My year of living biblically | A.J. Jacobs

譯者: Tom Lin 審譯者: Lucy Chang

I thought I'd tell you a little about what I like to write.

我打算跟你們聊些我想要寫作的東西。

And I like to immerse myself in my topics.

我喜歡完全投入我的研究題目。

I just like to dive right in and become sort of a human guinea pig.

我直接切入題目中，以自己為白老鼠。

And I see my life as a series of experiments.

我的生活像是一系列的實驗。

So, I work for Esquire magazine, and a couple of years ago,

幾年前我為Esquire(風尚)雜誌工作。

I wrote an article called "My Outsourced Life,"

我寫了一篇文章叫做"我的外包生活"

where I hired a team of people in Bangalore, India,

我雇用了在印度班加羅爾的一個團隊,

to live my life for me.

來過我的生活。

So, they answered my emails.

所以他們幫我回電子郵件。

They answered my phone.

他們幫我聽電話。

They argued with my wife for me, and they read my son bedtime stories.

他們為我和我的老婆吵嘴，且幫我替兒子讀床邊故事。

It was the best month of my life,

這是我生活中最美好的一個月,

because I just sat back and I read books and watched movies.

因為我只要放輕鬆，看書或看電影。

It was a wonderful experience.

這是一個很棒的經驗。

More recently, I wrote an article for Esquire called --

到最近我為 Esquire 雜誌寫了一篇文章叫做--

about radical honesty.

關於絕對誠實。

And this is a movement where --

這是個風潮--

this is started by a psychologist in Virginia,

由一位維吉尼亞的心理學家開始的,

who says that you should never, ever lie,

他說人應該絕不能說謊,

except maybe during poker and golf, his only exceptions.

除非在打牌或是高爾夫球中例外。

And, more than that, whatever is on your brain

並且甚至，當任何事情出現在你的腦中

should come out of your mouth.

應該大聲說出來。

So, I decided I would try this for a month.

我決定要來試試看這種方式生活一個月。

This was the worst month of my life.

這是我一生命中最糟的一個月。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

I do not recommend this at all.

我完全不建議這樣做。

To give you a sense of the experience,

我這樣講你就瞭解了，

the article was called, "I Think You're Fat."

這篇文章叫做"我覺得你很胖"

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

So, that was hard.

所以這是很困難的。

My most recent book -- my previous book was called "The Know-It-All,"

我最近期的一本書--我的前一本書叫做"全部都知道"

and it was about the year I spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica

這是我花了一年的時間閱讀大英百科全書

from A to Z in my quest to learn everything in the world,

從A到Z想要學習世界上的一切事物,

or more precisely from Aak, which is a type of East Asian music,

或更精確的說從 "雅樂"(A-ak)一種東亞的音樂,

all the way to Zwyiec, which is -- well, I don't want to ruin the ending.

到最後一條"日維茨"(Zywiec)這是--我不想搞砸了演講的結尾。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

It's a very exciting twist ending, like an O. Henry novel, so I won't ruin it.

能夠在結尾做轉折是令人興奮的,像是O. Henry的小說,所以我不想搞砸它。

But I love that one,

但我喜歡這想法

because that was an experiment about how much information

因為那是一個關於人腦能吸收多少資訊

one human brain could absorb.

的實驗,

Although, listening to Kevin Kelly, you don't have to remember anything.

雖然,根據Kevin Kelly的說法,你只要能夠在Google查到它

You can just Google it.

就不需要記得這件事了。

So, I wasted some time there.

所以我浪費了點時間在這。

I love those experiments,

我喜歡那些實驗,

but I think that the most profound

但是我覺得最奧妙

and life-changing experiment that I've done

且改變生命的實驗是

is my most recent experiment, where I spent a year

我最近剛完成的實驗,我花了一年的時間

trying to follow all of the rules of the Bible,

嘗試按照聖經上指導的原則生活--

"The Year of Living Biblically."

"依照聖經指導原則生活的一年"

And I undertook this for two reasons.

並且我想這樣做有兩個原因。

The first was that I grew up with no religion at all.

第一我成長在一個完全沒有宗教的環境。

As I say in my book, I'm Jewish in the same way

並且如同我書上所說, 說我是個猶太人

the Olive Garden is Italian.

就像"橄欖花園"(美式義大利餐廳)被當成義大利餐廳，一樣離譜

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

So, not very.

所以,當然不是這樣。

But I've become increasingly interested in religion.

