Reza Aslan
Encyclopedia
Reza Aslan is an Iranian-American
activist, a nationally acclaimed writer of religions. He is on the faculty at the University of California, Riverside
, and is a contributing editor for The Daily Beast
. His books include the international bestseller, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
, which has been translated into thirteen languages, and named one of the 100 most important books of the last decade. He is also the author of How to Win a Cosmic War, published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in a Globalized Age. He is also editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East, published by W. W. Norton
, and co-editor with Aaron Hahn-Tapper of Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities, published by Palgrave Macmillan. Dr. Reza Aslan is CEO of Aslan Media Inc., whose holdings include BoomGen Studios, the first ever motion picture studio entirely focused on entertainment content about the Greater Middle East and its Diaspora communities. His non-profit organization Aslan Media Initiatives (AslanMedia.com) utilizes social media technology to provide news and information about the Middle East to young people all over the world.
from Tehran
in 1979, fleeing the Iranian Revolution
. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
. In the early 1990s, Aslan taught courses at De La Salle High School
in Concord, California
. Iranian singer Leila Forouhar is his aunt.
Aslan has a Bachelor of Arts in religions from Santa Clara University
, a Master of Theological Studies
from Harvard Divinity School
, a PhD in the Sociology of Religions from the University of California, Santa Barbara
, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa
's Writers' Workshop
, where he was named the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
, the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities, and the Pacific Council on International Policy
. He has served as Legislative Assistant for the Friends Committee on National Legislation
in Washington D.C., and was elected President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, Harvard Chapter. He serves on the board of directors of the Ploughshares Fund, which gives grants for peace and security issues; Abraham's Vision, an interfaith, educational conflict transformation organization; PEN USA, which champions the rights of writers under siege around the world; and he serves on the national advisory board of the Levantine Cultural Center
, building bridges between Americans and the Arab/Muslim world.
As Contributing Editor, Aslan has written numerous articles for The Daily Beast
. He has also written for various newspapers and periodicals, including The Christian Science Monitor
, the Los Angeles Times
, The New York Times
, Slate, The Boston Globe
, The Washington Post
, The Guardian
, the Chicago Tribune
, and The Nation
. He has made numerous appearances on TV and radio, including National Public Radio (NPR), PBS, The Rachel Maddow Show
, Meet the Press
, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, Anderson Cooper 360°
, Hardball
, Nightline
, Real Time with Bill Maher
, and Fareed Zakaria GPS
.
Dr. Reza Aslan has been the Contributing Editor for the Daily Beast since 2008.
He is working on a biography of Jesus of Nazareth and a historical novel, set a thousand years ago, about a caravan traveling from the Arabian Peninsula to India.
Aslan Media followers can obtain up to date news, information and join discussions on the Aslan Media Inc.'s official page, YouTube
, Facebook
, GoodReads
and Twitter
.
Dr. Reza Aslan launched his Twitter presence - @aslanmedia-with the vision of changing how news and information on the Middle East is provided. Working to engage with Muslims and non-Muslims on what's happening in the region, the Aslan Media TweetWire on Twitter has since grown steadily on the idea that it's possible to stay updated on Middle East news with just 140 characters.
(Random House, 2005), has been translated into thirteen languages, was short-listed for the Guardian (UK) First Book Award, and nominated for a PEN USA award for research Non-Fiction. In No god but God
, Aslan challenges the "clash of civilizations" mentality that has distorted our view of Islam and explains this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty, and compassion. Aslan begins with a vivid account of the social and religious milieu from which the Prophet Muhammad arose. The revelations that Muhammad received in Mecca and Medina, and which were recorded in the Quran, became the foundation of a radically egalitarian community, the likes of which had never been seen before. No god but God
also examines how, in the shadow of European colonialism, Muslims developed conflicting strategies to reconcile traditional Islamic values with the social and political realities of the modern world. With the emergence of the Islamic State in the 20th century, this contest over the future of Islam has become a passionate, sometimes violent battle between those who seek to enforce a rigid and archaic legal code on society and those who struggle to harmonize the teachings of the Prophet with contemporary ideals of democracy and human rights. According to Dr. Reza Aslan, we are now living in the era of "the Islamic Reformation." No god but God
is a persuasive and elegantly written account of the origins, evolution, and future of Islam.
