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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) FOR MYSTIC-L@savoy.bhsu.edu
 
Written by the listowner, David A. Salomon
(DavidSalomon@bhsu.edu) Last updated October 5, 1999
 
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WHAT IS THIS LIST?
 
The list is called Mystic-L and is for the academic discussion of
mysticism.
 
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WHAT IS MEANT BY "ACADEMIC"?
 
It is hoped that list activity will include discussions of
mysticism from an academic or scholarly angle. This might include
discussions of the relevant scholarship, individual mystic's
writings, or commentary on their writings. For example, the
scholarship of Cuthbert Butler, David Knowles, and the myriad of
scholars in philosophy, religious studies and literature are all
fair ground. Mystics might be folks from St. Paul to Thomas
Merton.
 
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WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE LIST?
 
No proselytizing or posts of a devotional nature. No personal
experience. No abusive or profane behavior. The difference
between academic and devotional is the difference between, for
instance, the writings of Bernard McGinn and a discussion of a
book called _'Now Choose Life'_ by William A. Barry (the latter
is described by its publisher, Paulist Press, as "an engaged
spiritual reflection on conversion and its importance in changing
our lives"); there's nothing wrong with devotional or personal
discussions--they just have no place on this particular list. The
list is not a discussion of the occult or, in general, issues
related to New Age. Anyone violating any of these list policies
will be immediately deleted from the list by the listowner.
 
Also, please do not send administrative problems to the list
itself. Instead, send these notes directly to the listowner. Note
that the listowner is omnipotent (well, at least for this list)
and has the power to delete subscribers if their behavior is
deemed continually inappropriate, abusive or profane.
 
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THIS ISN'T WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. WHERE CAN I DISCUSS MY OWN
EXPERIENCES?
 
Well, there are other discussion lists you could look into
joining. There is a list of "Internet Lists Relating to Topics in
Religion" on the WWW at http://sys1.pitts.emory.edu/boblist.html.
Check there for lists such as Belief-L and Merton-L where topics
relating to mysticism are discussed, sometimes in a less academic
environment. You could also search the WWW using such keywords as
"mysticism and discussion."
 
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WHO STARTED THIS?
 
The listowner and list-creator is David A. Salomon, Assistant 
Professor of English at Black Hills State University. The list
was actually born at the University of Connecticut in March of 1996.
He may be contacted at DavidSalomon@bhsu.edu. Send all
administrative questions to him at this address.
 
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WHAT'S LIST ACTIVITY LIKE?
 
Well, that's hard to say. At the moment, list activity has evened
out to about 20 messages per day. The list of subscribers has
been hovering around 250-300. However, many of these messages
have been of an administrative nature. In other words, the bugs
are being worked out. Subscribe and stay subscribed until things
even out. The list was created during the second week of March in
1996. You are probably reading this FAQ not long after that date.
Give it a chance . . . hey, you might enjoy it!
 
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MYSTIC-L BOOK REVIEWS
 
List members may participate in a book review series which began
in 1997. About twenty-five publishers are currently taking part.
Every now and again a list of books available for review will
be posted to the list along with instructions on how to request
the book for review. All reviews (which are posted to the list)
are archived on the list's homepage:
      http://www.bhsu.edu/dsalomon/mystic-l/home.html
Review guidelines are also available at this site (a copy of
guidelines is sent to all reviewers). If you know of a publisher
whom you think would like to or "should be" involved in this
series, please send a note to the listowner to that effect.
 
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OK, I'M HOOKED. HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
 
Send the message "subscribe mystic-l your name" to
listserver@savoy.bhsu.edu. You will receive a brief
questionnaire from the listowner.
 
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I'M OVERWHELMED. HOW DO I UNSUBSCRIBE?
 
Send the message "unsubscribe mystic-l" to
listserver@savoy.bhsu.edu
 
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TOO MUCH MAIL. CAN I GET THIS LIST IN DIGEST FORM?
 
Unfortunately, the list is not available in digest form at
the present time.

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I DON'T GET MY OWN POSTS. IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE THIS?
 
Yes, the default is that you do not receive the messages you post
to the list. 
 
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A FEW NETIQUETTE ISSUES
 
Please sign all posts with your real name, e-mail address and
institution (if appropriate). This way people can easily identify
you and have your e-mail address if they desire to respond
privately. Try to keep posts as brief as possible. Remember, some
people pay for access and/or have only limited disk space. If you
want to send something longer, solicit requests for private
responses. Please do not use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS--it is the
e-mail equivalent of shouting. List subscribers are limited to
five posts in a 24 hour period.
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CAN I REVIEW THE LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO MYSTIC-L?
 
No. The list of members is only available to the listowner. This
prevents outsiders from attaining the list and spamming members.
 
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IS THE LIST BEING ARCHIVED?
 
Not at the present time. More on this at a later date.

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IS THERE A WORLD WIDE WEB PAGE FOR THIS LIST?
 
Yes. The address is
http://www.bhsu.edu/dsalomon/mystic-l/home.html.
The web site contains the FAQ (this file), some related 
Internet links, and information for you if the
list isn't what you thought it would be. This is also the place
to learn about our book review series and to read reviews already
published.
 
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WHO IS THIS LISTSERVER GUY, AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT HIM?
 
Listserver is a software run by a computer to distribute mail to
list. Our software is actually called "Reddfish." Remember that 
listserver is a computer, not a person. So, if
you don't send messages to listserver in the precise syntax it
wants, the message will be bounced. Not much else to know. To get
a list of common commands, send the message "help" to
listserver@savoy.bhsu.edu or see www.reddfish.com.
 
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HOW CAN I RECEIVE COPIES OF THIS FAQ IN THE FUTURE?
 
Go to the list's web site, http://www.bhsu.edu/dsalomon/mystic-/home.html
 
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Please send comments or errors to the listowner, David A.
Salomon, at DavidSalomon@bhsu.edu
 
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