但是我已經對宗教越來越有興趣。

I do think it's the defining issue of our time,

我認為, 在我們的生活中, 這是一個明確的議題,

or one of the main ones.

或者說是主要的議題之一。

And I have a son. I want to know what to teach him.

而且我有一個兒子。我想要知道拿什麼去教他。

So, I decided to dive in head first, and try to live the Bible.

所以我決定投入其中，並且嘗試依照聖經而活。

The second reason I undertook this is because

第二個原因我決定這樣做，是因為

I'm concerned about the rise of fundamentalism,

我對基督教基本教義的興起有興趣,

religious fundamentalism, and people who say

很多人聲稱

they take the Bible literally, which is, according to some polls,

他們完全依照聖經。根據調查

as high as 45 or 50 percent of America.

有百分之45或50的美國人，按著聖經的教導過生活。

So I decided, what if you really did take the Bible literally?

所以我決定看看，真正依照聖經教導行事會怎樣?

I decided to take it to its logical conclusion

我決定接受它和它的邏輯上的推論

and take everything in the Bible literally,

接受一切聖經上字面的說法,

without picking and choosing.

不去挑選。

The first thing I did was I got a stack of bibles.

首先，我找到一堆聖經。

I had Christian bibles.

我有基督教聖經。

I had Jewish bibles.

我有猶太教聖經。

A friend of mine sent me something called a hip-hop bible,

我的一個朋友送我一本叫做「嘻哈聖經」,

where the twenty-third Psalm is rendered as, "The Lord is all that,"

其中詩篇第23中所稱"神是一切"

as opposed to what I knew it as, "The Lord is my shepherd."

相對的，就我所知應該是"神是我的牧者"

Then I went down and I read several versions,

然後我閱讀了幾個版本,

and I wrote down every single law that I could find.

並且我寫下每一我能找到的律法。

And this was a very long list -- over 700 rules.

這是一個很長的清單--超過700條律法。

And they range from the famous ones that I had heard of --

並且這些包含一些有名的律法一些我曾經聽過的--

The Ten Commandments, love your neighbor, be fruitful and multiply.

"十戒"、"愛你的鄰人"、"多結果子和生養眾多"。

So I wanted to follow those.

所以我要遵循這些。

And actually, I take my projects very seriously,

我很認真執行這個計畫

because I had twins during my year,

因為這年，我生了雙胞胎,

so I definitely take my projects seriously.

所以我確實認真的執行這計劃。

But I also wanted to follow the hundreds

但是我想按照

of arcane and obscure laws that are in the Bible.

這上百條在聖經中神秘且晦澀的律法。

There is the law in Leviticus,

這些是在利未記中的律法--

"You cannot shave the corners of your beard."

"鬍鬚的周圍不可損壞。"

I didn't know where my corners were,

我不知道哪裡是我的周圍,

so I decided to let the whole thing grow,

所以我決定留鬍鬚,

and this is what I looked like by the end.

這是我最後看起來的樣子。

As you can imagine, I spent a lot of time at airport security.

你可想而知,我花了很長的時間在機場安檢部門。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

My wife wouldn't kiss me for the last two months.

最後的二個月，我太太不肯親我。

So, certainly the challenge was there.

所以,當然這是一項挑戰。

The Bible says you cannot wear clothes made of mixed fibers,

聖經上說，不能穿混合纖維的衣物。

so I thought, "Sounds strange, but I'll try it."

所以我想："這聽起來很奇怪，但是我要試試看。"

You only know if you try it.

你只知道如果你嘗試它。

I got rid of all my poly-cotton T-shirts.

我處理掉所有混棉的T恤。

The Bible says that if two men are in a fight,

聖經上說，如果有兩個男人在打架,

and the wife of one of those men grabs the testicles of the other man,

且其中一個男人的太太抓另一個男人睪丸,

then her hand shall be cut off.

那麼她的手就要砍斷。

So, I wanted to follow that rule.

所以,我想要遵循這個律法。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

That one I followed by default,

我遵循這律法的方式就是 --

by not getting in a fight with a man whose wife was standing nearby,

不要和人打架，如果他的太太就站在附近的話,

looking like she had a strong grip.

且她看起來有很強的抓力。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

So -- oh, there's another shot of my beard.

所以--喔,這是另一張我鬍子的照片。

I will say it was an amazing year

我會說這是驚奇的一年。

because it really was life changing, and incredibly challenging.

因為這真正是生活的改變，且是難以想像的挑戰。

And there were two types of laws that were particularly challenging.