On April 20, 2009, his book How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (Random House, 2009) was released. How to Win a Cosmic War provides both an in-depth study of the ideology behind al-Qaeda
, the Taliban, and like-minded militants throughout the Muslim world, and an exploration of the tradition of religious violence found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Surveying the global scene from Israel to Iraq and from New York to the Netherlands, Aslan argues that religion is a stronger force today than it has been in a century. At a time when religion and politics are increasingly sharing the same vocabulary and functioning in the same sphere, Aslan writes that we must strip this ideological conflict of its religious connotations and address the actual grievances that fuel the Jihadist movement. How to Win a Cosmic War was the subject of an interview by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Aslan discussed its themes—the intrinsic irrationality of fundamentalist Islamic objectives, the dangers posed by the lack of understanding of Jihadists by the American military and the Christian evangelical movement, and the utility of free elections and participatory democracy in containing the spread of Jihadist movements (a goal for which he complimented George W. Bush). The book was published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization.
Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes From the Modern Middle East, edited by Dr. Reza Aslan, is a 600-plus page anthology that takes a broad view of 20th century Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Pakistani history and culture through the filter of the written word. This book uses the work of 69 writers to make a strong case for the power of fiction, poetry and essays to connect us at the level of the heart. "If the purpose of literature is to provide a window into other worlds," Dr. Aslan notes, "then the individual pieces collected in this anthology are mere porthole glimpses into the kaleidoscopic world of the modern Middle East. Dr. Aslan brings a historian's vision to Tablet & Pen, arranging the collection in three chronological sections, and geographically within them. Dr. Aslan's goal is to create "not an anthology to be tasted in disparate bits but rather a single sustained narrative to be consumed as a whole."
As well as books, Aslan has written numerous articles, commentaries (for broadcast, print and new media), and book reviews internationally. He often appears on broadcast media radio and television, including many documentaries on Islam and the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. He tours in U.S. and internationally giving talks and has written many press articles.
Air date: May 20, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011 on Comedy Central
Discussion about Congressman Peter King's hearings on Islamic radicalization
December 10, 2010
Reza Aslan discusses US relations with Iran
Monday, November 8, 2010 on Comedy Central
Discussion about Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes From the Modern Middle East,"
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Guests: David Axelrod, Rudy Giuliani, Dee Dee Myers, Dr. Reza Aslan, Mike Murphy, Ron Brownstein
Monday April 5, 2010 on Comedy Central
U.S. and the War in Afghanistan
July 14, 2010 on CNN
Mosque at Ground Zero, Growing Controversy, Debate- AIFD President Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and Dr. Reza Aslan
Monday, May 17, 2010 Dr. Reza Aslan featured on ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Aired Friday June 12, 2009
Air date: May 20, 2009
Iran, US and the Middle East
Air date: May 8, 2009
June 24, 2009
Iran's reform movement and the fight for the future of the Islamic Republic.
Thursday May 10, 2007
The author of "No God but God" talks to exclusively to Bebin.tv
June 6, 2008
FORA.tv's bi-weekly video podcast on issues in religion.
The Economist magazine and The Culture Project present Irshad Manji and Reza Aslan debating Muslim reform. Note that the above link is to the first file of five on YouTube.com. The remaining parts can be found here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
February 12, 2007.
BookTV, CSPAN2: Debate on Religion and Reason with Sam Harris, "Letter to a Christian Nation," and Dr. Reza Aslan, "No god but God"
Aired on January 3, 2007.
CBS Middle East consultant Dr. Reza Aslan, a fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, talks with Russ Mitchell about the impact Saddam Hussein's execution will have around the world.
Aired on November 28, 2006.
CBS News Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan discusses Pope Benedict's visit to Istanbul and reactions from Muslims with Harry Smith.
Aired on September 25, 2006.
Pope Benedict XVI held meetings outside Rome today with Muslim officials to try and make amends for comments he made last week. Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan discusses the issue with Hannah Storm.
Aired on September 22, 2006.
Note that the above link is to the first file of six on YouTube.com. The remaining five parts can be found here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
Aired on September 20, 2006.
The Rev. Jonathan Morris, vice-rector of the Legionnaires of Christ Seminary in Rome, CBS News Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan and Julie Chen discuss the Muslim reaction to Pope Benedict's remarks.
New Media Interviews/Discussions
Guernica Magazine, January 2011
Los Angeles Magazine, December 2010
July 15, 2010
HLN's Joy Behar talks with Dr. Reza Aslan and Irshad Manji about France's plan to ban the wearing of the burqa in public
July 14, 2010
Campbell Brown discusses the Ground Zero mosque and the controversy over its funding with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser (AIFD President) and Dr. Reza Aslan—a very interesting debate between Muslims on this issue.
