”The Word that Shineth and Flasheth Amidst the Books of Men”: Text, Translation, and the Nature of Reality

What is the relationship between language and reality? What distinguishes the words uttered by the Prophets? How are old words used in new ways in the Bahá’í Writings, and what implications does all this have for the translation of the Sacred Writings? We will explore these questions in the context of the translation program at the Bahá’í World Centre, guided by the Writings of the Central Figures of the Bahá’í Faith.

  • Steven Phelps

    Steven Phelps received bachelor degrees in physics and philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University. He worked for 13 years at the Bahá’í World Centre in its Research Department, coordinating the cataloging, indexing, and translation of the Bahá’í Writings.

The views expressed in this recording are those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent the views of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, nor the authoritative explications of Bahá’í writings.