Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00099)

I wrote:

"Steve's reference to Johnson's 'dishonest and untalented detractors' 
only DISTRACT readers and inquirers from exploring the REAL 
historical issues and problems surrounding what Johnson has written 
about Blavatsky's Masters"

Steve replied:

"Sorry, but intellectual dishonesty is what distracts people and is 
intended to distract people. The unfortunate thing about that is, 
TMR does contain some real problems which can be dealt with better in 
a honest manner."

I commented:

"Steve, I am not at all certain exactly what you are referring to. 
Could you be more specific as to what you are thinking when you 
mention 'intellectual dishonesty' as related to the subject of TMR?

"Also can you DETAIL some of the 'real problems' with TMR and how YOU 
would deal with them in an honest manner (as opposed to a dishonest 
manner)?

Steve, in turn replied:

"Your comment above is an excellent example of dishonesty. If you 
want more examples of dishonesty, you only have to dig your own posts 
out of the archives and have a feast."

"I have pointed out the logicall fallacies in the anti-Theosophical 
argument at kength and have no desire to rehash what I have already 
said."

Dear Steve,

At least now I know where you are coming from! :)

But your vague, undocumented statements help neither me nor anyone 
else understand what you are talking about.

I challenge you to cite a few detailed examples of my "dishonesty" in 
critiquing some of the statements, etc. of Johnson as found in his 
TMR. 

For example, show the readers on this forum two or three examples 
from my published TMR critiques where I have been dishonest. My 
critiques are at:

http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/johnson.htm

http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/johnsonparanormal3.htm

Furthermore, you also originally wrote:

"The unfortunate thing about that is, TMR does contain some real 
problems which can be dealt with better in a honest manner."

In the hope that you would give something of substance rather than 
vague assertions, I asked:

"Also can you DETAIL some of the 'real problems' with TMR and how YOU 
would deal with them in an honest manner (as opposed to a dishonest 
manner)?"

It would appear that your reply to my question is as follows:

"I have pointed out the logicall fallacies in the anti-Theosophical 
argument at kength and have no desire to rehash what I have already 
said."

But Steve, what does your pointing out of "logicall fallacies in the 
anti-Theosophical argument at kength" have to do with the "real 
problems in TMR " which "can be dealt with better in a honest manner"?

Are you saying that Johnson is giving "anti-Theosophical arguments" 
in TMR?

What are you saying? Who knows since you apparently prefer to deal 
in vagaries.

I have tried to look thru the Theos-Talk archives to see if you have 
made any substantive comments about TMR. A cursory survey reveals 
little, so I am left puzzled about what you may have said about the 
REAL problems in TMR and how you have dealt with it in a HONEST way 
while I have dealt with it in a DISHONEST way!!! 

Daniel H. Caldwell
BLAVATSKY STUDY CENTER/BLAVATSKY ARCHIVES
http://blavatskyarchives.com