Debate: Future of Western Relations with the Muslim World
March 10, 2010
An amateur video of Dr. Reza Aslan 's speaking engagement at Colorado State University in the Spring of 2010.
May 14, 2010
In the 23rd episode of The Week in Green, author and journalist Dr. Reza Aslan discusses nuclear politics in the Middle East and the way in which the Green Movement has changed perceptions of Iran among young Americans.
May 19, 2010
Religious Affairs writer Jacqueline Maley interviews author and Middle East commentator Dr. Reza Aslan, a guest of the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival.
April 27, 2010
Dr. Reza Aslan joins the Rumi Forum to discuss the modern "war on terror" and giving it context.
May, 2010
Dr. Reza Aslan was the opening speaker at the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival. See the gallery from the event.
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
activist, a nationally acclaimed writer of religions. He is on the faculty at the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
, and is a contributing editor for The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
. His books include the international bestseller, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
No god but God
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
, which has been translated into thirteen languages, and named one of the 100 most important books of the last decade. He is also the author of How to Win a Cosmic War, published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in a Globalized Age. He is also editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East, published by W. W. Norton
W. W. Norton
W. W. Norton & Company is an independent American book publishing company based in New York City. It is well known for its "Norton Anthologies", particularly the Norton Anthology of English Literature and the "Norton Critical Editions" series of texts which are frequently assigned in university...
, and co-editor with Aaron Hahn-Tapper of Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions, and Complexities, published by Palgrave Macmillan. Dr. Reza Aslan is CEO of Aslan Media Inc., whose holdings include BoomGen Studios, the first ever motion picture studio entirely focused on entertainment content about the Greater Middle East and its Diaspora communities. His non-profit organization Aslan Media Initiatives (AslanMedia.com) utilizes social media technology to provide news and information about the Middle East to young people all over the world.
Background
Aslan's family came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1979, fleeing the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. In the early 1990s, Aslan taught courses at De La Salle High School
De La Salle High School (Concord, California)
De La Salle High School is a Roman Catholic Private school for boys in Concord, California, United States. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, the school was founded in 1965 as a Lasallian institution. De La Salle currently enrolls just over 1,000 students, and roughly 99% of each...
in Concord, California
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
. Iranian singer Leila Forouhar is his aunt.
Aslan has a Bachelor of Arts in religions from Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
, a Master of Theological Studies
Master of Theological Studies
A Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
from Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
, a PhD in the Sociology of Religions from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
's Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
, where he was named the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities, and the Pacific Council on International Policy
Pacific Council on International Policy
The Pacific Council on International Policy is a non-partisan organization headquartered in Los Angeles with members and activities throughout the West Coast of the United States and internationally....
. He has served as Legislative Assistant for the Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
The Friends Committee on National Legislation a 501 lobbying organization in the public interest founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends...
in Washington D.C., and was elected President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, Harvard Chapter. He serves on the board of directors of the Ploughshares Fund, which gives grants for peace and security issues; Abraham's Vision, an interfaith, educational conflict transformation organization; PEN USA, which champions the rights of writers under siege around the world; and he serves on the national advisory board of the Levantine Cultural Center
Levantine Cultural Center
Levantine Cultural CenterThe Levantine Cultural Center is a 501 nonprofit organization founded in June of 2001. The center, located in West Los Angeles, champions a greater understanding of the Middle East and North Africa by presenting artistic and educational programs that bridge political and...
, building bridges between Americans and the Arab/Muslim world.
As Contributing Editor, Aslan has written numerous articles for The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
. He has also written for various newspapers and periodicals, including The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Slate, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, and The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
. He has made numerous appearances on TV and radio, including National Public Radio (NPR), PBS, The Rachel Maddow Show
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
, Meet the Press
Meet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper 360°
Anderson Cooper 360° is a one-hour television news show on CNN, hosted by the American journalist Anderson Cooper. It is also broadcast around the world on CNN International....
, Hardball
Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews is a talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 5 and 7 PM hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who...
, Nightline
Nightline
Nightline, or ABC News Nightline is a late-night news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs weeknights, usually for 31 minutes. Created by Roone Arledge, the program featured Ted Koppel as its main...
, Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous show, Politically Incorrect on ABC , Real Time features a panel of guests that discuss current events in politics and the media...
