Theos-Talk Archives (January 2002 Message tt00517)

--- In theos-talk@y..., "redrosarian" <redrosarian@y...> wrote:
> I have been following the controversy surrounding the articles on 
her web site. Her lack of integrity regarding two authors soured me 
on studying any of her other articles seriously. After that, I 
haven't been to her web site at all. When I want to find some 
reputable Theosophical sources, I go elsewhere. I don't trust her 
research. How complicated is it to understand that?
> 
What was complicated was understanding to whom you were referring 
before. Now that you explain the reference, I'd urge you to overcome 
the repugnance and go back to the site. I myself have had troubles 
with Brigitte over website publication issues, and have sympathized 
with Brendan. But that does't change the fact that her site presents 
the *only* significant new research on HPB to appear in years 
(AFAIK). Brigitte herself traveled to India, Russia, France and 
England in pursuit of HPB's political associations (mainly) and came 
up with some intriguing material that no one has even addressed on 
any of these lists. Plus, she has gotten some impressive scholars 
like Moulton, Viswanathan, and Bevir to contribute material that 
gives new angles on Hume, the Mahatma letters, and so on.

So, I can understand the halo effect that might make someone not 
trust the research after finding out that Internet publishing ethics 
has been a source of conflict and problems for the website. But that 
would be like refusing to look into The Secret Doctrine or The Voice 
of the Silence because the author of those books had herself been 
embroiled in controversies about authorial ethics, i.e. plagiarism 
and forgery. But I would advise setting that aside, because 
otherwise you're missing out on the only fresh research on 
Theosophical history that has been made available on the Net in 
years, and there's a lot of damn good stuff in there. Enjoy!

PJ