並且還有兩種律法，特別挑戰。

The first was avoiding the little sins that we all commit every day.

第一是避免一些我們每天都會犯的小錯。

You know, I could spend a year not killing,

我能夠一整年不殺生,

but spending a year not gossiping, not coveting, not lying --

但是一整年不說閒話,不貪心,不說謊--

you know, I live in New York, and I work as a journalist,

我生活在紐約，而且我是一個記者,

so this was 75, 80 percent of my day I had to do it.

所以我的生活中有75至80%，要做這些。

But it was really interesting, because I was able to make some progress,

但是這是很有趣的，因為我能夠做一些改善

because I couldn't believe how much

因為我不相信

my behavior changed my thoughts.

我的行為能改變多少我的想法。

This was one of the huge lessons of the year,

這是這一年，我學到的重大學習之一

is that I almost pretended to be a better person,

我幾乎假裝成一個比較好的人,

and I became a little bit of a better person.

且我真的有一點點變好。

So I had always thought, you know, "You change your mind,

以前，我總是認為,"你改變了內心,

and you change your behavior," but it's often the other way around.

然後行為才會改變",但是我發現，經常是相反的。

You change your behavior, and you change your mind.

當你改變行為,然後你改變了你的內心。

So, you know, if you want to become more compassionate,

所以,你知道的,如果你想要變得更有同情心,

you visit sick people in the hospital,

你去醫院探望生病的人,

and you will become more compassionate.

然後你會變得比較慈善。

You donate money to a cause,

為某件事捐錢,

and you become emotionally involved in that cause.

然後你就放感情在那件事裡面，

So, it really was cognitive psychology --

所以,這是認知心裡學 --

you know, cognitive dissonance -- that I was experiencing.

認知的不一致--這是我經歷的。

The Bible actually talks about cognitive psychology,

聖經實際上是關於認知心裡學,

very primitive cognitive psychology.

非常基礎的認知心裡學。

In the Proverbs, it says that if you smile, you will become happier,

箴言 這樣說,如果你微笑,你會變得比較快樂,

which, as we know, is actually true.

就像我們知道的一樣,這是真的。

The second type of rule that was difficult to obey

第二種非常難去遵循的律法是

was the rules that will get you into a little trouble

這些律法會讓我們遇到小麻煩

in twenty-first-century America.

在21世紀的美國。

And perhaps the clearest example of this is stoning adulterers.

一個明顯的例子是：拿石頭打通姦的人。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

But it's a big part of the Bible,

但是，這是聖經的很大一部份,

so I figured I had to address it.

所以我認為我必需行出來。

So, I was able to stone one adulterer.

所以,我真的拿石頭打了一個通姦者。

It happened -- I was in the park, and I was dressed in my biblical clothing,

它發生了--我當時在公園而且我穿著我聖經式的裝扮--

so sandals and sort of a white robe,

涼鞋和白長袍 --

you know, because again, the outer affects the inner.

你知道,因為剛剛所說,外在影響內心。

I wanted to see how dressing biblically affected my mind.

我想了解聖經式的裝扮，如何影響我的內心。

And this man came up to me and he said,

然後這個男人過來找我並說,

"Why are you dressed like that?"

"你為什麼要穿成這樣?"

And I explained my project,

然後我解釋我的這個計畫,

and he said, "Well, I am an adulterer, are you going to stone me?"

然後他說："喔,我是一個姦夫,你打算拿石頭打我嗎?"

And I said, "Well, that would be great!"

然後我說："哇! 這很棒喔!"

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

And I actually took out a handful of stones from my pocket

然後我從口袋中拿出滿手的石頭

that I had been carrying around for weeks,

那是我已經帶著這些石頭幾個禮拜了,

hoping for just this interaction -- and, you know, they were pebbles --

期待這種情況發生-- 然後,你知道的,這些是小卵石--

but he grabbed them out of my hand.

但是那個男人把石頭從我手中奪走。

He was actually an elderly man, mid-70s, just so you know.

他其實是一個年長者,七十多歲

But he's still an adulterer, and still quite angry.

但是他仍然是姦夫，而且看起來很生氣。

He grabbed them out of my hand

他把石頭從我手上奪走

and threw them at my face, and I felt that I could --

並且往我臉上丟,然後我感到我能--

eye for an eye -- I could retaliate, and throw one back at him.

"以眼還眼",我能報復,我就往他後背丟一個。

So that was my experience stoning, and it did allow me

所以這就是我的丟石頭經驗。

to talk about, in a more serious way, these big issues.

