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 about evolution. The origins, evolution and future of islam revised by aslan, reza isbn. Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus. 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 is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose books include no god but god. The media went has been going nuts over reza aslans new book about the historical jesus, zealot. Im one of those people who was prompted to read this book after i saw, live, the authors interview on fox news where his interlocutor insinuated that aslan, as a muslim, had ulterior motives in writing about christianity other than that of a historian. This is where author, scholar, and multimedia force reza aslan begins his slim, yet ambitious book god. In his new book, aslan takes on a subject even more immense.
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. He is also the author of how to win a cosmic more about reza aslan. January 3, 2018 january 4, 2018 faraz ahmed believer, history of religions, isis, new atheism, no god but god, nytimesbooks, reza aslan, sufism religion has served as a vital influence in society for thousands of years, and its interpretation has been cited as. Mar 22, 2005 if it accomplished nothing else, aslans first book would be worthwhile for its clear expositions of the basics of islamic history and muslim thought. Aslan is currently professor of creative writing at the university of california, riverside, with a joint appointment in the department of religion. A human history by reza aslan random house, 298 pp. In zealot, reza aslan replaced the wellworn portrayal of jesus of nazareth with a startling new image of the man in all his contradictions. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, was an international bestseller and has been translated into thirteen languages and named by blackwell as one of the hundred most important books of the last decade. The origins, evolution, and future of islam, beyond fundamentalism. Green launched the interview available here in full with a question about why a muslim should want to write. Reza aslan misrepresents his scholarly credentials.
His views on islam are particularly interesting and enlightening, not least his metaphorical reading and interpretation of what seem to be gods human personality and physical traits in the text of the quran, which seemingly conflict with the all important dehumanization of god that is wrought by the islamic concept of tawhid. As societies developed from small groups of hunter. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan random house, 20. Reza aslans sets out a nuanced and cultured view of islam in no god but god. Reza aslan is the founder of aslan media, a social media network for news and entertainment about the middle east and the world. Reza aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions. He responded by citing and reciting his academic credentials.
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. In no god but god, internationally acclaimed scholar reza aslan explains islamthe origins and evolution of the faithin all its beauty and complexity. A human history is less a biography of god than a study of why and how humans tend to anthropomorphize the divine. Its the story of how humans have created god with a capital g, and it. The book describes the history of islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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. A writer and scholar of comparative religions, reza aslan has earned international acclaim for the passion and clarity he has brought to these questions. Clearly aslan has addressed three different view points here, philosophy of religion, monotheistic theology of islam, and the general reader. In layered prose and with thoughtful, accessible scholarship, aslan narrates the history of religion as one long and remarkably cohesive attempt to understand the divine by giving it human traits and emotions. Its gotten plenty of praise from the left, and anyone upset over it has been portrayed as being antimuslim.
Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization, no god but god. Jul 31, 20 the media went has been going nuts over reza aslan s new book about the historical jesus, zealot. Aslan is not the yrst author to consider the case of the historical jesus, but his. What reza aslan actually says about jesus cnn belief. As i write this, officials in sutherland springs, texas, are in the early stages of investigating devin kelley, who shot nearly. The origins, evolution, and future of islam is a 2005 nonfiction book written by iranianamerican muslim scholar reza aslan. But aslans book is not simply a historical study, but one with a trajectory in mind the human history of god leads him to embrace pantheism as a spiritual option. Seeing the concept of god as an expression of the self. 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. 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. Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization.
Ehrman, author of how jesus became god reza aslan offers so much to relish in his excellent human history of god. Aslans latest book, god, a human history, is his latest attempt as a believer, as he admits, to explain how we should experience god in our life. This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade. If it accomplished nothing else, aslans first book would be worthwhile for its clear expositions of the basics of islamic history and muslim thought. Religious scholar reza aslan talks about his new book zealot, which uncovers the life of jesus of nazareth as a historical figure. 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.
