IN EARLY 2010 opponents of a proposed mosque inMurfreesboro, Tennessee, spray-painted NOTWELCOME on a sign announcing the new building.Simple-minded vandalism, perhaps; but theirscrawl captured the feelings of an increasingly noisysegment of Americas population. In the monthsthat followed, nasty disputes erupted over plannedmosques in Wisconsin, California and New York.Some suggested that Islam did not deserveprotection under the first amendment, whichguarantees freedom of religion as well as speech.

　　早在2010，在墨菲斯堡，田納西州被提議的清真寺的反對者們就用噴漆在新建筑上表示了不歡迎。或許這簡直就是頭腦簡單肆意的破壞，但是從他們的涂鴉中你能感到美國人民們浮躁的片段。在接下來的幾個月，在威斯康星、加州和紐約，也紛紛爆發了基于計劃建造清真寺的下流的紛爭。

　　Yet these mosque projects and others continue. Since the terrorist attacks of September 2001Islam in America has flourished. The number of mosques has nearly doubled over the pastdecade, rising from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2011, according to a new report from a multi-faith coalition.

　　然而這些清真寺計劃和其他一系列工程仍在繼續。從2001年九月開始美國伊斯蘭教的恐怖主義攻擊開始頻繁起來。根據一篇多宗教聯合組織的新報道，從2000年的1209座到2011的2106座，清真寺的數量幾乎是十年前的兩倍。

　　Several factors explain the building boom, says Ihsan Bagby of the University of Kentuckyand the reports main author. The growing size of Americas Muslim population has createda need for more mosques, partly as a reflection of the religions growing diversity. Muslimsare also increasingly moving away from the cities, where most mosques are sited. Theproportion of mosques in the suburbs has grown from 16% of the total in 2000 to 28% in2011.

　　一些事實解釋了建筑物浪潮，來自肯塔基大學的報道主要作者Ihsan Bagby說道。美國穆斯林人口格局的不斷壯大創造了更多對清真寺的需要，這也是宗教信仰多元化的一個體現。穆斯林們也越來越多的拋棄自己的城市--大多數穆斯林的所在地。處在郊區的清真寺的比例也從2000年的16%上升到了2011年的28%

　　These findings will probably further rouse those who are worried that radical Islam will takeroot in America. But the report suggests such worries are misplaced. Nearly 90% of mosqueleaders say they have seen no increase in radicalism among young Muslims. And most alsosay that they take a flexible approach to Islam rather than strictly interpreting its texts.

　　這些發現，對那些擔心激進的伊斯蘭們會在美國扎根的人們來說，很可能是火上澆油。但是報道也認為這樣的擔心是片面的。因為近90%的清真寺領袖都表示他們并沒有在年輕的穆斯林們里看到激進分子。并且他們也說，他們用靈活的方式培養信仰，而不是強解經典。

　　Other findings back up an earlier report from the Pew Research Centre, which showed thatmost Muslim Americans have assimilated. Nearly all mosque leaders agree that Muslimsshould be involved in American institutions and should take part in American politics. Theyeven seem unfazed by the scrutiny of a suspicious government . Only aquarter say they believe American society is hostile to Islam, well down from 54% in 2000.

　　另一些發現要追溯到一份來自Pew調查中心的更早期的報道，它顯示大部分美國穆斯林們已經被同化。幾乎所有的清真寺領導都同意穆斯林們應該加入美國體系并且參與美國政治活動。在多疑的政府的監視下他們甚至似乎并不感到為難 。從2000年的54%的高比例到現在只有四分之一的人說他們相信美國社會對伊斯蘭教徒們是懷有敵意的。

　　As with other religions in America, the main challenge facing Islam is not radicalism, butsecularisation. The good news for mosque leaders is that there is a growing pool ofprospective worshippers. The numbers in the report, if accurate, cast doubt on previousestimates, which have put Americas Muslim population at between 1m and 3m. Mr Bagbythinks the number is closer to 7m. Enthusiasts for Americas diversity will be pleased to hearthat. Others, unfortunately, will be alarmed.

