Re: Humankind "forgetful of its God"

Hi Susan-
I agree with you that there may be times when the Guardian did not translate literally. However I also feel that maybe, at the time of the translation, he knew something we don't.

regards,
doug

On Aug 27, 2005, at 5:49 PM, smaneck@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:


Dear Richard,

Quite often the Guardian is not at all literal in his translations. For
instance, the bird at the beginning of the Tablet of Ahmad is varqa, a
dove, not a nightingale.

warmest, Susan


He is the interpreter of the word of God,
are you judging him Susan?


Nope, no judgement at all. I'm just pointing out that the Guardian's
translations are often not literal. There is another place in the Iqan
where Shoghi Effendi translates the word samandar as phoenix. But
samandar literally means salamandar, an allusion which would likely be
lost on an English-speaking audience unless they were into Dungeons and
Dragons. Otherwise comparing the Manifestation to a mud-puppy would
likely strike us as more than a little strange.

warmest, Susan

P.S. In the Middle Ages salamandars were thought to be able to live in
fire without being burned.


.

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