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Preview of Zealot, by Reza Aslan

 I am looking forward to reading Reza Aslan's newest book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (ISBN 9781400069224).

I must admit that I hadn't heard about Aslan until reading about and watching the sensational Fox News interview (which you can see here at Al Arabiya for instance) in which the author is (my words:) attacked by the news anchor for being a Muslim writing about the founder of Christianity.

I do not understand why the news anchor would question that someone interested in the history or religions and religious development would want to write about the founder of the world's largest religion. To me, that feels the same as telling me (a female) that I am not allowed to write about a male, simply because I myself am not a male. It also seems to me as if the news anchor is not aware of the fact that Jesus is considered a prophet in Islam. This alone would be a valid reason for ay Muslim to want to learn more and write about Jesus.

Aslan does not need me to defends him or his writing as he does fine himself, stating he is a scholar with several degrees who also happens to be a Muslim. Born a Muslim, the author converted to Christianity and was a Christian for a number of years before turning back to Islam. Read a detailed article from NPR Books about the author, the book and the topics it covers.




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