After considering his earthly ministry, the historical jesus as presented by aslan ends up seeming enigmatic, bold but ultimately futile. Thinking about the history of jesus requires thinking historically about the era in which he lived and the circumstances surrounding the early stories written about him. Pastors and professors critique reza aslans portrayal of. Aslan strives to understand jesus in the context of jewish first century palestine. The networks religion correspondent, lauren green, began by asking why aslan, a muslim, would write a book about jesus. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed scholarship that. Reza aslans revisionist view of the historical jesus. Readable and with scholarly endnotes, aslans book offers a historical. The rest of the book is devoted to fleshing out this portrait and explaining how and why paul. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan zealot. Because so many hundreds of books of this type have been published, aslans book would most likely not have received significant attention at all, except for two factors. Reza aslan book is a readable defense of the schweitzerian theory of jesus so called because it was popularized by albert schweitzer in his quest for the historical jesus. Aug 06, 20 the book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus. Jul 31, 20 cnn as you might have heard, lauren green at fox didnt do a very good job interviewing reza aslan on his new book about the historical jesus.
At this point in his analysis, i would have liked to see aslan address the sorts of arguments that john howard yoder presented in his book the politics of jesus. Theres nothing new in reza aslans historical book on jesus. Which brings me to reza aslans bestselling, attentiongrabbing, and radically skeptical book, zealot. Conservatives and evangelicals also have become interested partly due to a controversial fox news interview of aslan in late july 20. Indeed, more of the book may involve jesus contexts than direct discussion of the man himself. Reza aslan sheds new light on one of historys most influential and enigmatic characters by examining jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. Jul 14, 2015 sifting through centuries of mythmaking, reza aslan sheds new light on one of historys most influential and enigmatic figures by examining jesus within the context of the times in which he. He responded by citing and reciting his academic credentials. An engaging and personal interview on nprs fresh air attracted widespread interest. The life and times of jesus of nazareth is genuinely shocking. Aslan rips jesus out of all the contexts we thought he belonged in and holds him forth as someone entirely new. Aug 02, 20 in zealot, reza aslan argues that jesus of nazareth was a man at war, not a man of peace.
The life and times of jesus of nazareth, has been pronounced and strong. Because its that time of year, i took the opportunity to read a much debated but fascinating book about the historical jesus, zealot. Aslan believes that jesus was a hero even though his revolution failed, at least for the moment. Aslan, a muslim, would write about jesus, created a stir on social media and traditional media, bringing more attention to. Very early in the book, aslan clearly lays out his thesis. Reza also has a master of fine arts degree from the university of iowa.
Reza aslan and the jesus of history timothy paul jones. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of zealot by reza aslan. Aslan begins by describing jesus as an unremarkable, illiterate peasant day laborer who was born and raised in backwater nazareth in firstcentury palestine 2526, 3435, 89, etc. Religious scholar reza aslan talks about his new book zealot, which uncovers the life of jesus of nazareth as a historical figure. 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. Jesus was a nationalistic revolutionary a zealot with ambitions to. It is a good account and puts the events into a historical context.
I am predisposed to like reza aslans latest book zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20, is in most ways a typical attempt to paint a new picture of jesus. There are far, far better accounts of the historical jesus than the book under consideration. In zealot, reza aslan doesnt just synthesize research and reimagine a lost world, though he does those things very well. Aslan is not the yrst author to consider the case of the historical jesus, but his. It is a historical account of the life of jesus and.
The life and times of jesus of nazareth is a controversial biography of the historical and religious figure of jesus, written by muslim scholar reza aslan. Aslan thinks his portrait of jesus, hidden behind layers of theology and centuries of interpretation, may in fact be more accurate than what the gospels present xxviii. Reza aslans zealot is one of my most fascinating reads of all time, mostly because i grew up in church and have attended several kinds since. Then a fox news interview commandeered internet coverage. Aug 01, 20 reza aslan says his book shows the power of jesus as a fleshandblood human being. Muslim author reza aslans book about jesus goes top of. This study guide will lead your group through the basics of an historical examination of jesus of nazareth that will open the minds of many. But despite the fine prose that reads like a historical novel in places, the book is far from compelling. The life and times of jesus of nazareth has already reached no. Seeing ancient palestine as a hot bed of revolutionary activity, he finds the most plausible explanation of the historical jesus as one which sees jesus as revolutionary. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, liberal muslim reza aslan claims that, for any argument about the historical jesus, there is. This is a research book that reza aslan, the author, made a 20years.