, and Fareed Zakaria GPS
Fareed Zakaria GPS
Fareed Zakaria GPS is a weekly public affairs show hosted by journalist and author Fareed Zakaria. As of November 2011, the show airs Sundays at 10am Eastern Time and 1pm Eastern Time on CNN. The show also airs Sundays at 1200 and 1900 GMT on CNN International...
.
Currently
Aslan is President and CEO of Aslan Media Inc., whose holdings include BoomGen Studios, a mini-motion picture and media company focused entirely on entertainment about the Greater Middle East and its Diaspora communities. Dr. Aslan currently lives in Hollywood, California where he is Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. In addition, he is a Research Associate at the University of Southern California's Center on Public Diplomacy.Dr. Reza Aslan has been the Contributing Editor for the Daily Beast since 2008.
He is working on a biography of Jesus of Nazareth and a historical novel, set a thousand years ago, about a caravan traveling from the Arabian Peninsula to India.
Aslan Media followers can obtain up to date news, information and join discussions on the Aslan Media Inc.'s official page, YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, GoodReads
Goodreads
Goodreads is a privately run "social cataloging" website started in December 2006 by Otis Chandler, a software engineer and entrepreneur. The website permits individuals to sign up and register books to create their library catalogs and reading lists. It also allows users to create their own...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
Dr. Reza Aslan launched his Twitter presence - @aslanmedia-with the vision of changing how news and information on the Middle East is provided. Working to engage with Muslims and non-Muslims on what's happening in the region, the Aslan Media TweetWire on Twitter has since grown steadily on the idea that it's possible to stay updated on Middle East news with just 140 characters.
Written and spoken works
His first book, No god but GodNo god but God
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
(Random House, 2005), has been translated into thirteen languages, was short-listed for the Guardian (UK) First Book Award, and nominated for a PEN USA award for research Non-Fiction. In No god but God
No god but God
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
, Aslan challenges the "clash of civilizations" mentality that has distorted our view of Islam and explains this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty, and compassion. Aslan begins with a vivid account of the social and religious milieu from which the Prophet Muhammad arose. The revelations that Muhammad received in Mecca and Medina, and which were recorded in the Quran, became the foundation of a radically egalitarian community, the likes of which had never been seen before. No god but God
No god but God
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
also examines how, in the shadow of European colonialism, Muslims developed conflicting strategies to reconcile traditional Islamic values with the social and political realities of the modern world. With the emergence of the Islamic State in the 20th century, this contest over the future of Islam has become a passionate, sometimes violent battle between those who seek to enforce a rigid and archaic legal code on society and those who struggle to harmonize the teachings of the Prophet with contemporary ideals of democracy and human rights. According to Dr. Reza Aslan, we are now living in the era of "the Islamic Reformation." No god but God
No god but God
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
is a persuasive and elegantly written account of the origins, evolution, and future of Islam.
On April 20, 2009, his book How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror (Random House, 2009) was released. How to Win a Cosmic War provides both an in-depth study of the ideology behind al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
, the Taliban, and like-minded militants throughout the Muslim world, and an exploration of the tradition of religious violence found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Surveying the global scene from Israel to Iraq and from New York to the Netherlands, Aslan argues that religion is a stronger force today than it has been in a century. At a time when religion and politics are increasingly sharing the same vocabulary and functioning in the same sphere, Aslan writes that we must strip this ideological conflict of its religious connotations and address the actual grievances that fuel the Jihadist movement. How to Win a Cosmic War was the subject of an interview by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Aslan discussed its themes—the intrinsic irrationality of fundamentalist Islamic objectives, the dangers posed by the lack of understanding of Jihadists by the American military and the Christian evangelical movement, and the utility of free elections and participatory democracy in containing the spread of Jihadist movements (a goal for which he complimented George W. Bush). The book was published in paperback as Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization.
Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes From the Modern Middle East, edited by Dr. Reza Aslan, is a 600-plus page anthology that takes a broad view of 20th century Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Pakistani history and culture through the filter of the written word. This book uses the work of 69 writers to make a strong case for the power of fiction, poetry and essays to connect us at the level of the heart. "If the purpose of literature is to provide a window into other worlds," Dr. Aslan notes, "then the individual pieces collected in this anthology are mere porthole glimpses into the kaleidoscopic world of the modern Middle East. Dr. Aslan brings a historian's vision to Tablet & Pen, arranging the collection in three chronological sections, and geographically within them. Dr. Aslan's goal is to create "not an anthology to be tasted in disparate bits but rather a single sustained narrative to be consumed as a whole."