這讓我更能嚴肅的談論這些重要議題，如：

How can the Bible be so barbaric in some places,

為何聖經在某些部分這麼的野蠻?

and yet so incredibly wise in others?

且又在其他部分又難以置信的有智慧?

How should we view the Bible?

我們該如何看待聖經?

Should we view it, you know, as original intent,

我們應該看待它,你知道的,就當成它的本意,

like a sort of a Scalia version of the Bible?

像是一種Scalia(美國大法官)版本的聖經?

How was the Bible written?

聖經是如何寫成?

And actually, since this is a tech crowd,

然而,既然這是一個技術集會,

I talk in the book about how the Bible actually reminds me

讓我想這麼說

of the Wikipedia, because it has all of these authors and editors

聖經讓我想起維基百科,因為它是由許多人編輯、撰寫而成的

over hundreds of years.

並橫跨數百年之久。

And it's sort of evolved.

撰寫聖經可以說是一種演進過程，

It's not a book that was written and came down from on high.

而不是一本從天上掉下來、已經寫好的書。

So I thought I would end by telling you

所以我想在結尾告訴你們

just a couple of the take-aways, the bigger lessons

只是幾個像可外帶，且比較大的學習

that I learned from my year.

從我這一年學來的

The first is, thou shalt not take the Bible literally.

第一個是--諸位切莫逐字的理解聖經。

This became very, very clear, early on.

這是一開始就很清楚的。

Because if you do, then you end up acting like a crazy person,

因為如果你這樣做你最終會像個瘋子,

and stoning adulterers, or -- here's another example.

拿石頭丟姦夫,或者--這裡有一另個例子--

Well, that's another. I did spend some time shepherding.

好的,這是另一個--我花了很多時間牧羊。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

It's a very relaxing vocation. I recommend it.

這是一個很令人輕鬆的職業。我很推薦。

But this one is -- the Bible says that you cannot touch women

但這一個是,聖經告訴我們不能碰女人

during certain times of the month, and more than that,

在每個月的某些時間，更甚者--

you cannot sit on a seat where a menstruating woman has sat.

你不能坐在經期婦女曾做過的椅子。

And my wife thought this was very offensive,

我太太覺得這很侮辱女人,

so she sat in every seat in our apartment,

所以她把我們家裡的每一個椅子都做了一遍,

and I had to spend much of the year standing

所以我必須在這一年大部分時間都站著

until I bought my own seat and carried it around.

直到我買了一張自己的椅子並且隨身攜帶。

So, you know, I met with creationists.

所以,你知道的,我遇到一個相信創世紀的人(反對進化論的人)。

I went to the creationists' museum.

我去了關於創世紀的博物館。

And these are the ultimate literalists.

他們是最會咬文嚼字的人。

And it was fascinating, because they were not stupid people at all.

然而這很有趣，因為他們並不是笨蛋。

I would wager that their IQ is exactly the same as the average evolutionist.

我敢打賭他們的智商，完全跟相信進化論的人一樣。

It's just that their faith is so strong

只是他們有著很強的信仰

in this literal interpretation of the Bible

執著於聖經上的字面解釋

that they distort all the data to fit their model.

所以扭曲事實資料，來符合他們的理論。

And they go through these amazing mental gymnastics to accomplish this.

然後他們經由神奇的心理訓練來達成。

And I will say, though, the museum is gorgeous.

然而我要說的是,這博物館相當華麗。

They really did a fantastic job.

他們真的完成了一個很棒的工作。

If you're ever in Kentucky,

如果你曾經去過美國肯塔基州,

there's, you can see a movie of the flood,

就是這--你會看到一個關於大洪水的電影,

and they have sprinklers in the ceiling

他們在天花板上裝灑水器

that will sprinkle on you during the flood scenes.

當播放到洪水畫面時，你就會被噴到水。

So, whatever you think of creationism -- and I think it's crazy --

所以,不管你對創世紀論者看法怎樣 (我是覺得這蠻瘋狂)

they did a great job.

他們做了一個很出色的工作。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

Another lesson is that thou shalt give thanks.

另一個教訓是：諸位應當心存感恩。

And this one was a big lesson because I was praying,

這是一個很重要的教誨，因為我禱告,

giving these prayers of thanksgiving, which was odd for an agnostic.

獻上感謝,這對於不可知論者來說 很怪。

But I was saying thanks all the time, every day,

但是我嘴上常掛著感謝,無論何時,

and I started to change my perspective.

