What I meant is that I sometimes feel worried when I see so many
warnings at the beginning or at the end of some Baha'i writings.
examples given: "this text has been translated by the X committee,
reviewed by the Y committee, approved by Z, and might be later
corrected by ZZ..."
Dear Loic,
I've never seen anything like this in any English publications. Do
they appear in European languages? The closest thing I know to this
are the early Baha'i publications which stated they had been reviewed
by a committee. But I think they stopped doing that as soon as the
Publishing Trust was formed. That was maybe back in the 30's or 40's.
------------------------------------------------
These kind of warnings still appear in current french translations,
mostly edited by the canadian Baha'i committees.
------------------------------------------------
or, on the other hand, "this text is only a
personal translation and must not be considered as an official
bahai publication and must be considered as a personal point of
view..."
I think that may represent the translator himself going overboard.
Most of us are content to simply identify it as a provisional
translation without going into any long explanation.
---------------------------------------------
I do agree with you!
---------------------------------------------
These kinds of warnings make me think that there is a real danger
for Bahai Faith to turn into dogmatism (like the Vatican giving
the Imprimatur for advised books, the Nihil obstat for books with
nothing against the official faith, but also writing at the Index
books such as the DaVinci Code, considered as going against the
official believes and so forgiven to the believers).
The House of Justice doesn't want to see that as well, which is why in
their letter of 1992 addressed to Juan Cole they refused to establish
two sets of Baha'i literature, one which passed review and the other
which didn't.
"Your suggestion that an "imprimatur" system such as used by the Roman
Catholic Church would be preferable to the present system of review
was considered by the House of Justice...
----------------------------------------------------------
I may have been not clear. I am afraid of a system of Imprimatur!
I believe the Holy writings are enough by themselves as the only True.
(even in many different translations, they are The Revelations!)
as soon as exist "official" translations or "official" publications,
it is like a confiscation of the True by some human interpretations...
----------------------------------------------------------
... it would obscure the important fact that the process of
review in the Bahá'í Faith is temporary, being limited to this stage
of its development when books published by Bahá'ís could seriously
mislead the public if they too gravely distort its message."
(The Universal House of Justice, 1992 Dec 10, Issues Related
to Study Compilation)
----------------------------------------------------
Thank you very much for these informations,
keeping me confident in our spirit of freedom!
Loïc
----------------------------------------------------
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