I will be appearing to speak at numerous venues in Southern California next week and the following week. And of course selling and signing my books. I might also be available for hanging out with nice folk over drinks now and again while I’m around there. Here is the breakdown…

Azusa Conference (March 8-9)

The big news is that I’ve been asked by the Society of Biblical Literature (the largest academic society representing the field, of which I am a member) to present and defend the thesis of On the Historicity of Jesus at their Western Regional Conference at Azusa Pacific University next Monday (program here). Notably, Dennis McDonald’s fascinating Homeric emulation thesis will get the same treatment the morning of Monday March 9, and then mine that afternoon.

Probably only members of the SBL can attend (only door registration is possible now anyway). And I doubt it will be recorded. But it will be an important milestone in the saga of mythicism. Even though I expect a hostile reception (they elected a Baptist minister to rebut–although someone thoroughly qualified, so it could be a measured response, or it could be not), the exposure will do good. More experts in the field will be confronted with the debate and made aware of the new stages in its development, and hear things they hadn’t heard before.

I am entirely out of pocket for this one (registration and hotel), but it’s worthwhile. Anyone in the area who wants to go out for drinks Monday night to discuss the outcome, email me at richard.carrier@icloud.com (I won’t necessarily reply, depending on how busy I am and what comes up, but it can’t hurt to ask me, since if you’d be interested, I might be available). The same goes for all the other events below: feel free to email me (or message me on Facebook) with your interest in finding out about hanging out afterward, and I’ll email you back if anything is in the works.

USC (March 10)

I will be speaking on Sense and Goodness without God at USC (Los Angeles) for their Secular Student Fellowship. The overall theme will be the importance of having positive beliefs, which anchor a core set of moral values that will better your own life and the world. Given recent attacks on the immorality of atheists lately, this will be a much needed discussion, and hopefully entertaining.

There is a poster for the event here. But as of this moment it incorrectly says the event is April 10. Rest assured, it’s Tuesday, March 10 (I’ll be in Arizona, Ohio, and Kentucky in April…but more on that later). It will be in room 101 in Taper Hall of Humanities at 7pm. I believe best parking will be in Parking Structure D (through Gate 4 at Figeroa and McCarthy). Google for directions to the campus, parking, and building if you need them.

UC Irvine (March 11)

I will be speaking on my latest research (on Jesus, historical method, and the most interesting facts surrounding the origins of Christianity) at UCI (Irvine) for their campus chapter of the SSA. Tickets are available here (free for students; $5 for everyone else). This will be in the UCI Student Center, Newport Beach A, on Wednesday, March 11, at 6pm. I believe a parking structure is right next door. Google for directions to the campus, parking, and building if you need them.

Chaffey College (March 12)

I will be speaking on my book On the Historicity of Jesus (whose thesis I will have just presented at the SBL conference) at Chaffey College (the Rancho Cucamonga campus) for Chaffey’s Club of Secular Understanding and the Philosophy Club. Details here. This will be in room 211 of the Center for the Arts (the CAA) on Thursday, March 12, at 6pm. I’m told parking requires a day pass, but that it’s easy to get one. Google for directions to the campus and building, and for parking pass info, if you need them.

College of the Desert (March 13)

I will be speaking on the historicity of Jesus again at the College of the Desert (Palm Desert) for their campus chapter of the SSA. Details here. This will be in the Cravens Student Services Center (CSSC) on Friday, March 13 (yes, Friday the 13th), at 5:30pm. I believe there is a parking lot next to the venue. Google for directions to the campus, parking, and building if you need them.

Atheists United (March 15)

I will be speaking on this same subject again for Atheists United in LA. Details here (Space is limited, so RSVP there!). This will be at Heretic House (724 Edgeware Road, Los Angeles), on Sunday, March 15, at 4pm. This one is special. AU helped provide my fan-funded research grant for the whole research project that resulted in Proving History (which I presented a talk on in gratitude to AU a few years ago) and On the Historicity of Jesus (which my presenting on Sunday next will now complete our journey). Notably, since I will have presented the results of this research to the top academic society in the field only the week before, AU has much to be proud of in supporting this project! So for me this event will have a particular celebratory air.

SDSU (March 16)

I will be speaking on “Jesus and the Resurrection: Fact or Myth?” at SDSU (San Diego) for their chapter of the SSA. Some details here. But you may be keen to know, I won’t just be covering the most essential anti-apologetic swath (although I will, as one of my goals in life is to arm everyone with the truth against the most common rhetoric), but also the basics of what myth is, and why the Gospels conform to the basic criteria of mythic narrative, and not to the attributes of oral history. This will be in room 230 of WC (West Commons), on Monday, March 16, at 7pm. Google for directions to the campus, parking, and building if you need them.

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This will be quite a tour. I hope to see many of you at one or more of these events in the coming week-and-a-half!