Pouring praise onto zealot as new information about jesus, without explaining its authors devotion to a combatting religion, is blatant bias. Religious scholar reza aslan talks about his new book zealot, which uncovers the life of jesus of nazareth as a historical figure. His new work comes from his thorough research into the social, political, and economic situation that lead to the rise of jesus in firstcentury palestine, and the circumstances. The claim is that jesus was just one of the many zealotlike revolutionaries of the time. Scholars and believers alike tend to contrast sharply the founders of christianity and islam. 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, 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. Such socalled pseudepigraphical works, or works attributed to but not written by a specific author, were extremely common in the ancient world and should by no means be thought of as. 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 life and times of jesus of nazareth has already reached no. The atlantic noted that the book debuted at the second spot on the new york times best seller. The jesus in this book was just one of dozens of holy men and political activists against the roman occupation of the holy land and had he not died on the cross he would have died resisting the occupation and the puppet jewish hierarchy that kowtowed to it. But even more, by writing about it, i am giving some form of tacit approval or endorsement of it. 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.
Since josephus personally opposed these zealots, his writing emphasized them in. Zealots were one of several new testament period jewish political movements. Aslan synthesizes scripture and scholarship to create an original account. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20, which has stirred up. Aslan was being interviewed on the occasion of the appearance of his book that places jesus of nazareth at the top of a long list of subsequent, rabidly nationalist messianic jewish zealots. The result is a thoughtprovoking, elegantly written biography with the pulse of a fastpaced novel.
Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan random house, 337 pp. I hesitate to even write about reza aslans book zealot. A vivid, persuasive portrait of the world and societies in which jesus lived and the role he most likely played in both. 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. Reza aslan defends controversial new book on jesus the. Do not sell my personal information the new yorker may earn a portion. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. 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. Aslans literary talent is as essential to the effect of zealot. That is true of most of the books in the new testament. Why did you title your biography of jesus of nazareth zealot. Why reza aslans jesus is dull, confusing, and lacking. Zealot questions what we thought we knew about jesus of nazaretheven as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of his life and mission.
I put these words in quotes because he is so convinced of his own view and studies without any room for a more balanced view and theology. 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. New book zealot receives criticism for author having. The new yorker fascinatingly and convincingly drawn. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20. Aslan is a writing teacher at university of california riverside and a religious scholar, and his new book, zealot. Now aslans controversial new book about jesus is about to make him a bestselling author. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslan. Aslans book has been greeted with unwarranted controversy. The life and times of jesus of nazareth as are his scholarly and journalistic chops.
But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed scholarship that. It recently received a publicity boost from an awkward interview, which joe carter analyzes here. The following is an excerpt from reza aslans new book, zealot. Aslan, who has previously written no god but god, claims to have used historical sources to meticulously compose his new book, zealot. Jesus the apolitical man of peace who turns the other cheek. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, which he describes as a biography of jesus life in nazareth, years before his death and resurrection as. It is a book authored by reza aslan and published by random house in july of. I heard a public radio interview on reza aslans theologyhis idea of the history of jesus as presented in his new book, jesus, the zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth presents a picture of what judith shulevitz calls a passionate jew, a violent revolutionary, a fanatical ideologue, an odd and scary and extraordinarily interesting man. The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan. Reza aslan tells an old story about jesus christianity today. The life and times of jesus of nazareth hardcover jul 16 20. 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.
The life and times of jesus of nazareth by reza aslan excerpt excerpted from zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth resurrects the theory that jesus ministry and death are best explained against the background of jewish zealot movements at the turn. Aslans entire book is, as it turns out, an ambitious and singleminded polemical counternarrative to what he imagines is the new testaments portrayal of jesus christ. But those familiar with the harvard graduate and former christians work say zealot is rehashed. 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.
A response to zealot by reza aslan the good book blog biola. The historian josephus states, regarding this fourth of four major sects that existed in the first century a. The life and times of jesus of nazareth a historical look at jesus in the context of his time and jewish religion, and against the backdrop of the roman empire. Most early christian scholars commonly agree upon this. In jesus world, zealot referred to those jews who adhered to a widely. Aslan, a muslim, would write about jesus, created a stir on social media and traditional media, bringing more attention to the book. A response to zealot by reza aslan the good book blog. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, reza aslans new book, is based on both fact and speculation.
Which brings me to reza aslans bestselling, attentiongrabbing, and radically skeptical book, zealot. Zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of jesus of nazareths life and mission. But amidst the hubbub about the interview, which focused on why a muslim would write a book on jesus, joe wonders why. 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. Aslan is not the yrst author to consider the case of the historical jesus, but his. 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 zealot, a rebel against rome and the romans local agents. These zealous jews were strict nationalists who preached the sole sovereignty of god. The core thesis of zealot is that the real jesus of nazareth was an illiterate peasant from the galilee who zealously, indeed monomaniacally, aspired to depose the. The book that changed reza aslans mind about jesus the atlantic. Although the material is not altogether new this book is one of the easiest and most readable ways to digest the historical jesus and grasp his evolution into pauls outlandish later christ version.
Zealot author reza aslan on jesus of history versus jesus of faith. In most respects, they were aligned with the pharisees of the new testament period, but further believed that god should be the leader of the nation rather than the roman government. The life and times of jesus of nazareth is a book by iranianamerican writer and scholar reza aslan. The claim is that jesus was just one of the many zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth the new york. Frankly, parts of it are closer to jesus christ superstar than any serious undertaking. When i saw that reza aslans portrait of jesus, zealot. The life and times of jesus of nazareth is a book by. The life and times of jesus of nazareth random house, 20, is in most ways a typical attempt to paint a. In jesus world, zealot referred to those jews who adhered to a widely accepted biblical doctrine called zeal. The life and times of jesus of nazareth, launched him into the news last week when a fox interviewer repeatedly challenged him on whether his muslim faith disqualified him to write a biography of jesus. Because its that time of year, i took the opportunity to read a much debated but fascinating book about the historical jesus, zealot.