成人英语三级阅读理解(76)

Bells are used in Christian churches as well as Hindu and Buddhist temples as a means of keeping evil away. The bell tolled at funerals is now explained as a signal to the living that a soul is passing to the other side and should be accompanied by prayers. But originally the tolling was intended to prevent evil forces from interfering with the soul's heavenward journey.

在基督教教堂以及印度教和佛教的庙宇里，钟被用来驱走邪恶。在葬礼上鸣钟现在被解释为对生者发出一个信号：一个灵魂将要到另一个世界，需要祈祷者的陪伴。但最初鸣钟是为了防止灵魂在升向天堂的路上遭遇邪恶势力的干扰。