For example, the author thinks no one should believe a simple carpenter like Christ could read or write–in any language–because he assumes almost total illiteracy in Jesus’ society (35). That said, I have three major concerns with Zealot: First, Aslan’s portrait of Jesus is troubling. For me, it is particularly interesting that this Muslim author believes Christ’s death is the most provable point in the history of Jesus.
Many Christians, unfortunately, are unaware that Muslims think highly of Jesus, and for that matter so does the Qur’an. But rather than question an author’s credentials, it is more helpful to discuss the contents of his work.Īdmittedly, Aslan has spent time reflecting on the life and times of Jesus, whom he obviously respects and admires. New Testament scholars would agree that he is a scholar on the history of religions, though not of early Christianity (his PhD is in sociology). Throughout the tense dialog, Aslan repeated his credentials three times: he has four degrees and is an “expert” in the history of religions. After that the discussion went downhill, recording the anchor’s ignorance (bias?) of Islam, and the author’s vigorous self-defense as scholar, who just happens to be a Muslim. Zealot recently shot to the top of the best seller list due to a notorious interview on Fox News, where Lauren Green began by asking the author why a Muslim would write about Christianity’s founder.
His book is for the general audience with the express purpose of prying the historical Jesus away from the Christ of Christianity (120, 215-216). He now claims to be more devoted to Jesus than ever–a “committed disciple” (xx) of the “real Jesus”–not the “Jesus of faith.” 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).
After two decades of rigorous research into the origins of Christianity he concluded he had previously been duped, and returned to Islam (xix). Reza Aslan grew up in a nominally Muslim family in Northern California, and converted to Christianity at age thirteen.
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