然而我開始改變我的看法,

And I started to realize the hundreds of little things

而且開始了解數以百計的小事情

that go right every day, that I didn't even notice,

那些順遂的事,那些我不曾注意到的小事。

that I took for granted, as opposed to focusing

那些被當作裡所當然的--而不是

on the three or four that went wrong.

去注意那些出錯的三四件事情。

So, this is actually a key to happiness for me,

所以,這是幸福的秘訣,對我來說,

is to just remember when I came over here,

只要提醒自己：當我來這裡的時候

the car didn't flip over, and I didn't trip coming up the stairs.

車子沒有翻覆,我沒被階梯絆倒。

It's a remarkable thing.

這是件很棒的事。

Third, that thou shall have reverence.

第三,諸位應心存尊敬。

This one was unexpected because I started the year

這事件意外的體會。因為我剛開始

as an agnostic, and by the end of the year,

是一個不可知論者，但是到這一年結束時

I became what a friend of mine calls a reverent agnostic, which I love.

我變成一個虔敬的不可知論者。我的朋友這樣叫我,我喜歡這樣的稱號。

And I'm trying to start it as a movement.

然而我嘗試把虔敬，變成一種風潮。

So, if anyone wants to join,

所以如果有任何人想參與,

the basic idea is, whether or not there is a God,

基本的構想是,不論有沒有上帝,

there's something important and beautiful about the idea of sacredness,

我們都一些重要且美好神聖想法,

and that our rituals can be sacred.

而且，我們的儀式是神聖的。

The Sabbath can be sacred.

安息日是神聖的。

This was one of the great things about my year, doing the Sabbath,

我的這一年中的一件大事是守安息日,

because I am a workaholic, so having this one day

因為我是一個工作狂,所以有這樣一天

where you cannot work, it really, that changed my life.

我不能工作--這著實改變我的生活。

So, this idea of sacredness, whether or not there is a God.

所以,這是一個神聖的觀念,無關於有沒有神。

Thou shall not stereotype.

諸位切莫執著。

This one happened because

這個體會來自於

I spent a lot of time with various religious communities

我花了許多時間，參加

throughout America because I wanted it to be more

美國各地的不同的宗教團體，因為

than about my journey.

我希望這不是個人的旅程，

I wanted it to be about religion in America.

而是體驗美國宗教的經驗。

So, I spent time with evangelical Christians, and Hasidic Jews, and the Amish.

所以我花時間在福音派基督教、哈西德教派，阿米緒教派。

I'm very proud because

我很自豪

I think I'm the only person in America

因為，我認為我是美國唯一

to out Bible-talk a Jehovah's Witness.

能夠說倒「耶和華見證人」的人

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

After three and a half hours, he looked at his watch,

過了三小時半,他看著他的手錶,

he's like, "I gotta go."

他說："我必須走了。"

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

Oh, thank you very much.

噢,非常謝謝你。

Thank you. Bless you, bless you.

謝謝你。祝福你,祝福你。

But it was interesting

但是這很有趣

because I had some very preconceived notions about, for instance,

因為我有一些先入為主的想法,例如,

evangelical Christianity, and I found that

福音派基督教,我發現

it's such a wide and varied movement

這是一個廣泛的風潮

that it is difficult to make generalizations about it.

很難概括解釋。

There's a group I met with called the Red Letter Christians,

我曾遇到一個團體叫做紅字基督徒,

and they focus on the red words in the Bible,

他們聚焦於聖經上的那些紅字,

which are the ones that Jesus spoke.

那些耶穌說過的話--

That's how they printed them in the old Bibles.

在舊聖經中被印成紅字的。

And their argument is that Jesus never talked about homosexuality.

他們說，耶穌沒有講過同性戀的事情。

They have a pamphlet that says,

他們有一個小冊子,上面說：

"Here's what Jesus said about homosexuality,"

" 這是耶穌對同性戀的說法"

and you open it up, and there's nothing in it.

然而當你打開它,裡面什麼都沒有。

So, they say Jesus did talk a lot about helping the outcasts,

所以他們聲稱，耶穌談論了很多關於幫助無家可歸,

helping poor people.

幫助窮人的事。

So, this was very inspiring to me.

所以這對我是很大的啟發。

I recommend Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo.

我推薦 Jim Wallace 和 Tony Campole。

They're very inspiring leaders, even though I disagree

他們是很能鼓舞人心的領袖，即使我並不認同 --

with much of what they say.

他們多數的言論。

Also, thou shalt not disregard the irrational.