A response to zealot by reza aslan the good book blog. Aslans book has been greeted with unwarranted controversy. Readable and with scholarly endnotes, aslans book offers a historical perspective that is sure. The life and times of jesus of nazareth the new york. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan. Any major title which claims to reveal or shed light on the real or historical jesus is immediately of interest, and can be quite polarizing. The life and times of jesus of nazareth 20 is an historical account of the life of jesus, which analyzes the various religious perspectives on jesus, as well as the creation of christianity. Aslan has offered nothing new under the sun when it comes to offering a critique of the historical jesus, craig said in response to aslans book. So then, give back to caesar what is his, and give back to god what belongs to god. The life and times of jesus of nazareth reza aslan. Reza aslan proves to be neither a historian, nor someone interested in presenting an academic argument, often quoting bits of scripture he deems suitable to support his argument, and then rubbishing the rest of it often from the same author when it does not.
Jesus cannot be understood outside the historical, social, and political realities of firstcentury palestine. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan. Jul 08, 20 i am predisposed to like reza aslans latest book zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth is a book by iranianamerican writer and scholar reza aslan. Seeing ancient palestine as a hot bed of revolutionary activity, he finds the most plausible explanation of the historical jesus as one which sees jesus as revolutionary who was ultimately crucified for his antiroman views.
What reza aslan actually says about jesus cnn belief blog. Reza aslan says his book shows the power of jesus as a fleshandblood human being. Aslan spoke with pbs newshour correspondent ray suarez. The book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus the religious scholar from the viral fox news interview explains how dostoevskys the brothers karamazov taught him the difference between faith. Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus.
I read this book hoping to gain an insight from an academic point of view on a historical jesus. Yes, the author was attacked on fox news for daring to be a muslim writing about jesus. Aslan is currently professor of creative writing at the university of california, riverside, with a joint appointment in the department of religion. Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus jesus. In his book, zealot, resa aslan provides a valuable and compelling historical framework for approaching these topics, but ends up using it to say more about the development of early christianity than about jesus. But also because the books subject matter is intensely controversial and unabashedly. Reza aslans toecurling fox news interview may be the weeks hottest viral clip, but lizzie crocker says his book zealot. More than most nonexperts who try to write a book about jesus, aslan is intent and determined to situate jesus in his own historical context. Praise for reza aslans zealot meticulously researched this book challenges many longheld assumptions about the man whose life and teachings form the foundations of christianity.
Why reza aslans jesus is dull, confusing, and lacking. The most important thing aslan accomplishes involves setting jesus in a plausible historical and cultural context. The book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus the atlantic. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, author reza aslans goal was to write a biography of one of historys most influential people, drawing on historical s. Nov 19, 20 i read this book hoping to gain an insight from an academic point of view on a historical jesus. He does for religious history what bertolt brecht did for playwriting. Sep 29, 20 aslan has done a great deal of homework, offering material that will instruct many specialists from time to time. Larry hurtado described the thesis circulating in lay circles, that jesus was a military revolutionary, as a zombie idea from what i gather, a key conclusion of aslans 20 book which had been debunked over and over again by scholarship in the past century. Reza aslan, author of zealot religious scholar reza aslan found that he was much more interested in studying jesus as a human being than as the figure he learned about in church. His book is for the general audience with the express purpose of prying the historical jesus away from the christ of christianity 120, 215216. Aslans doctorate in the sociology of religions encompasses expertise in the history of religion. Muslim author reza aslan has seen his controversial book about jesus soar to top spot of the amazon bestseller list after a tv interview he.
