I wish you and your loved ones a deeply renewing holiday season. This week, you’ll hear my 2014 conversation with REZA ASLAN about his best-selling book, ZEALOT: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. He examines Jesus the man through the lens of the time and place in which he lived, first-century Palestine, and labels him a zealot – a radical political opponent of the Roman occupation. Since Jesus was crucified without overthrowing Roman rule, he is one of many "failed messiahs." But only he among them become the starting point of one of the world’s great religions. This approach offers a Jesus more human, if no less heroic.

Reza Aslan doesn’t mind being called a pantheist. In his own “roundabout spiritual journey” and study of the world’s religions, which has led him to write books on Islam, the life of Jesus Christ, God, and most recently an American martyr in Persia, he has come to believe the Sufi notion that religion is just a shell one must break through to truly understand God—and that if God is anything at all, then all is God. He joined Tyler to discuss Shi’a and Christian notions of martyrdom, the heroism of Howard Baskerville, the differences between Sunni and Shi’a Islam, esoteric vs. exoteric expressions of religion, how mystical movements arise more organically than religion, the conflicts over Imams in the Islamic world, how his upbringing as an Iranian immigrant shaped his view of religion, his roundabout spiritual journey, the synthesis of Spinoza and Sufism, the origins of Wahhabism, the relationship (or lackthereof) between religion and political philosophy, the sad repetition of history in Iran, his favorite Iranian movie, and more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded October 12th, 2022 Other ways to connect Follow us on Twitter and Instagram Follow Tyler on Twitter Follow Reza on Twitter Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Subscribe at our newsletter page to have the latest Conversations with Tyler news sent straight to your inbox. 

Today we’re going take some of life’s biggest questions, toss them into a Vitamix, press hyperblend, and whip up a Metaphysical Milkshake.My sous chefs for this cosmic concoction are Rainn Wilson & Reza Aslan.Do I really need to introduce these two?Star of screens big and small, Rainn is best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office. An OG in the online high-vibe content space, Rainn is also the founder of SoulPancake, a digital platform for people from all walks of life to discuss and question what it means to be human—a place to wrestle with the spiritual, philosophical, and creative journey that is life.Reza is a scholar of religions, a professor of creative writing, a television host, an Emmy-nominated producer, and the author of many bestselling books on religion, faith & spirituality.These two have teamed up on a fantastic new podcast worthy of your attention called (you guessed it) Metaphysical Milkshake.In a mild departure from my typical interview format, the idea for this episode was to tackle some of those big life questions, themes that recur on both of our shows, and have some fun doing it. So I wrote down various queries on a stack of index cards, wadded them up, tossed them in a bowl, and let Rainn and Reza take turns fishing them out for today’s round-table.Among the threads pulled today are: What does it mean to be human? How do you be a good person? Why are humans prone to spirituality? How do you reconcile science & rationality with faith & spirituality? Are we addicted to everything? What is the role of consciousness? To read more click here. You can also watch listen to our exchange on YouTube. And as always, the podcast streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Prepare to have your noodle bent—and have some laughs along the way. Good times!Peace + Plants,Rich

Sean Illing talks with Reza Aslan, scholar of religions and author of multiple bestselling nonfiction works, to discuss the state of religion in America today. Sean and Reza discuss the relationship between politics and religion, why it can be hard to separate the emotional experiences of faith from the symbolic language of organized religion, and how new religious identities are being forged along principles of Christian nationalism.Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray AreaGuest: Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan), authorReferences:  An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville by Reza Aslan (Norton; 2022) The Leftovers TV series (HBO; 2014–2017) "Can Religion & Reason Be Reconciled? | Reza Aslan & Sam Harris debate" (Jan. 25, 2007; C-SPAN YouTube) Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study (Jan. 14, 2021) The 2020 Census of American Religion (PRRI; July 8, 2021) "'Pro-Life' Herschel Walker Paid for Girlfriend's Abortion" by Roger Sollenberger (The Daily Beast; Oct. 4) President George W. Bush's remarks on the morning of Sept. 12, 2001: "This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil. But good will prevail."  Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcastsThis episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan Callen interviews Religious Scholar Reza Aslan. They discuss the misinterpretation of non-Western countries, the Middle East conflict, American identity, and the fascinating story of Howard Baskerville's sacrifice for Iran's freedom.

Reza Aslan discusses the life of Howard Baskerville, an American hero in Iran during the Persian constitutional revolution. They also explore Woodrow Wilson's influence on education, the rise of the Mullahs in Iran, the origins of an Islamic Republic, and the amorality of foreign policy.

Reza Aslan, author and professor, dives deep into the aftermath of the Trump administration. He scrutinizes the alarming appeal of Trumpism, particularly among white evangelicals, examining its cult-like dynamics and the media's role in shaping political discourse. The conversation reveals how identity politics and systemic racism have created deep societal rifts. Aslan also discusses the emergence of a liberal evangelical movement that seeks to counter Christian nationalism, offering a glimpse of hope in a fragmented landscape.

Religious scholar Reza Aslan discusses the state of Islam and individual character's role in interpreting religion. Topics include Fox News's anti-poor narrative, UK's fringe xenophobic politics, and challenging stereotypes about poverty and media influences.

Passionate clash between Dennis Prager and Reza Aslan over Israel-Hamas conflict. They debate history, bias, and challenges of achieving peace. Discussions on Trump's potential second term and societal values.

Reza Aslan, a best-selling author and commentator known for his insights into the cognitive science of religion, dives into thought-provoking discussions. He explores the birth of God in human history and argues that religion is more about identity than belief. He reflects on the complexities of myth and ritual, critiques the ignorance surrounding faith, and underscores the necessity of combating racism within religious communities. Additionally, he shares his enthusiastic support for Pete Buttigieg and highlights the challenges of parenting in a multi-faith family.