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.