In fact, he is attempting to revert scholarship back to the early 1900s by echoing albert schweitzers book, the quest for the historical jesus. Sep 24, 20 religious scholar reza aslan talks about his new book zealot, which uncovers the life of jesus of nazareth as a historical figure. Whilst aslan is hard hitting and pulls no punches, he does not set out to destroy faith. When fox news lauren green asked reza aslan why, as a muslim, he would write a book about jesus, he answered that it was his job as an historian of religionswhich would have been a good answer, if it had been true. Reza aslan is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose books include no god but god. It is a historical account of the life of jesus and analyzes the various religious perspectives on jesus as well as the creation of christianity. The thesis of aslans book is as simple as it is fragile. Rns reza aslans controversial new book about jesus is about to make him a bestselling author. I think there were some sour greats too because it shot to the top of the nyts best sellers list and the the many works of these scholars on the same material did not. That is the zealot argument in its simplest, most concise form. This toughminded, deeply political book does full justice to the real jesus, and honors him in the process. Reza aslan and the historical jesus a reply to zealot.
Reza aslans zealot arrived with an enormous splash. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed. 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. He knows his stuff and cannot be dismissed lightly. The life and times of jesus of nazareth recently has brought public attention, even fervor, to scholarly circles concerned with the historical jesus. His book, zealot, considers jesus in the context of the time and place he lived in. Reza aslan, has written one of the best books of this type that i have read on the topic of historical jesus of nazareth. Balancing the jesus of the gospels against the historical sources, aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction. Anyone who deals in ancient history is not playing with a full deck of cards. How reza aslans jesus is giving history a bad name abc. Jul 15, 20 reza aslan converted to christianity when he was a teenager, but became more interested in jesus than as a messiah.
Jul 31, 20 muslim author reza aslan has seen his controversial book about jesus soar to top spot of the amazon bestseller list after a tv interview he gave defending his qualifications went viral. A human history, reza aslan has been a seeker nearly all of his life, looking for ways to connect with the divine. Aslans new book is a biography of the historical jesus. Jesus knew hed probably be crucified for his actions, aslan said, but that didnt stop him. Aslan is a talented author, hes not christian and hes writing about jesus. It is comprehensive and comes at the topic from all angles. The jesus of history versus the christ of faith youtube. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20, which has stirred up. The book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus. As further evidence for his claim that a vast chasm stands between the jesus of history and jesus as described in the gospels, reza aslan classifies the new testament gospels as documents anonymously assembled by authors who never planned to provide historical documentation xxvixxviii.
Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus jesus of faith. And it seems to be enough for the authorities in jerusalem to immediately label jesus as lestes. Reza aslan converted to christianity when he was a teenager, but became more interested in jesus than as a messiah. The life and times of jesus of nazareth aslan, reza isbn. By stephen prothero, special to cnn cnn as you might have heard, lauren green at fox didnt do a very good job interviewing reza aslan on his new book about the historical jesus. Instead of asking him about zealot, she asked him why, as a muslim, he would presume to write a book about jesus. What reza aslan actually says about jesus cnn belief. In a recent interview heard round the world or at least, round influential twitter feeds, the fox news host lauren green spoke to reza aslan about his new book, zealot. I have not completed my evaluation of reza aslans popular, interesting, and wellwritten account of jesus, zealot to this point i have merely tried to show that despite his claims e. Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization. When it first came out in 20, this book took a lot of heat from religious scholars that did not agree with reza aslans point of view. Aslan conducted thorough research not only into the life of jesus, but also into the political. Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, reza aslan sheds new light on one of historys most enigmatic figures by examining jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. One would think that any historical reconstruction of the life of jesus.
Do you consider reza aslan to be a recognised scholar of early christianity. Aslan has done a great deal of homework, offering material that will instruct many specialists from time to time. Zealot by reza aslan teachers guide penguin random house. The origins, evolution, and future of islam and zealot. But people should know that rezas view of the historical jesus is only one view among several other theories.
1140 1146 97 616 131 1306 760 817 1438 555 129 1554 500 960 309 1065 488 106 93 1182 1613 824 469 1348 1434 818 859 1048 309 1621 309 1543 1089 642 1517 3 912 1390 43 929 1270 1226 728