As well as books, Aslan has written numerous articles, commentaries (for broadcast, print and new media), and book reviews internationally. He often appears on broadcast media radio and television, including many documentaries on Islam and the Muslim Prophet Muhammad. He tours in U.S. and internationally giving talks and has written many press articles.
Other publications
- 'The Struggle for Islam's Soul', essay in With All Our Might: A Progressive Strategy for Defeating Jihadism and Defending Liberty, Will Marshall, ed. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006.
- 'From Here to Mullahcracy', essay in My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes: Uncensored Iranian Voices, Lila Azam Zanganeh, ed. Beacon Press, 2006.
- 'Forward', Ritual: Perspectives and Dimensions, Catherine Bell, Oxford University Press, 2009.
- 'Losing the War', The New World Reader, Gilbert H Muller, ed., CUNY Press, 2010.
- 'Preface', Reframing 9/11: Film, Popular Culture and the War on Terror, Jeff Birkenstein, Anna Froula, and Karen Randell, eds. Continuum, 2010.
- 'Preface'. Religion and the New Atheism: A Critical Appraisal, Amarnath Amarasingam, ed. Brill, 2010.
Television appearances
- "Reza Aslan on Real Time with Bill Maher"
Air date: May 20, 2011
- "The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert"
Thursday, March 10, 2011 on Comedy Central
Discussion about Congressman Peter King's hearings on Islamic radicalization
- "Reza Aslan on Tavis Smiley"
December 10, 2010
Reza Aslan discusses US relations with Iran
- "The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert"
Monday, November 8, 2010 on Comedy Central
Discussion about Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes From the Modern Middle East,"
- "Meet the Press"
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Guests: David Axelrod, Rudy Giuliani, Dee Dee Myers, Dr. Reza Aslan, Mike Murphy, Ron Brownstein
- "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
Monday April 5, 2010 on Comedy Central
U.S. and the War in Afghanistan
- "Campbell Brown, CNN"
July 14, 2010 on CNN
Mosque at Ground Zero, Growing Controversy, Debate- AIFD President Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and Dr. Reza Aslan
- "Middle East Peace Talks"
Monday, May 17, 2010 Dr. Reza Aslan featured on ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- "Reza Aslan on MSNBC's Hardball on Iran Nuclear Politics"
Aired Friday June 12, 2009
- "Reza Aslan on Tavis Smiley"
Air date: May 20, 2009
Iran, US and the Middle East
- "Reza Aslan on Real Time with Bill Maher"
Air date: May 8, 2009
- "Reza Aslan on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
June 24, 2009
Iran's reform movement and the fight for the future of the Islamic Republic.
- Iran and “potential” democracy.
Thursday May 10, 2007
- Interview with Iranian-American Channel, BebinTV
The author of "No God but God" talks to exclusively to Bebin.tv
June 6, 2008
- Reza Aslan - The Future of Religious Nationalism
FORA.tv's bi-weekly video podcast on issues in religion.
- Debate with Irshad Manji on Muslim Reform
The Economist magazine and The Culture Project present Irshad Manji and Reza Aslan debating Muslim reform. Note that the above link is to the first file of five on YouTube.com. The remaining parts can be found here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
- Debate between Sam Harris and Reza Aslan
February 12, 2007.
BookTV, CSPAN2: Debate on Religion and Reason with Sam Harris, "Letter to a Christian Nation," and Dr. Reza Aslan, "No god but God"
- CBS News: Impact Of Saddam's Execution
Aired on January 3, 2007.
CBS Middle East consultant Dr. Reza Aslan, a fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, talks with Russ Mitchell about the impact Saddam Hussein's execution will have around the world.
- CBS News: Mideast Analyst On Papal Visit
Aired on November 28, 2006.
CBS News Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan discusses Pope Benedict's visit to Istanbul and reactions from Muslims with Harry Smith.
- CBS News: Pope Speaks With Muslim Envoys
Aired on September 25, 2006.
Pope Benedict XVI held meetings outside Rome today with Muslim officials to try and make amends for comments he made last week. Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan discusses the issue with Hannah Storm.
- Real Time with Bill Maher
Aired on September 22, 2006.
