The origins, evolution and future of islam by reza. Reza aslan converted to christianity when he was a teenager, but became more interested in jesus than as a messiah. But i ran into problems from the outset of aslan s book. Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus. Jimmy80 favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite september 14, 2018 subject. Reza aslan calls for violence against falsely accused high. At one point in his book zealot, reza aslan provides a brief survey of the various jewish preachers, prophets, bandits, and messiahs asl20, p49 whose zeal for god threatened to subvert roman authority in the decades leading up to the war, and jesus of nazareth only merits passing mention there. It sits on top of both the amazon bestseller lists and the new york times top ten, where it. I love hearing reza aslan s thoughts on religion in general, so i was also disappointed that this book is about 90% straight history with very little. Reza aslan s zealot arrived with an enormous splash.
Reza aslan is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose books include no god. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, explains the political and social origins. No god but god updated edition by reza aslan teachers guide. Reza aslan is an iranianamerican writer, a shia by persuasion, and informs us in the prologue to his book that he will be denounced as an apostate by some and an apologist by others, but that the. Reza aslan believes islamic terrorism is not caused of a clash of civilisations but an argument within islam. Religious historian and author reza aslan talks about his book no god but god. The book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus the atlantic. Bishop barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. A human history, is aimed at the analytically minded spiritual seeker, the type who hopes to answer deep questions on the divine with study data and tidbits. Reza aslans sets out a nuanced and cultured view of islam in no god but god. March 22, 2005 a lively and accessible introduction to islam. No god but god the origins, evolution, and future of islam. T here is a bit of a hubbub about an interview conducted by lauren green, religion correspondent for fox news channel, with reza aslan, author of a new book on jesus titled zealot.
We discussed the difference between faith and religion, the reasons for his conversion from christianity to islam, and why hes been fascinated by. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, which has been criticised as a fastpaced demolition of christianity and muslim. A writer and scholar of comparative religions, reza aslan has. Being a big fan of reza aslan and his work particularly his talks, which i watch often, his narration of this book worked for me really well. Reza aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped islam in this eloquent, erudite paean to islam in all of its complicated glory. In the last month, reza aslan has taken media by storm defending religion and islam. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed scholarship that. The origins, evolution, and future of islam and zealot. Reza aslan who is the defender of islam and religion. Aslan admits that arabs make up only 20% of muslims today, but this book never discusses islam in southeast asia where 62% of muslims live or anywhere else. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, published by. How reza aslan whitewashes muhammads caravan raids. Muslim author reza aslans book about jesus goes top of. Elias muhanna writes about reza aslan s tv show believer, in which the muslim scholar investigates various religious sects in farflung places.
Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization. Aslan spoke with pbs newshour correspondent ray suarez. When i was 16 years old, i read the book that has probably had the greatest influence on methe brothers karamazov by fyodor dostoevsky. A human history, wonders where gods came from, but after this pair of pathetic killings, a more.
His main point is that some people get caught up in a cause and view themselves as representing the good of the world or of the universe. The networks religion correspondent, lauren green, began by asking why aslan, a muslim, would write a book about jesus. This is where author, scholar, and multimedia force reza aslan begins his slim, yet ambitious book god. In his reply aslan perhaps overstated his scholarly. Aslan became an evangelical christian in high school but, in his later historical research, found himself drawn back to the religion of his forefathers, islam. What is unfolding, reza aslan argues in his wise and passionate book, no god but god, is nothing less than a struggle over who will ultimately. Reza aslan appeared on fox news while publicising his book zealot. Reza aslan misrepresents his scholarly credentials. International bestseller a finalist for the guardian first book award in no god but god, internationally acclaimed scholar reza aslan explains. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, has been translated into thirteen languages and named by blackwell as one of the hundred most important books of the last decade. An engaging and personal interview on nprs fresh air attracted widespread interest. The origins, evolution and future of islam introduction the author of this book reza aslan is an iranianamerican and a shia by persuasion. Waiting for an islamic enlightenment books the guardian. Religious scholar reza aslan talks about his new book zealot, which uncovers the life of jesus of nazareth as a historical figure.
Reza aslan was a christian but converted back to the faith of his forefathers, islam. The origins, evolution, and future of islam is a 2005 nonfiction book written by iranianamerican muslim scholar reza aslan. He is also the author of how to win a cosmic more about reza aslan. Then a fox news interview commandeered internet coverage. The origins, evolution, and future of islam aslan, reza on. Reza aslan is an american professor, born in iran, a muslim, a scholar of religion, an astute observer of society, and a firstclass writer. Reza aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions. Can an islamic state be founded on democratic values such as pluralism and human rights. I genuinely learned so much from this book alone than what my parents have. If it accomplished nothing else, aslan s first book would be worthwhile for its clear expositions of the basics of islamic history and muslim thought. This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade, analyzing. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, reza aslan chronicles the development of islam from its unpromising beginnings into a force to be reckoned with worldwide. Reza aslan responded to viewer questions and comments on topics such as islamic fundamentalism, the war on terror, and instability in the middle east. This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade.
No god but god updated edition by aslan, reza ebook. Reza aslan has done a great deal to make learning more about world religions, and in this case jesus the man both incredibly interesting and accessible, whilst also upholding robust scholarly study. This book looks to offer a synthetic account, by the most authoritative scholarly voicesmuslim and nonmuslim, past and presentof the rise of islam in the. A twopage chronology marks key events from the birth of the prophet muhammad in 570 up to alqaedas attack on new york and washington in 2001 pp. The critic of bigotry hopes to enlighten our conversations on. Reza aslan s slim, yet ambitious book is the story of how humans have created god with a capital g, and its thoroughly mindblowing.
Reza aslan is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose books include no god but god. The contradictions of reza aslans believer the new yorker. May 12, 2005 reza aslan, author of the new book no god but god. Green launched the interview available here in full with a question about why a muslim should want to write. Reza aslan, an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions, according to his online biography, has gotten a boost in sales and popularity from his embarrassing interview with a fox news anchor about his new book, zealot. First, notice how aslan, on pages 82 and 83 of his book no god but god, makes muhammads caravan raids look bloodless by declaring yathrib a sanctuary city, muhammad was deliberately challenging meccas religious and economic hegemony over the peninsula. Our friend joe carter, over at getreligion, has the basic story. In the first paragraph of the book s introduction, aslan states that the itinerant preacher wandering from village to village clamoring about the end of the world, a band of ragged followers trailing behind, was a common sight in jesuss time so common, in fact, that it had become a kind of caricature among the roman elite. A finalist for the guardian first book award in no god but god, internationally acclaimed scholar reza aslan explains islamthe origins and evolution of the.
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