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 tolerance¹, but many wars are caused by intolerant religious fanatics².
A; yes. Such people don’t appear to be acting³ 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, Christian⁴ pilgrims might go to Canterbury and many Christians⁵ 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.

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