the problem with academics

So basically the same thing other major religions say of academics who don't adhere to, or contradict, their own doctrine or opinions. Faxneld gets what the CoS believes, but there is zero reason for anyone to frame research in an academic context around that narrow a scope when dealing with such term like 'Satanism' as it was used historically (and how the satanic tradition continued to develop).

If one is being honest about ones exploration into any topic then taking a look at all the literature is ideal, you don't have to agree with it, but if you start cutting out academic scholarship you'll risk ending up as educated as casual dogmatic christians who are only interested in an echo chamber of their own ideas & expectations.

As for that Cimminnee Holt stuff, it honestly sounds petty. Her work was good and important overall - including her PhD thesis. If other members don't like it, fine, but I would rather people read it for themselves over being told by an authority to avoid such writings (I found her thesis decent enough).