Pro and Con Sources on Controversies about the Theosophical Society

Pro and Con Sources

Dr. James Santucci, a scholar of comparative religion, and editor of Theosophical History wrote:

“All too often, this subject [Theosophy & Blavatsky], when it is discussed in scholarly circles, is presented in a most unscholarly fashion. Falsehoods are perpetuated and original research is not actively pursued.” 

• Why Take Blavatsky Seriously? by David Reigle.
• Madame Blavatsky, Buddhism and Tibet by Leslie Price.
• Is Theosophy Authentic? by Franklin Merrell-Wolff.
• Notes on Madame Blavatsky’s Baboon by W. T. S. Thackara.
• The Truth About Madame Blavatsky   by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.  Published by the Blavatsky Foundation. Refutes various accusations by Gertrude Marvin Williams, an HPB biographer.
• H. P. Blavatsky and The Society for Psychical Research by Grace F. Knoche.
• The Coulomb Conspiracy Against Theosophy by Charles J. Ryan.
• The Society for Psychical Research and the Theosophical
• Phenomena: The Report of the S.P.R. on Madame Blavatsky by the editors of Theosophy Magazine.
• Obituary: The “Hodgson Report” on Madame Blavatsky by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.  Published by The Blavatsky Foundation.  New Preface by Leslie Price.
• The “Hodgson Report” on Madame Blavatsky by Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.
• H. P. Blavatsky and the SPR by Vernon Harrison.  An examination of Richard Hodgson’s  Report of 1885 against Madame Blavatsky with a special study of the handwriting of the Mahatma Letters.
• Defence of Madame Blavatsky, Volume I, 1937. by Beatrice Hastings.
• New Universe “Try”:  A Review devoted to the defence of Madame Blavatsky edited by Beatrice Hastings.
  Vol. 1. No.1 July 1937,   No. 2 December 1937,   No. 3 February 1938
• Solovyoff’s Fraud:  Being a critical analysis of “A Modern Priestess of Isis” by Vsevolod S. Solovyoff. by Beatrice Hastings.
• The Hall of Magic Mirrors by Victor Endersby. This book published in 1969 is a study of H.P. Blavatsky’s life and work with a special look at the attacks against her including an analysis of the Hodgson Report. Not online anymore.
• The Coulomb Case. by Michael Gomes.  Important source. Not online. See ordering information.
• The Coulomb Case: Some Suggested Reading — Pro and Con.
• “Paranormal Features of Some of the Appearances of the Mahatmas” by Daniel H. Caldwell. Also see Endnote.
• “The Great Mare’s Nest of the Psychical Research Society” by Annie Besant.
• H.P. Blavatsky and the Masters of the Wisdom by Annie Besant.
• Concerning H.P.B.: An Examination into the So-called Proofs of Fraud on the Part of Madame Blavatsky. by Samuel Studd.
• The Book of Dzyan Research Reports by David Reigle.
• Blavatsky and Buddhism by Richard P. Taylor. Shows that many elements of Blavatsky’s Theosophy can be found in Tibetan Buddhism – in both relatively esoteric and relatively exoteric sources – but not available to western students or scholarship in her time. This conclusion adds substantial validation to her claims concerning her trans-himalayan sources.
• Some Account of My Intercourse with Madame Blavatsky from 1872 to 1884. by Emma Coulomb. London Edition, 1885.
• The Theosophical Society:  Russian Intrigue or Religious Evolution? by Richard Hodgson.  Hodgson considered H.P. Blavatsky a fraud, pure and simple.
• Critical Historical Review of The Theosophical Society by William Emmette Coleman. An extremely hostile expose of Madame Blavatsky.
• The Sources of Madame Blavatsky’s Writings by William Emmette Coleman.
• Parallel Columns:  What Does This Mean? by Daniel H. Caldwell
• Tracing the Source of Tibetan Phrases Found in Mahatma Letters #54 and #92. by Antonios Goyios.
• Blavatsky Unveiled! by Elliott Coues. Another hostile expose of Madame Blavatsky.
• “Theosophy, Madame Blavatsky and Mrs. Besant.” by John Nicol Farquhar.
• Theosophy Versus Neo-Theosophy compiled by Margaret Thomas. 
• Life After Death in Kamaloka (the Astral World):  H.P. Blavatsky versus C.W. Leadbeater compiled by Ray Morgan.
• H.P. Blavatsky and K. Paul Johnson compiled by Katinka Hesselink.
• K. Paul Johnson’s House of Cards?:  Critical Examination of Johnson’s Thesis on the Theosophical Masters Morya & Koot Hoomi by Daniel H. Caldwell.
• The Theosophical Mahatmas:  A Critique of Paul Johnson’s New Myth by David Pratt.
• The Testimony of Emma Coulomb & Richard Hodgson Concerning the Appearances of the Mahatmas.
• The Blavatsky/Tibet and Stanzas of Dzyan Connection by Grigor V. Ananikian.
• Some Reflections on the Note by Grigor V. Ananikian about “The Blavatsky/Tibet and Stanzas of Dzyan Connection” by Jean-Louis Siémons.
• The Myth of the “Missing” Third Volume of The Secret Doctrine by Daniel H. Caldwell.

See also:

• Blavatsky Reading Room
• Blavatsky Archives (Site the List was Taken from)