Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by USSC's current President - Mauricio Cisneiros
1. Why the need for a new translation?
There are currently 3 translations available in the market. Anna Blackwell’s for example, is published by several publishing houses since it’s in public domain. Like the other two from the Allan Kardec Educational Society and the International Spiritist Council the USSC has absolutely no control over their content/translation. In Brazil, where the Spiritist movement has been around for a lot longer than in the USA, several organizations have found themselves in the same situation we are in now and opted successfully to work on their own translations of Kardec’s Codification.
Some of these examples are:
- Centro Espírita Leon Denis (CELD)
- Editora Boa Nova
- Editora Mundo Maior
- Federação Espírita Brasileira (FEB)
- Federação Espírita do Estado de São Paulo (FEESP)
- Instituto de Divulgação Espírita (IDE)
- Livraria Allan Kardec Editora (LAKE)
- PETIT Editora.
These measures obviously only helped in the dissemination of Spiritism in Brazil while at the same time enhancing the economic capabilities of several organizations instead of just a few of them.
2. What about the International Spiritist Council's (ISC/CEI) translation? Isn't it good enough for the Spiritist movement?
Some of our members are satisfied with the current translations and the prices they are paying. However, other Spiritist Groups see it differently. It is important to remember that although the USSC is affiliated to the ISC, the ISC has absolutely no obligation to follow instructions or even suggestions from its member organizations regarding pricing, translation revisions or any other issues related to the publishing of ISC books. Also, due to recent major restructuring in the ISC any translation revisions or price cuts in the near or far future are very unlikely to happen.
3. Shouldn’t the USSC invest all of this effort into translating other works that are not yet translated into English such as the works of Leon Denis, which are also in public domain?
Leon Denis' works are currently also being professionally translated by another organization and will be donated to the USSC as each book translation comes out. We understand that there is over four thousand great Spiritist books we need to get to and it will probably take a few hundred years for that to happen, specially because most of these books are copyrighted and it is not an easy task to get authorization to print translated materials from other Spiritist publishing houses. There are several Spiritist translations currently sitting in peoples drawers all across the USA because they were not able to gain authorization to publish them. Right now we are most concerned with starting from the beginning with Kardec's Codification since all other Spiritist writings are based in the concepts explained in these books.
4. Will this approach delay the dissemination of Spiritism to the English speaking public?
No. USSC day-to-day activities will proceed uninterrupted. Book translations (other titles being worked on), events, workbooks, Spiritism for Everyone (live online meetings), visitation and support to Spiritist Groups across the USA, as well as many other activities will continue as usual.
5. Will this translation be done by a professional translator?
Yes, thus the need for fundraising. Our project leader Elza D’Agosto, a senior professional translator member of the Association of Certified Interpreters & Translators (ACIT) will be choosing and working hand in hand with the translator as well as revising the translated work.
6. What if once the translation comes out there is a lot of bad feedback about it?
All translations aren't perfect. Once we have our own translation copyright the USSC as a whole will be able to revise it as needed. That is one of the fundamental reasons why this new translation is being done.
7. How would this revision process work?
As we do now with our workbooks we would continue to collect any suggestions on improvements to our translation through a webpage setup exclusively for this purpose. A committee formed by qualified individuals would then analyze these suggestions. Accepted suggestions would be submitted to the USSC general assembly for ratification. This process would of course be taken very seriously by our organization since we all hold Kardec's work dear to our hearts.
8. Won't this be another monetary burden for Spiritist Groups to carry?
As always we respect the freedom of Spiritist Groups who decide not to participate in our activities for any reason. Like all other USSC activities this is a 100% volunteer based project.
9. Can an individual participate even though the Spiritist Group they belong to is not participating?
We encourage individuals to also exercise their freedom to participate if they wish to do so even though the Group they are part of is not participating. This new translation will not damage in any way our Spiritist movement or any Spiritist Group; on the contrary it will strengthen our cause.
10. When will the translation be completed?
We estimate that the book will be ready sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Individual donors will be the first ones to receive their copies as soon as they are available.
11. How will the Sponsoring Spiritist Organizations purchase the copies?
At the USSC discounted bookstore for printing cost plus shipping. We will maintain all Sponsor Organizations aware of the cost by regularly posting a legal invoice of this cost in our website.
12. Can any Spiritist Organization Participate?
Yes, any Spiritist Organization in the world can become a sponsoring Spiritist Organization. Organizations outside of the USA must remember that their shipping costs will be higher.
13. What if the USSC collects more that it needs to translate and publish “The Spirits' Book”?
Any remaining funds will be applied to the new translation of “The Gospel According to Spiritism”.
14. How will sponsors be able to vote on the book cover?
Once our fundraising is completed we will email all donors a link to a webpage where they will be able to choose from a few choices of covers for the book. The USSC Board of Directors will choose this pre-selected array of choices.
15. Will the book be hard cover or soft cover?
Initially it will only be available in soft cover. Other versions such as hard cover and pocket size may be made available in the future.
16. When will the audio version come out?
The audio book is planned to start production as soon as the printed version comes out. The same goes for the eBook version.
17. Where can I find more answers to my questions?
Feel free to email us at info@spiritist.us
1. To make available a translation that reflects the contemporary spoken English and at the same time maintains the high literacy quality of the works of Allan Kardec.
2. To allow the USSC to own the copyright of the published translation and to revise it as needed according to the contributions of its affiliated organizations.
3. To enable the USSC to own and use the citations contained in the new translation in other publications without the requirement of asking permission to other organizations, signing of contracts with other publishers, nor payments of any royalties to them.
4. To enable the USSC to transform the book into ebooks, audio books and any other media at its own will.
5. A glossary of Spiritist terms and a word index will be added to the new translation.
6. To make “The Spirits' Book” more affordable to Spiritist Groups in the USA and around the world.
7. To provide a lifetime of vital financial support to the USSC and other Spiritist Groups in the USA and around the world as the proceedings of all The Spirits’ Book sales will revert to them.
8. To make "The Spirits’ Book" gain access to the book-selling market. This enterprise will be a source of valuable financial resources for the Spiritist Movement.
9. To make "The Spirits’ Book" carry the USSC brand, which will become a reference of literacy quality, irreproachable translation as well as complete faithfulness to its original in French for no free interpretation or alteration of content will be permitted.
10. To provide the USSC and its affiliated organizations independence, which will result in high standards of customer quality, freeing Spiritist Groups from shortcomings such as pricing fluctuation, delayed distribution or shipment and lack of translation resources that reflect the American culture.
11. To provide a translation that delivers a true spiritual experience to modern English-speaking readers, mastered by Allan Kardec in French when transmitting the message brought by the Enlightened Spirits – especially for those reading The Spirits’ Book for the first time.
12. The USSC new translation will reflect the efforts, the fraternal support, and the integration of Spiritist Groups in the U.S.
Reasons for the New Translation
The Spirits' Book
- The New Translation -
Donations From Spiritist Organizations
$350.00
Be a part of this project, vote on the book cover design and once it is published receive a
copy as a gift
Individual Donations
$25.00
Name of all sponsoring Spiritist Organizations will be shown at the beginning of the book
They will also have the right to purchase the book for its printing cost forever
Open donations from any other individuals and organizations
