Free Forum with Terrence McNally Who was Jesus? REZA ASLAN, Zealot: The Life & Times of Jesus of Nazareth
4 snips
Dec 21, 2019 
Reza Aslan, an author and scholar of religions, discusses his book 'Zealot,' diving into Jesus’ life in first-century Palestine as a radical against Roman rule. He reexamines Jesus as a 'failed messiah' whose grassroots message transformed into a state religion post-Constantine. The conversation touches on the historical significance of figures like John the Baptist, the socio-economic context shaping Jesus' teachings, and the complexities that arise in the comparison of divine metaphors in Christianity and Islam.
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Reza Aslan's Religious Journey
- Reza Aslan shares his fascinating religious journey from lukewarm Muslim upbringing to evangelical Christianity and then back to Islam.
- His spiritual curiosity led him through profound transformations in faith and identity.
Historical Gaps on Jesus
- We know almost nothing concrete about Jesus from historical texts beyond the New Testament.
- Understanding Jesus requires deep knowledge of his complex first-century Jewish world under Roman rule.
Josephus Confirms Jesus' Existence
- A single throwaway mention by Josephus in 94 CE confirms Jesus' existence and recognition by then.
- This minor note shows Jesus was well-known by the late first century, though not the focus of significant histories.
