I really believe that to have a full impression of Jesus, both as Christ as a man, you must know about the world that gave shape to him – the world out of which he arose. – Reza Aslan
It’s become controversial – but for all the wrong reasons. The latest book by best-selling author and noted religion scholar Dr. Reza Aslan is titled Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, and is the culmination of twenty years of research and study, and has garnered plenty of attention. But while wrong-headed commentators make outlandish claims regarding the author’s Muslim faith being the motivation behind the book, it is in fact the unremitting call for social justice – highlighted by careful examination of the circumstances in which Jesus of Nazareth lived and preached – that ought to spark controversy. Because there is a great distance between the teachings of Jesus, and the way Christianity is often practiced today. Dr. Aslan even-handedly points out that this is true in the case of most world religions, and underscores the value for both Christians and non-Christians alike in knowing the real-life circumstances of a man whose followers, two thousand years later, number in the billions.
Scroll down to read the transcript. To hear the entire July 20, 2013 State of Belief Radio program, click here.
"Zealot" author Reza Aslan State of Belief Radio Interview: July 20, 2013
