Re: The Worlds of God

If you think there is an error in the translation then you best write the
House of Justice for correction not to me who is unworthy of such a task.

I see the error, Doug, I don't have to write to anyone. If I wrote also to
you, also, you might also see an error, also. But also some people don't
also see errors, and that also is fine also.

I had asked you if you thought the meaning was one thing or the other,
because depending upon how you read the conjunctions (also) we might be
talking about the difference between the conditions of existence and the
perfections of existence. I happen to think Abdu'-Baha is saying that the
perfections of existence apply to two of the three conditions of existence,
which would make the "also"s unnecessary. What does your wife think?

Perhaps there is something deeper going on here. Perhaps you think that
since the text is written by Abdul-Baha and translated by the Guardian and
approved by the Universal House of Justice there can be no error. If you
believe that is the case, well, I have a lot to say about it.

The point is, imho, to understand the intent of the writer, Abdu'l-Baha.
The closer we can understand his intent in writing what he wrote, that is
the understanding that is important. We don't have to jump through hoops to
make the written word make sense, else we would be doing what Muslims and
Christians do. The intent of the writer is the point, it is not the
inerrant Word of God that was chiseled in stone, but rather real words
representing ideas that it behooves us to understand and incorporate in our
lives. If we can look on the Bible and the Qu'ran that way we can certainly
look upon our own sacred writings that way.

Thanks for reading. --Kent




"Douglas McAdam" <douglasmcadam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:11356ef96ba5662bd415c19c8c3ea01f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kent-

My wife is an English major and says there is no error in this quote.
If you think there is an error in the translation then you best write the
House of Justice for correction not to me who is unworthy of such a task.

You also may wish to consider that these are three separate conditions of
existence. And that the condition of existence has no limitations within
its own worlds but is limited compared to the worlds of Manifestation and
Deity. Also the world or condition of Manifestation is unlimited within
its own condition but limited as compared to the condition of Deity.

So even if there was an error in translation to english there are many
other quotes all stating the same concepts in different terms.

regards,
doug

On May 28, 2006, at 11:09 PM, Kent Johnson wrote:

Hi Doug,
I don't see any error here.

Here is the sentence that contains the error:

"Know that the conditions of existence are limited to the conditions of
servitude, of prophethood, and of Deity, but the divine and the
contingent
perfections are unlimited. When you reflect deeply, you discover that
also
outwardly the perfections of existence are also unlimited, for you cannot
find a being so perfect that you cannot imagine a superior one."

besides the obvious "...also outwardly the perfections of existence are
also..." There is the question of what is conjoined with the two
"also"s?
Maybe you can restate the sentence to make it clearer in some respect,
like
this:

The conditions of existence are limited to three (servitude, prophethood,
Deity) but the divine (Deity?) and prophethood (the last two on the list
of
three) are unlimited. Also the "outward perfections of existence" are
unlimited.

Does the phrase "outward perfections of existence" refer to any or all of
the three conditions of existence? If so, why is that conjoined with
"also"? It should be included since it is one of the only three there
are.
If "outward perfections of existence" refers to any or all of the three
then
no "also" is needed, much less two "also"s. The sentence should read:

"When you reflect deeply, you discover that outwardly the perfections of
existence are unlimited, for you cannot find a being so perfect that you
cannot imagine a superior one."

That is the way I think it should be read. But, if not, if the sentence
might read:

"The conditions of existence are limited to three (servitude,
prophethood,
Deity) but the divine (Deity?) and prophethood are unlimited. Also in
addition to the three conditions of existence, the outward perfections
of
existence are unlimited.

In this case we have limited the conditions of existence to three, but
the
outward perfections of existence are unlimited.

Which way do you think it should be, Doug?

--Kent

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The Worlds of God
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    (soc.religion.bahai)
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    (soc.religion.bahai)
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    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: Truth, essence and potential.
    ... Hi Doug, You have given me this quote before, and we have talked about it ... the perfections of existence are also unlimited"). ... station of servitude, but you appear to be making that assertion this time. ... If all existence is limited to servitude, prophethood and Deity, doesn't ...
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  • The condition of servitude and contingent perfections
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