Skepticon 5 Will Be Awesome

BY R ICH AR D CAR R IER / ON OCTOBER 3, 2012 / 5 COMMENTS

I will be speaking on “miracles and the historical method” at Skepticon this year, greatly updating my old but popular talk
on the subject with what I’ve discovered and worked out in writing Proving History. This will build on last year’s talk
about Bayes’ Theorem, but will be more about method than math, and cover a lot of real-world examples from the
ancient world. The gist will be: how to think critically about history generally, using miracles as an entertaining example. I
will be selling and signing copies of my new book and my previous ones.

This year Skepticon is happening a little earlier than usual, November 9 to 11 (2012).
Things start Friday (workshops in the day, talks and events begin at night) and conclude
Sunday night (the specific schedule might change but not the general plan). If you want
to attend, and you haven’t already registered, you should do that now so they can plan
ahead for how many will be there (as always, it’s free; but donations of any amount are
welcome–the option is provided at registration). My talk is presently scheduled for
Sunday afternoon but there is a scheduling conflict and I don’t know which way it will
get resolved.

Skepticon is in Springfield, Missouri. And this year it’s being held in the ultra-modern
Springfield Expo Center(I assume this time without the gun show next door). That’s
at 635 East Saint Louis Street, roughly across the street from the University Plaza Hotel.
There is a lot of useful info on the Skepticon website, including forum-based help on
getting there and getting accommodations (and a bunch of other cool stuff). So check
that out.

The speakers list this year is even more amazing than past years, a group of fascinatingly
diverse skills and backgrounds. Returning wonderfuls are, besides myself, of course PZ
Myers (evolution science), Greta Christina (gender and sexuality…and all around
common sense), JT Eberhard (asskicking), David Fitzgerald (Jesus, Mormonism,
and the Atheist Film Festival), Hemant Mehta (mathematics and critical thinking),
Darrel Ray (psychology and sexuality), Julia Galef (education, rationality, and critical
thinking), and Rebecca Watson (feminism and laser-sharp cheekiness…wait, are
lasers sharp?).
Newcomers include Jessica Ahlquist (atheist activism and general bravery in the field…or translated into churchspeak,
“an evil little thing”), Sean Carroll (cosmological physics), James Croft (philosophy, humanities, and humanism), Matt
Dillahunty (television host and counter-apologetics kung fu master), Phil Ferguson (godless financial expert, and godless
parent, who has been deep in the belly of the beast), George Hrab (all things musical…and skeptical), Deborah Hyde
(cinematic make-up artist, editor of The Skeptic UK, and expert on the supernatural), Keith Jensen (a real actual atheist
comic), Amanda Knief (atheism lobbyist for the Secular Coalition for America; probably knows ten times more about
politics than you do), Teresa MacBain (ex-pastor, atheist PR guru, and major figure in The Clergy Project…in fact hers
is one of the most sensational coming out stories of the 21st century), Jennifer Ouellette (English major, science
writer), and Tony Pinn (professor of religious studies, significant figure in black humanism).

Katie Hartman makes a really beautiful case for donating to help fund the event, which is almost entirely dependent on
donations (with only a little help from sponsors and exhibitors).

And last but not least, Secular Woman is raising money to fund grants to
send more women from around the country to Skepticon. It’s a great idea
and they need your help, so donate to that cause if you can. Men can also
apply for grants through Skepticon, and you can donate to their funds, too
(see here).

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5 comments
TH E N ER D • OC TOBER 3, 201 2, 9 :59 AM

“I assume this time without the gun show next door.”

I was informed by a Christian that a room full of skeptics is actually a greater threat to the health and safety to
the residents of Springfield than a room full of firearms. I wonder what Bayes’ Theorem has to say about the
legitimacy of such an assertion?

R E P LY
 C H R I SK G • OC TOBER 3, 201 2, 7:1 4 P M

Dr. Carrier,

Are there any events that you could co-appear with John Loftus? I’d love to get two signatures on my books.
BTW, will you stop by his new blog, SkepticInk.com, now and then? Maybe for an interview? Or, better yet,
will ever be hitting the east coast or Washington DC area?

Thanks,
Chris

R E P LY

R IC H AR D C AR R IER • OC TOBER 5, 201 2, 2:06 P M

Regarding Loftus: Possibly. We’ve attended conferences together, but just haven’t both been
speakers at them. But I don’t arrange these things (they just come to me). So who knows
what the future has in store. Unfortunately I can’t keep up with other blogs, though (or
podcasts, either). I only glance occasionally at a few now and then. It’s a shame, since there
are so many great blogs and podcasts. But alas, I haven’t time. But if John asked to interview
me for his blog in future I’d probably oblige (as I have before).

As to East Coast/DC: nothing in the works for up there, but I will be in North Carolina early
next year (details still in the works). Generally if you want me out there, you have to lobby
some atheist group to fund bringing me out (details here). Ditto John, I’m sure (he may have
info on his website; if you can’t figure out how to reach him, shoot me an email).

R E P LY

MA R I OMOU TON • OC TOBER 28, 201 2, 1 2:22 P M

Dr. Carrier

I will be attending Skepticon V. I have read that you will be signing copies of your books as I hope to purchase
and get some signed to use as give-aways and auctions within our community to help a freethinker group I
belong to. My hope is that maybe I can help them fund a speaker like yourself (Hopefully You) to come to
Louisiana. If you call the Springfield the Buckle of the Bible Belt then we are the area above the Ass… and it
stinks.

Is it right for me to assume that I will be able to Purchase all of the Speakers that have books and get them
signed at the event?

Thank You
Mario Mouton

R E P LY
 R IC H AR D C AR R IER • OC TOBER 29 , 201 2, 9 :57 AM

I don’t know about “all” of the speakers, but many, yes. Greta Christina had to cancel,
unfortunately, for health reasons. But I will be there, and many of my titles will be sold, and
you can certainly have me sign them (just find me at an appropriate time). That will be true as
well for at least some of the other speakers.

As far as booking me in future, everything you need to know is here.

R E P LY

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Richard Carrier is the author of many books and numerous articles online and in print. His avid readers span the world from Hong Kong to
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is also a noted defender of scientific and moral realism, Bayesian reasoning, and historical methods.
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