I was disheartened to read a certain post today, espousing 
the view that 'the advertising of a conference called The 
Queer Middle Ages [is not] something suitable or appropriate 
for this list', and that '[l]ending any sense of 
justification to sodomy is plainly wrong'.

It has been my hope that all posts on medieval-religion be in 
keeping with the list's aims. These aims are very clearly 
expressed, and everyone on the list has received a copy of 
these aims upon subscribing to the list. This expression of 
the list's raison d'etre is to be found near the beginning of 
the introductory message (right after the request to keep a 
copy of the message for future reference) which each of us 
receives when subscribing. Here is the beginning of that 
message:

* * * * * * * * * *

Welcome to the medieval-religion discussion list!

PLEASE SAVE THIS INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER 
MESSAGES YOU WILL RECEIVE FROM MAILBASE UPON SUBSCRIBING TO 
THIS LIST [...]

1 What is medieval-religion?

Medieval-religion is an on-line list that provides a forum 
for discussions related to religious life and thought in 
Europe from late antiquity to the early modern period. Our 
aim is to encourage interdisciplinary links between related 
fields and areas of research including (for example) art 
history, codicology, hagiography, history, literature (sacred 
and profane, Latin and vernacular), liturgy, philosophy, 
sermon studies, and theology.

When a subscriber sends a message to the list, it is 
automatically sent out to all the other subscribers. 
Typically, a contributor will raise a question arising from 
his or her research, to which several other subscribers will 
reply. Often, these replies can differ, laying the groundwork 
for instructive debate and stimulating further participation 
from other subscribers.

* * * * * * * * * *

I wish to make clear two things that should be quite obvious 
to anyone who has been on the list for more than a few days.

1) Custom has developed the notion of 'discussion' to include 
notices of publications and conferences of a scholarly 
nature; these notices have been normally posted after 
consultation with me.

2) This is a *scholarly* list, geared to *intellectual* 
discussion between scholars and students motivated by a 
desire to know more about religious life and thought in the 
middle ages.

Now, we are all 'big boys and girls'. We know how to join the 
list, and we know what the list is about. If something 
appears on the list that we don't like, one of two things are 
to be done.

1) We write directly to the person(s) responsible for the 
offending post, in order to discuss the point with 
him/her/them; or

2) We leave the list. We all know how to do this, as it's in 
the information at the top of every single message posted to 
the list. Let me remind you of this procedure: if you want to 
leave the list, send a message that reads:

leave medieval-religion

to

[log in to unmask]

I am having to write this message to the list because the 
note to which I refer earlier on was addressed to the list. 
Perhaps the person who wrote it meant to address it to me, as 
I am not only responsible for the list but also for the post 
regarding the conference. But not only did the person address 
the entire list, but that message has already drawn several 
responses to the list (and to me personally).

And so I now reply with my personal two pence worth. (Spoken 
like a Brit, that was!) The scholars and organizations 
involved with the conference are of the first order; but if I 
had never heard of them, I would still have gladly posted 
this message because it is perfectly in keeping with the aims 
of this list. Although I have not devoted any of my own 
research to these issues, reading the conference announcement 
has made me think of some documents I have analyzed in a new 
light. This doesn't mean that I am going to change the focus 
of my research; it has, however, made me THINK critically, 
and the act of thinking critically seems to me to be 
'something suitable or appropriate for this list'.

And finally, in reply to the statement that '[l]ending any 
sense of justification to sodomy is plainly wrong', let me 
say that this has nothing to do whatsoever with the proposed 
conference. I do not like to be 'the bad cop', but if 
anything that so clearly distorts what someone has said is 
posted ever again, the person sending that message will be 
removed from the list.

I especially do not enjoy having to write this on a day when 
our first-ever members from Brazil and Estonia have just 
joined us, and of course when our U.S. members are enjoying 
their Thanksgiving. To them, may I say 'welcome' and 'Happy 
Thanksgiving'; and to all, 'peace'.

George Ferzoco

PS: Just I was about to send this, I have read with great 
pleasure Michael Goodich's sensible and sensitive message. 
Let's think about what he says. -- G


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