還有,諸位不能漠視無理的事。

This one was very unexpected because, you know,

這是非常出乎預料的。因為,你們知道,

I grew up with the scientific worldview,

我在一個科學的世界觀中成長。

and I was shocked learning how much of my life

然而我十分震驚的發現，

is governed by irrational forces.

我的生命，其實是由不理性的力量主宰。

And the thing is, if they're not harmful,

然而，如果這些是無害的，

they're not to be completely dismissed.

就沒必要被完全去除。

Because I learned that -- I was thinking, I was

因為我學到--我在想,

doing all these rituals, these biblical rituals,

我做的這些儀式,這些聖經上的儀式,

separating my wool and linen, and I would ask these religious people

區分羊毛和麻布質料。 我問那些虔誠的人

"Why would the Bible possibly tell us to do this? Why would God care?"

"為什麼聖經要這樣告訴我們?上帝為什麼在意這些?"

And they said, "We don't know,

然而他們說："我們不知道,

but it's just rituals that give us meaning."

這只是個賦予我們意義的儀式。"

And I would say, "But that's crazy."

我說,"這很瘋狂!"

And they would say, "Well, what about you?

他們會說："噢,那你不是嗎?"

You blow out candles on top of a birthday cake.

你會吹熄生日蛋糕上的蠟燭，這也是個儀式。

If a guy from Mars came down and saw, here's one guy

如果一個來自火星的傢伙看到,

blowing out the fire on top of a cake

他會說："這有一個傢伙吹熄蛋糕上面的火"

versus another guy not wearing clothes of mixed fabrics,

對比於另一個不穿混紡衣服的人,

would the Martians say, 'Well, that guy, he makes sense,

火星人會說"噢,這傢伙很理性,

but that guy's crazy?'"

但是那傢伙很瘋狂"嗎?

So no, I think that rituals are, by nature, irrational.

不會,所以,那些儀式是不理性的。

So the key is to choose the right rituals,

所以,關鍵是選擇正確的儀式,

the ones that are not harmful -- but rituals by themselves

那些無害的儀式--儀式本身

are not to be dismissed.

不該被去除。

And finally I learned that thou shall pick and choose.

然而,最終,我學到：諸位應該有所選擇。

And this one I learned because

這是因為

I tried to follow everything in the Bible.

我想要去遵循聖經上所有的東西。

And I failed miserably.

然後我失敗的很慘。

Because you can't.

因為你做不到。

You have to pick and choose. And anyone who follows the Bible

你必須有所選擇,然而任何遵循聖經的人

is going to be picking and choosing.

都不是照單全收的

The key is to pick and choose the right parts.

關鍵是：選擇正確的部分。

There's the phrase called cafeteria religion,

有一個詞彙叫做"自助餐式宗教"

and the fundamentalists will use it in a denigrating way,

基本教義派，把這個字用於輕蔑的意思,

and they'll say, "Oh, it's just cafeteria religion.

他們會說："噢,這不就是自助餐式宗教罷了。

You're just picking and choosing."

你只是選自己喜歡的去做。"

But my argument is, "What's wrong with cafeterias?"

但我認為："自助餐又怎樣?"

I've had some great meals at cafeterias.

我在自助餐廳有吃得很開心的經驗。

I've also had some meals that make me want to dry heave.

也有難吃得想吐的經驗。

So, it's about choosing the parts of the Bible about compassion,

所以,這是關於選擇聖經中有關惻隱之心,

about tolerance, about loving your neighbor,

寬容、愛你的鄰人的那些部分,

as opposed to the parts about homosexuality is a sin,

不選擇「同性戀是一種罪」、

or intolerance, or violence,

或偏狹的,或暴力的這些部份，

which are very much in the Bible as well.

在聖經裡，也相當的多。

So if we are to find any meaning in this book,

所以我們若想在這本書中找到意義,

then we have to really engage it, and wrestle with it.

我們必須真正投入於它,並且與它爭戰。

And I thought I'd end with just a couple more.

然而結束前我想我在說幾件事。

There's me reading the Bible.

這是我正在閱讀聖經的照片。

That's how I hailed taxicabs.

這是我如何招呼計程車。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

Seriously, and it worked. And yes,

它是有效的--且是的,

that was actually a rented sheep,

那其實是租來的羊,

so I had to return that in the morning, but it served well for a day.

所以我必須在早晨歸還,但是牠整天都被照顧的很好。

So, anyway, thank you so much for letting me speak.

所以,不論如何,很謝謝你們讓我來演講。