Zeichman

Ah, I missed the reference to the unpublished paper in the original post, which would confirm that he's thought extensively about this and probably just needs to get a lot of it down on paper. Even if it's a rather short book, four months is still a very brief period of time to write something like that. The pre-order idea is pretty strong. Since I think a lot of Carrier's fans are students, this would mean those who don't have the means even for a more modest contribution of $100 (cough!) could assist in some way.

Jeez, I wish I could find people who'd pay me that kind of money to write about biblical scholarship before I'd even committed to it. And $20,000 in loans? I'll be worse off than than from my MA alone.

dog-on

I'll donate...

Solitary Man

So, the offer is this: give him money, and he'll try to get some of his stuff published? What's the return value?

Jeffrey Gibson

Can he not get an advance from his publishers?

Jeffrey

Jeffrey Gibson

We might be able to find this out by getting some customer satisfaction reviews of what he's produced for those who employed him for his offered translation services.

Jeffrey

Roger Pearse

I wonder what RC charges for translations?

Toto

No - the offer is pay him some money so he doesn't have to seek alternative employment, and he will finish some research and put it into publishable form now, instead of many years from now.

What are the economics of academic book publishing? I think that if he were writing a lurid expose of how Jesus fathered the ancestors of European royalty by engaging in tantric sex he learned on his voyages to Tibet, suitable for being turned into a major motion picture, he might get an advance.

Email him and find out.

Richard Carrier

I'll try to keep an eye in here to answer questions as time goes on. Here are some items of interest given the discussion so far:

1. My much-requested book on the Jesus myth question is not the only project I'm open to, but it seemed (and now even more seems) to be the only project that has a large demand. Everything that follows thus assumes now that this is the only project anyone is significantly interested in funding.

2. I'm asking fans and interested parties to fund a research project that they want to see happen. So this isn't a business deal. The only profit donors should be seeking here is the creation of a product that won't exist otherwise, which people want very much to exist now rather than a decade from now (or never). Long ago rich men would patronize research like this, not expecting any return but the book or art thus produced. I'm looking to see if the middle class can band together to do the same thing, for no other reason than that they want to.

3. It has been suggested that some sort of pre-sale sale be arranged to raise the money. Unfortunately that costs even more money, and can't be done without a publisher. But Catch-22: I can't get a publisher (or an advance on sales much less pre-sales) without a book, especially a controversial one like this, which a publisher will need to examine and peer review before accepting, and I can't justify the labor now for money I won't make for a year ($20,000 would also require a minimum of 5000 unit sales of a not-yet-existent book on an obscure subject by a relatively unknown author, which seems heartily unlikely). However, I will send two free copies of the printed book (once it does appear) to anyone who donates at least $250, and five free copies to anyone who donates at least $500 (all at my own expense, as long as you send me your mailing address).

4. I've never been optimistic that I could find the support I need (so in all probability I won't even be able to think about my book on the Jesus myth theory for many years, much less complete it). So far I have less than $3000 pledged and I just can't justify (especially to my wife) working full time on any book for the next four months without erasing about $20,000 of my debt. But if I can raise the money, I can finish the proposed book this year and have it published in 2009. Then (a) you'll get to read it, (b) others will get to read it, and (c) the debate will finally be advanced beyond where it now stands and it will gain some more serious scholarly recognition. Three goals you may think are well worth the expense. But even apart from that, I will be extremely encouraged by the interest and commitment of the community if I met my target. I see preachers roping in far more cash by offering far less product!

5. I have one person offering his own $500 if 40 others donate at least $250. Can I find that many fans and interested parties? Please spread the word beyond just here, and, if you are enthusiastic, I would be delighted if you could drum up support wherever you can (such as through you're own local atheist and freethought group meetings, or wherever you feel worthwhile). Anyone who is serious about donating that much or more, please contact me by email (rcarrier at infidels.org). If you first want to review my past work in a similar area, see my chapters in The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave (my proposed book will be more scholarly than any of my online work in this area, even the best example, Was Christianity Too Improbable to be False?). I will also give an advance (private) look at the book proposal for anyone who requests it, and makes a sincere pledge, by email.

6. The reason I can complete this project in four months (working on it full time) is that I already have a lot of the research done, and copious notes on every element, and I don't intend the book to be a comprehensive end-all-be-all on the subject: I will only focus on what I believe to be the essential issues and most relevant facts. Hence I won't be attempting "to overthrow everything ever done in NT scholarship," but only proposing that such an overthrow is or is not likely (and how, methodologically, either result would be determined) unless some surprising new facts or analysis arrives on the scene. As Toto put it, I do "not intend to write a mythicist book that finally provides The Answer, more of a methodology book that advances the debate." Although it will argue for "an" answer, it won't claim to have proven it conclusively, and will rather offer the analysis I provide as only a challenge for scholars to meet (or advance further, if they end up agreeing with it).

7. Since I have been asked elsewhere, payments can come by snailmailed check (contact me by email for an address) or PayPal (under my email address, rcarrier at infidels.org). But I won't call in any pledges unless I get the full amount (or near) pledged. So if it doesn't happen, no one pays me. Which is likely. But you never know. I might be surprised.

Roger Pearse

Print runs of 200 copies, all sold to libraries, royalties of 10% at best, seem to apply to those texts with which I am familiar.

You can't generate money from academic publishing, as far as I can see, unless, of course, you are the publisher.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

DAZ

When I first heard of your offer, I intended to donate $100, because I am very interested in what you have to say and you'd only have to find 199 others like me.

I'm far from rich, but I'm willing to pay 250 -and if needs be 500- of those cheap-ass dollars