上帝造物

Unlike laws made by humans,the laws of nature cannot ever be broken.

不同于人所制定的法规 自然法则永远不可违背

That's why they are so powerful and,when seen from a religious standpoint,controversial,too.

所以它们的威力才会如此强大 而从宗教观点来看 也才会充满争议

if you accept, as I do,that the laws of nature are fixed,

若你和我一样认同 自然法则永远不变

then it doesn't take long to ask,what role is there for God?

应该很快就会发问 上帝的角色为何

This is a big part of the contradiction between science and religion.

这就是科学与宗教抵触的重大论点

And although my views have recently made headlines,

虽然我的观点近期成为头条

it is actually an ancient conflict.

但其实这是由来已久的争议

Back in 1277,Pope John XXl felt so threatened by the idea of laws of nature that he decreed them a heresy.

回到1277年 教皇约翰21世 深感自然法则思想的威胁 于是颁布教令指其为异端邪说

Unfortunately,that did nothing to change the law governing gravity.

无奈这无法影响重力法则

A few months later,the palace roof collapsed and fell on the Pope's head.

数个月后 宫殿的屋顶崩塌 落在教皇头上

But organized religion soon found a solution.

但高度组织化的宗教 很快就找出了解决之道

For the next few hundred years,

接下来数百年

it was simply stated that the laws of nature were the work of God,

他们声称 自然法则是出自上帝之手

and God could break them if he wished to.

只要上帝有意就能打破

重点讲解

1、contradiction

矛盾;不一致

the contradictions between her private life and the public persona.

她的私生活与公众形象之间的巨大反差

The performance seemed to me unpardonable, a contradiction of all that the Olympics is supposed to be.

在我看来，这次的表现是不可宽恕的，和奥运精神完全相悖。

自相矛盾的说法

A public service run for profit — a contradiction in terms if there ever was one.

以营利为目的的公共服务机构——这是典型的用词上的自相矛盾（如果真有这种说法的话）。

2、collapse

倒塌;塌下

A section of the Bay Bridge had collapsed.

海湾大桥有一段垮塌了。

The roof collapsed in a roar of rock and rubble.

屋顶轰隆一声塌了下来，碎石瓦砾落了一地。

(体系或机构)崩溃，瓦解，突然失败

His business empire collapsed under a massive burden of debt.

他的商业帝国无力承担沉重的债务负担而垮掉了。

This system has collapsed in most countries where it ruled.

这一体系在其占统治地位的大多数国家都失败了。

(因生病或虚弱)突然倒下，昏倒

He collapsed following a vigorous exercise session at his home.

在家剧烈运动了一阵后他突然昏倒了。

It's commonplace to see people collapsing from hunger in the streets.

在街上看见有人饿晕是很平常的事。