On-Topic Fox News Offensive Interview of Reza Aslan's Book about Jesus

[rareboy]

You really don't read at all, do you? If anything, I think that the book provides a richer picture of Jesus, the historical figure and does not diminish his teaching whatsoever. This is from reading the book....not an excerpt from Huffpo or what you are spoonfed by FOX and your handlers from the Southern Baptist Convention coffee klatsch.

 

[bankside]

Why would anyone argue that being anti-Christian amounts to being anti-American or anti-western?

What a profound misunderstanding of free societies and intellectual inquiry.

 

[Benvolio]

Why would anyone argue that being anti-Christian amounts to being anti-American or anti-western?

What a profound misunderstanding of free societies and intellectual inquiry.

75% of Americans identify as Christians and most of the world perceives us as Christian nation.

 

[rareboy]

*Bangs head slowly on desk*

 

[Kulindahr]

What the fuck is that coming from? Feckless ignorance on your part. Aslan may be a scholar, but he better get a tougher skin than to play the anti- Islamic card, knowing that the shoe was the other foot the response would be even more heated, and personally threatening. Nice though he thinks Jesus was indeed crucified, but then he does go on with how unremarkable Jesus really was in that respect since in his view the Romans were putting to death a number of would be revolutionary" messiahs". I saw the interview clips with Maher and came out with an even more negative opinion of this lefty "martyr" of the moment. And I'm fully aware agnostics and atheists have a better handle of the Bible than many" Christians" do. But they at least are far more credible than a former Christian who went back to his old religion without putting that faith through the wringer as equally as he did in finding Christianity wanting.

With the view of religion he expressed in at least one of the interviews, he had no need to put anything
through the wringer": he was just changing his faith symbol set.*





*whatever that means

 

[Kulindahr]

It is on my bedside table and I'm well along. I like Aslan's writing.

Sausy and his alter ego Benvolio are full of nonsense. They are absolutely no different than the fundamentalist Wahabists who want to stone anyone that discusses Mohammed and the Koran in any intellectually meaningful way as a product of their time and societal influences instead of just mindlessly prattling about faith and holiness.

This is the first "historical Jesus" book I've thought worth a second look in two decades. I just ordered it -- and by getting his Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization at the same time, I saved thirty percent and got free shipping!

 

[Kulindahr]

Exactly. It is a salvo in the ongoing was between Muslims and the West. Of course it is an attack, intended to destroy the beliefs of Christians. His introduction says that.

Back to making crap up, or lying -- only you know which.

 

[Kulindahr]

You really don't read at all, do you? If anything, I think that the book provides a richer picture of Jesus, the historical figure and does not diminish his teaching whatsoever. This is from reading the book....not an excerpt from Huffpo or what you are spoonfed by FOX and your handlers from the Southern Baptist Convention coffee klatsch.

He's plainly never done any kind of advanced scholarly studies, given that he can't react to the introduction on any level higher than high school sophomore.


After listening to almost two hours of interviews with the author, I'm impressed with his actual personal engagement with the subject. It's very refreshing after the dry, dead, nearly apathetic nature of so much "historical Jesus" work. I'm looking forward to reading his work.

 

[Rolyo85]

75% of Americans identify as Christians and most of the world perceives us as Christian nation.

The latter is a lie. Most people outside of America have no clue how demented Christians are here. Europeans mostly think you're dumb, when they think of you. The concept of "christian nation" doesn't even exist outside of the US.

 

[Rolyo85]

He's plainly never done any kind of advanced scholarly studies, given that he can't react to the introduction on any level higher than high school sophomore.

Not to mention his disdain for higher education, which makes me believe he never went to college either. The whole spiel about "We must assume that a secondary purpose it to facilitate the conversion of others to Islam." is pathetic reactionary bullshit of so little dept that it's literally off the ground...

 

[Kulindahr]

Not to mention his disdain for higher education, which makes me believe he never went to college either. The whole spiel about "We must assume that a secondary purpose it to facilitate the conversion of others to Islam." is pathetic reactionary bullshit of so little dept that it's literally off the ground...

Especially when by his own admission his book can be regarded as attacking Islam....

 

[Jack Springer]

Why do you claim that no Christian has?


The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion by Robert Spencer.
Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong.
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad - Volume I by Ibn Kathir and Trevor LeGassick.
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad Volume II by Ibn Kathir & Trevor LeGassick.
The Making of the Last Prophet: A Reconstruction of the Earliest Biography of Muhammad by Gordon Newby.
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings.
Muhammad by Maxime Rodinson.
In the Footsteps of Muhammad: Understanding the Islamic Experience by John Renard.
Muhammad: The Messenger of God by Betty Kelen.
In Search of Muhammad by Clinton Bennett.

Your selection looks like a pro Mohammed book list -- doesn't appear any of these call Mohammed a zealot or any other derogatory name.

The last book looks like it might have an illustration of Mohammed on the cover.

 

[Rolyo85]

Especially when by his own admission his book can be regarded as attacking Islam....

I was referring to Benvolio...

- - - Updated - - -

Your selection looks like a pro Mohammed book list -- doesn't appear any of these call Mohammed a zealot or any other derogatory name.

The last book looks like it might have an illustration of Mohammed on the cover.

Um, yeah, "The Truth ABout Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion" DEFINITELY screams "pro Mohammed"...

 

[Kulindahr]

I was referring to Benvolio...

I know. You referenced his claim that the book was an attempt to "facilitate the conversion of others to Islam"; I was pointing out that by the author's own statements, it's not really a very pro-Islamic book, since it contradicts things Mohammed taught. In other words, Benvolio was speaking exceptionally ignorantly.

 

[Benvolio]

I know. You referenced his claim that the book was an attempt to "facilitate the conversion of others to Islam"; I was pointing out that by the author's own statements, it's not really a very pro-Islamic book, since it contradicts things Mohammed taught. In other words, Benvolio was speaking exceptionally ignorantly.

What specifically does he contradict? The Tsarvaev brothers hid their intentions as well.

 

[rareboy]

^ This is pitiful. Really, really pitiful.

 

[T-Rexx]

Your selection looks like a pro Mohammed book list -- doesn't appear any of these call Mohammed a zealot or any other derogatory name.

They are all discussions of the historical Mohammed - by non-Muslims.

Since it is your contention that non-Christians may not write about the historical Jesus, how can it be acceptable in your logic for non-Muslims to write about the historical Mohammed?

(And, BTW, I doubt that The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion is "pro-Mohammed" as you claim.)

The last book looks like it might have an illustration of Mohammed on the cover.

Depictions of the prophet Mohammed are generally considered offensive to Muslims, regardless of how flattering the image may be.

 

[Kulindahr]

^ This is pitiful. Really, really pitiful.

Proof that he hasn't done any homework here -- including reading the thread.

 

[Rolyo85]

^ This is pitiful. Really, really pitiful.

You don't get it! He's an "other"! He MUST have an evil agenda!!!! They're all out to get Christians!!!