Theos-Talk Archives (November 2002 Message tt00676)

Brian,

It might help others to note that the quotes you offer below are 
taken from a discussion Paul and I had almost a year ago. Our more 
recent exchange might indicate that we have both learned a bit of 
mutual respect and have found that we don't differ so much in our 
points of view of this subject after all. I can definitely say that 
participation in this list has taught me a lot about the validity of 
different opinions, and the value of discussion held with courtesy 
and regard for the rights of others. 

Adelasie

On 22 Nov 2002 at 8:20, brianmuehlbach wrote:

> Adelasie: But it is also possible to use the mantle of historical
> investigation to try to throw dust in everyone`s eyes, 
> 
> Paul: I see here the pattern of leaping from "perceived implications"
> to "imputed intentions" and it leads to demonization of others and
> degradation of discourse. That is, „X`s historical investigations have
> the =
> 
> effect of making people feel as if dust has been thrown into their
> eyes, therefore that was X`s intention." 
> 
> Adelasie: to obscure the actual essential meaning of the thing so
> investigated. 
> 
> Paul: In all sincerity I doubt that any historian, professional or
> amateur,=
> 
> has "ever" had any such intention. But I bet hundreds or thousands
> have been so accused. 
> 
> Adelasie: In the case of theosophy and HPB, opposition has tried to do
> this since the beginning. 
> 
> Paul: This is where things get very dicey. If you look at any new
> historical inquiry as possibly a tool of „opposition that has tried to
> do t= his since the beginning," you`re (impersonal you) going to be
> paranoid in your attitude toward historical scholarship. Particularly
> when you start applying this suspicion to people who have absolutely
> no interest or desire in harming anyone. 
> 
> Adelasie: There is a force called the disintegrator which attempts to
> keep these teachings and all ancient wisdom from being spread among
> humanity, 
> 
> Paul: What is the source for this? Sounds like a Theosophical version
> of the devil. And to interpret others as instruments of this evil
> force, tryin= g to prevent the spread of teachings, is no better than
> fundamentalist Christians seeing scholars of early Christian history
> as instruments of the=
> 
> devil trying to undermine the gospel. On one hand, you seem to be
> saying that you don`t want to be enemies with me or anyone else with
> whom you disagree on HPB; then on the other you turn around and
> implicitly accuse us all of Satanic inspiration. Can you really have
> it bot= h ways? 
>