建立「理解橋樑」
NASA has recruited at least two dozen theologians, including a priest, a rabbi, and an imam, to examine how people would react if life outside earth were to be found to exist.
美國太空總署（NASA）招募了至少24位神學家，包括一名牧師、拉比和伊瑪目，以研究如果發現地球以外存有生命，人們會如何反應。
priest(n.)神父;牧師rabbi(n.)拉比(猶太教領袖和老師)imam(n.)伊瑪目(伊斯蘭教的領袖)If S were to RV, S would (should, might, could) RV...與未來相反的假設(非常不可能發生的事)
The scholars are participating in a program at Princeton University’s Center of Theological Inquiry in New Jersey.
這些學者正在參與紐澤西州普林斯頓大學神學研究中心的一項計畫。
participate in 參加=take part in=partake in
The center describes its main objective as building “bridges of understanding” between academics, scientists, and policymakers on concerns that influence the world at large.
該中心旨在學術界、科學家和政策制定者之間，就影響整個世界的問題建立「理解橋樑」。
describe…as…將…描述、形容為…objective(n.)目標;目的=aim=goal=purposeacademic(adj.)學院的;學術的(n.)學者an academic institution學術機構policymaker(n.)決策者;制定政策的人at large整體;整個、(犯人)在逃的;消遙法外
This new program seeks to predict how the world’s major religions might respond if extraterrestrial life were to be discovered and how it would possibly influence the concept of God and creation.
這個新計畫試圖預測若發現外星生命，世界各大宗教會如何反應，以及可能如何影響造物主的概念。
extraterrestrial(adj.)地球外的、外星的(n.)外星人
According to the Reverend Dr. Andrew Davison, a University of Cambridge religious scholar who also holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Oxford, a “large number of people would turn to their religious traditions for guidance” on what the discovery of alien life would mean for humans on earth.
戴維森牧師是劍橋大學的宗教學者，同時擁有牛津生物化學博士學位的他表示，「很多人會從他們的宗教傳統尋求指示」，以了解外星生命的發現對地球上的人類有什麼意義。
Reverend(n.)對牧師的敬稱scholar(n.)學者doctorate(n.)博士學位turn to...轉而向～求助
Duilia de Mello, an astronomer and physics professor at Catholic University, said she has several students who often debate what the existence of intelligent life would mean for the Catholic Church.
天主教大學的天文學家和物理學教授德梅洛說，她有幾個學生經常爭論智慧生命體的存在對天主教教會代表著什麼。
astronomer(n.)天文學家intelligent(adj.)聰明的;有才智的;(像人類一樣)有智慧的intelligence(n.)智慧;智能artificial intelligence人工智慧(=AI)
“If we are the products of creation, why couldn’t we have life evolving in other planets as well? There’s nothing that says otherwise,” said de Mello.
「如果我們是神創造的產物，為什麼其它星球上沒有生命演化？也沒有外星沒有生命的說法啊。」
evolve(v.)(使)進化、(使)逐步發展、(使)逐步演變theory of evolution演化論otherwise(adv.)別樣地，以另外的方式
In 2008, the Vatican’s chief astronomer asserted that there is no conflict between believing in God and the possibility of “extraterrestrial brothers.”
2008年，梵蒂岡首席天文學家斷言，信仰上帝與「外星人兄弟」存在的可能性之間彼此並不衝突。
the Vatican梵蒂岡，羅馬教廷conflict(n.)衝突=clash
Other notable religious figures have also expressed that Christian, Jewish, and Islamic teachings would ultimately not be affected by the discovery of aliens.
其他重要宗教人物也表示，發現外星人不會影響到基督教、猶太教和伊斯蘭教的教義。
teachings(n.)教義