The Journal of Bahá’í Studies https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online <p>For more than three decades, <em>The Journal of Bahá’í Studies</em> has been publishing articles offering the perspectives of scholars from diverse academic disciplines, correlating the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith to the needs of humanity. Peer review and editorial standards that aspire to foster excellence make it the central outlet for Bahá’í scholarship in North America. The journal welcomes submissions from scholars around the world who wish to demonstrate relationships between their research and Bahá'í principles and teachings.</p> en-US <p>This work is licensed under CC Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivates 4.0. If you wish to adapt, remix, transform, or build upon this work in any way, you may not distribute your work without first contacting the Editor for permission.</p> [email protected] (Michael Sabet) [email protected] (Nilufar Gordon) Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:59:30 -0800 OJS 3.3.0.13 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 The Master Key https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/569 Michael Sabet Copyright © 2024 Michael Sabet https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/569 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 Translating the Bahá'í Writings into Languages Other Than English https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/536 <p>Given its belief in the transformative power of the Word of God, the Bahá’í Faith places great importance on the translation of its sacred writings into as many languages as possible. Translations into languages other than English need to be approved by the National Spiritual Assembly of the country in which they are published, but are often initiated by individuals, meaning that institutions and individuals have distinct and complementary roles in the translation process. Most of these translations are from English versions—usually those produced by Shoghi Effendi—of the original Bahá’í writings in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. As linguists who have been involved in translating and reviewing translations of the writings, the authors have encountered a number of challenges in their translation work, including questions about spelling, terminology, and the politeness strategies employed in the original work, as well as idiosyncrasies of English usage. We illustrate these issues and possible approaches to dealing with them using the case of a short passage from Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings translated into Japanese and Tok Pisin. It is hoped that this article will lead to exchanges among translators and reviewers and possibly to the development of a database of exegesis literature on the Writings and other aides to translators.</p> Mary Goebel Noguchi, Craig Alan Volker Copyright © 2024 Mary Goebel Noguchi, Craig Alan Volker https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/536 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 Comments on Historical Consciousness, Power and Authority, and Modes of Communication https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/570 Todd Smith Copyright © 2024 Todd Smith https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/570 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 Mathnaví of the Blessed One https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/573 <p>Baha'u'llah's "Mathnaví of the Blessed One" Provisional Translation with Introduction and Notes by John S. Hatcher, Amrollah Hemmat, and Ehsanollah Hemmat</p> John S. Hatcher, Amrollah Hemmat, Ehsanollah Hemmat Copyright © 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/573 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 Turning a Somersault to Land at the Feet of the Báb https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/538 <p>Ross G. Woodman (1922-2014), known to Bahá’ís as a scholar and teacher, had a vivid dream of an encounter with the Báb in 1942. He circled around the question of what the dream called him to do, and to become, for the rest of his life. Woodman’s spiritual journey was troubled and complex. He was preoccupied with questions of poetic faith and religious faith, revelation and knowledge. This essay explores the arc of the flying somersault in his dream of the Báb, which served as a template for the trajectory of his life. Woodman’s life story off ers insights into the question of “aesthetic” versus “ethical” engagement with the Faith, as well as the specific challenge<br />facing academics or others whose professional life may seem to demand that they compartmentalize their faith.</p> Chris Lowry Copyright © 2024 Chris Lowry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/538 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 The Reception of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Britain https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/574 <p>Review of <em>The Reception of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Britain: East Comes West</em>, by Brendan McNamara. 224 pages. Brill, 2020.</p> Robert Stockman Copyright © 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/574 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 On the Originality of Species https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/572 <p>Review of <em>On the Originality of Species: The Convergence of Evolutionary Science and Baha’i Teachings</em> by Bryan Donaldson. x + 291 pages, including appendices, glossary, and endnotes (no index). Akka Publishing House, 2023.</p> Douglas Perry Copyright © 2024 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/572 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800 Nader Saiedi’s Logos and Civilization Revisited https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/518 <p>Review of <em>Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh</em>. By Nader Saiedi. Paperback. Ottawa: Association for Bahá’í Studies, 2023. xxiv + 356 pages, including notes, references.</p> Christopher Buck Copyright © 2024 Christopher Buck https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/518 Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800