least once in his life. Mecca is the spiritual centre of the muslim faith.
A; when muslims pray, they face towards mecca.
B; that’s right. Unfortunately, so many people go on the haj each year that there are often stampeds and people get killed.
A: I heard about that. The pilgrims must walk around a large, sacred black stone.
B; that’s right. That’s when accidents often happen. The Saudi government tries to limit the number of pilgrims, to reduce the chances of accidents.
A: pilgrimages are common in many faiths.
B; yes. In England, Christian pilgrims might go to Canterbury and many Christians go to the Vatican on pilgrimages.
A; isn’t there a place in france where people go to get healed?
B: I think that place is Lourdes. There are many stories of people being healed after visting there.
A; do you think that there is something magical about that place?
B: personally. I think that people believe they will be healed and that faith causes a change in their mind that cures them. I don’t think place is magical in any way.