　　和美國其他的宗教一樣的，面對伊斯蘭的主要挑戰并非激進主義，而是世俗化。從清真寺領導傳來的好消息就是預期未來會有大批的教徒們加入。報道中的數字，如果夠精確，就足夠對先前的關于美國穆斯林人口在1百萬到3百萬的估算提出質疑。Bagby先生認為人口應接近7百萬才對。對美國多元化狂熱的學者們將會感到高興。不幸的是其余的可能會擔憂了。

　　IN EARLY 2010 opponents of a proposed mosque inMurfreesboro, Tennessee, spray-painted NOTWELCOME on a sign announcing the new building.Simple-minded vandalism, perhaps; but theirscrawl captured the feelings of an increasingly noisysegment of Americas population. In the monthsthat followed, nasty disputes erupted over plannedmosques in Wisconsin, California and New York.Some suggested that Islam did not deserveprotection under the first amendment, whichguarantees freedom of religion as well as speech.

　　早在2010，在墨菲斯堡，田納西州被提議的清真寺的反對者們就用噴漆在新建筑上表示了不歡迎。或許這簡直就是頭腦簡單肆意的破壞，但是從他們的涂鴉中你能感到美國人民們浮躁的片段。在接下來的幾個月，在威斯康星、加州和紐約，也紛紛爆發了基于計劃建造清真寺的下流的紛爭。

　　Yet these mosque projects and others continue. Since the terrorist attacks of September 2001Islam in America has flourished. The number of mosques has nearly doubled over the pastdecade, rising from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2011, according to a new report from a multi-faith coalition.

　　然而這些清真寺計劃和其他一系列工程仍在繼續。從2001年九月開始美國伊斯蘭教的恐怖主義攻擊開始頻繁起來。根據一篇多宗教聯合組織的新報道，從2000年的1209座到2011的2106座，清真寺的數量幾乎是十年前的兩倍。

　　Several factors explain the building boom, says Ihsan Bagby of the University of Kentuckyand the reports main author. The growing size of Americas Muslim population has createda need for more mosques, partly as a reflection of the religions growing diversity. Muslimsare also increasingly moving away from the cities, where most mosques are sited. Theproportion of mosques in the suburbs has grown from 16% of the total in 2000 to 28% in2011.

　　一些事實解釋了建筑物浪潮，來自肯塔基大學的報道主要作者Ihsan Bagby說道。美國穆斯林人口格局的不斷壯大創造了更多對清真寺的需要，這也是宗教信仰多元化的一個體現。穆斯林們也越來越多的拋棄自己的城市--大多數穆斯林的所在地。處在郊區的清真寺的比例也從2000年的16%上升到了2011年的28%

　　These findings will probably further rouse those who are worried that radical Islam will takeroot in America. But the report suggests such worries are misplaced. Nearly 90% of mosqueleaders say they have seen no increase in radicalism among young Muslims. And most alsosay that they take a flexible approach to Islam rather than strictly interpreting its texts.

　　這些發現，對那些擔心激進的伊斯蘭們會在美國扎根的人們來說，很可能是火上澆油。但是報道也認為這樣的擔心是片面的。因為近90%的清真寺領袖都表示他們并沒有在年輕的穆斯林們里看到激進分子。并且他們也說，他們用靈活的方式培養信仰，而不是強解經典。

　　Other findings back up an earlier report from the Pew Research Centre, which showed thatmost Muslim Americans have assimilated. Nearly all mosque leaders agree that Muslimsshould be involved in American institutions and should take part in American politics. Theyeven seem unfazed by the scrutiny of a suspicious government . Only aquarter say they believe American society is hostile to Islam, well down from 54% in 2000.

　　另一些發現要追溯到一份來自Pew調查中心的更早期的報道，它顯示大部分美國穆斯林們已經被同化。幾乎所有的清真寺領導都同意穆斯林們應該加入美國體系并且參與美國政治活動。在多疑的政府的監視下他們甚至似乎并不感到為難 。從2000年的54%的高比例到現在只有四分之一的人說他們相信美國社會對伊斯蘭教徒們是懷有敵意的。

　　As with other religions in America, the main challenge facing Islam is not radicalism, butsecularisation. The good news for mosque leaders is that there is a growing pool ofprospective worshippers. The numbers in the report, if accurate, cast doubt on previousestimates, which have put Americas Muslim population at between 1m and 3m. Mr Bagbythinks the number is closer to 7m. Enthusiasts for Americas diversity will be pleased to hearthat. Others, unfortunately, will be alarmed.

　　和美國其他的宗教一樣的，面對伊斯蘭的主要挑戰并非激進主義，而是世俗化。從清真寺領導傳來的好消息就是預期未來會有大批的教徒們加入。報道中的數字，如果夠精確，就足夠對先前的關于美國穆斯林人口在1百萬到3百萬的估算提出質疑。Bagby先生認為人口應接近7百萬才對。對美國多元化狂熱的學者們將會感到高興。不幸的是其余的可能會擔憂了。