Licona vs. Carrier: On the Resurrection of Jesus Christ   Recorded at UCLA before a crowd of half a thousand. Carrier defends his latest theories of how Christianity began, with slide shows and new evidence from the Bible. Now available on DVD.

Ready for Any Debate:

Public debates can be entertaining and educational. No matter your views, hearing both sides argued in a respectful and serious setting can only benefit your understanding of others and the world. I take the skeptical side on most religious and political issues. I am also a forceful defender of science, naturalist philosophy, and moderate politics.

I am ready to publicly engage any polite and honest opponent in a formal debate on any subject I take a stand on. If your group would like to arrange such an occasion, I will attend free of charge, as long as you cover my essential travel and lodging expenses (I have certain other non-financial requirements, set forth below). The subjects I will debate include but are not limited to:

• Does God Exist?


• Theism or Naturalism: Which Better Explains the World We See?


• Did Jesus Rise from the Grave?


• Christianity or Secular Humanism: Which Should We Embrace?

However, I have found such topics are too big to be adequately covered in a single oral debate. It is better to select a topic within these bigger subjects, such as:

• Is Abortion Murder?


• Should Intelligent Design be Taught in Public Schools?


• Are Moral Facts Evidence of God?


• Must a God Have Created the Universe?


• Are the Gospels Reliable?

These are only examples. I may be willing to debate many other issues I take a position on, whether religious, political, or social. So feel free to ask, if you have something in mind not on the list above.

Finally, I have certain requirements that a group or individual must fulfill before I will attend any debate, based on the experience of some of my colleagues who have been shafted in the past by bad planning or dirty pool:

• (1) You or your group must organize the event. At a minumum, that means securing a reliable, courteous, and professional opponent and moderator, a location for the debate to take place (with adequate room to seat a large attendance - debates like these tend to be very popular), and advertising to the local community in general, and especially to those local community groups that might be interested in attending. Other preparations ought to be considered, even though they are not always necessary, such as sound systems, handouts, literature tables, water, refreshments, restroom facilities, parking, ushering. In short, think ahead.


• (2) There must be an unbiased moderator. This means someone who has not taken sides, or has a confirmed reputation for balance and tolerance. And this moderator must be strict in enforcing time limits, the agreed format, and basic rules of decorum and fairness. Though you must find a willing moderator, my opponent and I must both approve of your choice well in advance of the debate.


• (3) The format of the debate must be settled in advance. I am open to almost any format that is reasonably fair, but it must be clear beforehand exactly what that format will be, in its entirety. And I expect a promise that no "tricks" will be pulled in changing that format at the last minute.


• (4) My opponent and I must both commit to a position statement. This means that (1) we will both write a single sentence stating the position we intend to defend, (2) that statement will define and make explicit exactly what we mean, (3) we will provide that statement to each other well in advance of the debate and promise to stick to that position in the debate, and (4) this position statement will be provided to the audience in advance of any oral arguments (either by being read aloud by the moderator, or handed out on pieces of paper or note cards, etc.).


• (5) My opponent must sign a contract. I have a simple contract, which is open to negotiation, but basically secures for both my opponent and myself full rights to the content of the debate, so we can both publish any content therefrom without legal interference from or financial obligation to the other. I will not even make arrangements until such a contract is signed. On the Other Hand: If anyone will be making a formal recording of the event (video or audio), then the above contract must be established between me, my opponent, and whoever is making or commissioning the recording, negotiating who can sell the recording and under what terms. This contract must also be signed well in advance, or else any official recording must not be allowed.


• (6) I prefer, but do not require, the ability to present visuals. I find it far more helpful to the audience if I can present outlines, terms, and diagrams via an overhead projection system of some kind (either digital, or the old-fashioned bulb-and-mirror device, or a slide projector - I can use any method, but need to know well in advance which, if any, it will be). I understand that this might simply not be possible for some groups to arrange, but I highly encourage every effort to make it happen. My opponent should also be made aware of any such accommodation well beforehand, so he or she can also take advantage of it.