Reform can only come from below, says tariq ali fri 21 oct 2005 20. Nothing really new, except for aslans obvious narrative skill there are a certain bandlevel of nonfiction writer that always seems like the nonfiction version of a ted talk, aslan fits into this band. In the first paragraph of the books 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 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. Jul 08, 20 but i ran into problems from the outset of aslans book. 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. Reza aslan is an internationally renowned writer, commentator, professor, producer, and scholar of religions. 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. In no god but god, challenging the clash of civilizations mentality that has distorted our view of islam, aslan explains this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty, and compassion. As i write this, officials in sutherland springs, texas, are in the early stages of. The origins, evolution and future of islam introduction the author of this book reza aslan is an iranianamerican and a shia by persuasion. Reza aslan islams reformation the on being project.
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. But the manufactured uproar over aslan s islamic faith is only a distraction from the real issues. Aslans doctorate in the sociology of religions encompasses expertise in the history of religion. Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus jesus. But the manufactured uproar over aslans islamic faith is only a distraction from the real issues.
Reza also has a master of fine arts degree from the university of iowa. Instead of asking him about zealot, she asked him why, as a muslim, he would presume to write a book about jesus. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, have been translated into dozens of languages around the world. He is also a recipient of the prestigious james joyce award. Aug 30, 2011 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. While there have been a number of successful books on the topic of islamic history from karen armstrongs islam.
Sep 29, 2014 reza aslan offers his reaction to bill mahers recent remarks regarding the link between violence and islam. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed scholarship that. The new york times bestseller in god, reza aslan sheds new light on mankinds relationship with the divine and challenges our perspective on the history of faith and the birth of religion. Our friend joe carter, over at getreligion, has the basic story. Reza aslan has 16 books on goodreads with 235969 ratings.
This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade, analyzing how they have influenced islam s position in modern culture. Reza aslan on the history of god, religious interpretation. A brief history to bernard lewiss the crises of islam there is surprisingly no book for a popular audience about islam as a religion, let alone one. Reza aslans intriguing book explores questions about. Reza aslan believes islamic terrorism is not caused of a clash of civilisations but an argument within islam. The new york times 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. The origins, evolution, and future of islam and zealot. Aslan, a professor islamic and middle eastern studiesuniv.
The antiintellectual subtext was as strong as the implied. When i was 16 years old, i read the book that has probably had the greatest influence on methe brothers karamazov by fyodor dostoevsky. Jimmy80 favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite september 14, 2018 subject. Aug 30, 2017 reza aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions. But instead of arming readers with interpretive tools and good questions, aslan tells a highly selective, generalized tale with the goal of proving his own beliefs. Oct 21, 2005 reza aslan s sets out a nuanced and cultured view of islam in no god but god. Ten years on from 911, much of the muslim faith remains largely unknown and misunderstood in the west. Ehrman, author of how jesus became god reza aslan offers so much to relish in. Nov 07, 2017 in the remainder of the book, aslan discusses christianity another example of humanized divinity and islam, in which the struggle to truly understand the concept of god as something more than a divine being reaches its limits. Jul 14, 20 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. Jul 16, 20 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. From the origins of spiritual thought to the concept of an active, engaged, divine presence that underlies all creation, aslan examines how the idea of god arose in human evolution, was gradually. Writing with all the verve and brilliance we have come to expect from his pen, reza aslan has once more produced a book that will prompt reflection and shatter assumptions. But i ran into problems from the outset of aslans book.
Aslans book appears to be a work of history, but reveals. Aslan spoke with pbs newshour correspondent ray suarez. His contribution to this welltrodden path is to see god as a. A human history a basic overview of the development of monotheism written for popular consumption. A scholar of religions, he is currently professor of creative writing at the university of california, riverside. Reza aslan offers his reaction to bill mahers recent remarks regarding the link between violence and islam. Nothing really new, except for aslans obvious narrative skill there are a certain bandlevel of nonfiction writer that always seems like the nonfiction version of a. Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization, zealot. Aug 20, 2018 aslans slim, yet ambitious book is the story of how humans have created god with a capital g, and its thoroughly mindblowing.