Nthe book zealot by reza aslan

Muslims book about jesus stirs things up also defended aslan s characterization of his academic credentials, noting that uc santa barbara is famous for its interdisciplinary programstudents tailor their studies around a topic, not a department. After two decades of rigorous research into the origins of christianity he concluded he had previously been duped, and returned to islam xix. When i saw that reza aslan s portrait of jesus, zealot. Scholars and believers alike tend to contrast sharply the founders of christianity and islam. So then, give back to caesar what is his, and give back to god what belongs to god. It sits on top of both the amazon bestseller lists and the new york times top ten, where it kept jk rowlings the cuckoos calling at number two. While most of our faithful may not actually read the book, many are likely to hear about it via a recent fox network interview with the author and the mounting attention the work is receiving. Not a theologian putting a fox news interviewer bang to rights on why he, a muslim, had dared to write a book about jesus. See all 19 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The life and times of jesus of nazareth reza aslan grew up in a nominally muslim family in northern california, and converted to christianity at age thirteen. In zealot, reza sifts through centuries of mythmaking and sheds new light on one of historys most enigmatic characters by examining jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived.

Zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of jesus life and mission. The life and times of jesus of nazareth beyond fundamentalism. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed scholarship that. 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 converted to christianity when he was a teenager, but became more interested in jesus than as a messiah. In zealot, aslan aligns himself with the scholarschristian and otherwisewho argue for a clear distinction between jesus christ. Reza aslan tells an old story about jesus the authors portrait of a wouldbe political revolutionary relies on outdated scholarship and breathtaking leaps in logic. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, had risen to number one on the new york times bestseller list, i must confess, i was both. The seattle times aslan s literary talent is as essential to the effect of zealot as are his scholarly and journalistic chops. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan. 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. The life and times of jesus of nazareth is a book by iranianamerican writer and scholar reza aslan. Reza aslan is an internationally acclaimed writer and scholar of religions.

He has written three books to date on the subject of religion. The origins, evolution, and future of islam and zealot. Ally takes a critical perspective on some of the biases present in aslan s view of jesus. 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. Reza aslan is an iranianamerican author and religious scholar, as well as a television producer and host. Aslan contends that an illiterate day laborer called jesus was part of an insurrectionary tradition in israel, and the story of this che guevara of the early middle east was coopted by the dastardly saul of tarsus, aka saint paul, who defanged the zealot and turned him into an apolitical metaphysician. Id really recommend this to christians and non christians alike. The life and times of jesus of nazareth reprint by reza aslan isbn. In zealot, reza aslan doesnt just synthesize research and reimagine a lost world, though he does those things very well. The guide includes extensive quotations extracted from reza aslan s book. He does for religious history what bertolt brecht did for playwriting.

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 book that changed reza aslan s mind about jesus. The life and times of jesus of nazareth ebook written by reza aslan. That is the zealot argument in its simplest, most concise form. The networks religion correspondent, lauren green, began by asking why aslan, a muslim, would write a book about jesus. The life and times of jesus of nazareth reza aslan, 20 random house 336 pp. Aslan is not the yrst author to consider the case of the historical jesus, but his. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20, is in most ways a typical attempt to paint a. Aslan is a talented author, hes not christian and hes writing about jesus. From the internationally bestselling author of no god but god comes a fas. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan follows this long tradition, settling on the hypothesis, also around for hundreds of years, that jesus was a jewish. 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. Zealot takes up an argument found in aslan s earlier book, how to win a cosmic war, that looks at the ways in which religion fuels political violence also the subject of aslan s phd.

Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Aslan, author of no god but god, profiles christ as a man of his time. Aslan synthesizes scripture and scholarship to create an original account. Confronting religious extremism in the age of globalization no god but god. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan is likely to make the rounds amongst orthodox christians. Reza aslan tells an old story about jesus christianity today.

And it seems to be enough for the authorities in jerusalem to immediately label jesus as lestes. It is a historical account of the life of jesus and. It was was engaging, thoughtful and, for me personally, great to put my roman catholic indoctrination teachings into a more meaningful and historical context. The life and times of jesus of nazareth reza aslan. The material will sometimes omit words and sentences, linking general ideas together with ellipses for the purpose of stimulating our discussion. These zealous jews were strict nationalists who preached the sole sovereignty of god. Reza aslan s recent book on the life of jesus called zealot. He is also the author of how to win a cosmic more about reza aslan. Readable and with scholarly endnotes, aslans book offers a historical perspective that is sure. Aslan may come as close as one can to respecting those who revere jesus as the peaceloving, turntheothercheek, true son of god depicted in modern christianity, even as he knocks down that image. Reza aslan on zealot, fox news and richard dawkins books. Reza aslan s zealot arrived with an enormous splash. They wanted to throw off the yoke of roman occupation and cleanse the.

I am predisposed to like reza aslan s latest book zealot. 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. 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. Aslan contends that an illiterate day laborer called jesus was part of an insurrectionary tradition in israel, and the story of this che guevara of the early middle east was coopted by the dastardly saul of tarsus, aka saint paul, who defanged the zealot and turned him into an. In zealot, reza aslan replaced the staid, wellworn portrayal of jesus of nazareth with a startling new image of the man in all his contradictions. In zealot, reza aslan argues that jesus of nazareth was a man at war, not a man of peace. The philadelphia inquirer article entitled reza aslan s zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan follows this long tradition, settling on the hypothesis, also around for. Reza aslan is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose books include no god but god. Aslan rips jesus out of all the contexts we thought he belonged in and holds him forth as. Aslan was being interviewed on the occasion of the appearance of his book that places jesus of nazareth at the top of a. Aslan s literary talent is as essential to the effect of zealot as are his scholarly and journalistic chops. A response to zealot by reza aslan the good book blog.

In jesus world, zealot referred to those jews who adhered to a widely accepted biblical doctrine called zeal. Balancing the jesus of the gospels against the historical sources, aslan describes a. I throughly enjoyed listening to reza aslan narrate his book, 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. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read zealot. 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. Then a fox news interview commandeered internet coverage. A response to zealot by reza aslan the good book blog biola. The life and times of jesus of nazareth the new york. Because its that time of year, i took the opportunity to read a much debated but fascinating book about the historical jesus, zealot. 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. Zealot by reza aslan teachers guide penguin random.