Note that the above link is to the first file of six on YouTube.com. The remaining five parts can be found here: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
- CBS News: Muslim Anger At Pope
Aired on September 20, 2006.
The Rev. Jonathan Morris, vice-rector of the Legionnaires of Christ Seminary in Rome, CBS News Middle East analyst Dr. Reza Aslan and Julie Chen discuss the Muslim reaction to Pope Benedict's remarks.
New Media Interviews/Discussions
- Gabrielle Calvocoressi interviews Reza Aslan
Guernica Magazine, January 2011
- Column by Ed Leibowitz Think Again
Los Angeles Magazine, December 2010
- Should France ban the burqa?
July 15, 2010
HLN's Joy Behar talks with Dr. Reza Aslan and Irshad Manji about France's plan to ban the wearing of the burqa in public
- Mosque at Ground Zero - Growing Controversy
July 14, 2010
Campbell Brown discusses the Ground Zero mosque and the controversy over its funding with Dr. Zuhdi Jasser (AIFD President) and Dr. Reza Aslan—a very interesting debate between Muslims on this issue.
- FORA.tv - United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Debate: Future of Western Relations with the Muslim World
- YouTube - Reza Aslan at CSU part 1
March 10, 2010
An amateur video of Dr. Reza Aslan 's speaking engagement at Colorado State University in the Spring of 2010.
- YouTube - Episode 23: Interview with Reza Aslan
May 14, 2010
In the 23rd episode of The Week in Green, author and journalist Dr. Reza Aslan discusses nuclear politics in the Middle East and the way in which the Green Movement has changed perceptions of Iran among young Americans.
- Reza Aslan: Iran, the burqa, and Israel - theage.com.au
May 19, 2010
Religious Affairs writer Jacqueline Maley interviews author and Middle East commentator Dr. Reza Aslan, a guest of the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival.
- Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization
April 27, 2010
Dr. Reza Aslan joins the Rumi Forum to discuss the modern "war on terror" and giving it context.
- Festival 2010 - Sydney Writers' Festival 2010
May, 2010
Dr. Reza Aslan was the opening speaker at the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival. See the gallery from the event.
Quotes
- "I believe we are living in the time of the Islamic reformation. In fact, I think we are living in the twilight of that reformation. For me, the word reform is defined by its inevitability. This process cannot be stopped; it can be slowed down for a time but reform is inevitable. It's an historic reformation taking place within Islam — it's adapting itself to the realities of the world around it. I think we'll see the same process we saw in the Christian reformation from doctrinal absolutism to doctrinal relativism; toward a truly indigenous Islamic enlightenment. And it's up to us as Muslims in the US to give voice to that for our brothers and sisters who don't have the voice or the same ability to speak out as we do."
- "It is pluralism—the peaceful coexistence and legal equality between different ethnic, religious or political ideologies—that defines democracy, not secularism."
- "The veil is seen as a symbol of Islam but like all symbols, it's meaningless unless interpreted. The veil is as much a symbol of oppression of women as it is an expression of Muslim femininity. The strangeness of this is that if you go to a country where the veil is either mandatory or there is a lot of pressure to wear it, you'll find the vast majority of women are against it. But, if you go to a country like Turkey where the veil is outlawed in much of the public realm — in the latest polls, 70 percent of the Muslim women want to remove that law."
- "Iraq should look to Israel for a model that combines democracy and religious belief."
- "Despite the apartheid state that has resulted from over half a century of bloody territorial conflicts with its neighboring Palestinian territories, few would deny that the state of Israel is a democracy. At the same time, Israel is a country founded upon an exclusivist Jewish moral framework, which offers all the world's Jews — regardless of their nationality — immediate citizenship, providing them with a host of benefits and privileges over its non-Jewish citizens. It is a country in which the Orthodox rabbinical courts have jurisdiction over all matters relating to Judaism (including who is a Jew); where religious schools (yeshivas) are subsidized by the state, and marriages are religious, rather than civil affairs (meaning no official will marry a Jew to a non-Jew); and the government is dominated by religious parties such as the ultra-Orthodox Shas, the Yahadut Hatorah, and of course the ruling Likud."
- "If we don't figure out a way to strip these conflicts of their religious connotations, then we will never figure out a way to put an end to them. Because as long as these remain cosmic conflicts, they will go on for eternity."
- "A lot of scholars, myself included, believe the future of Islam, especially Islamic democracy, rests in the Shia world. It's Iran and Iraq where the most exciting experiments are being carried out."
- "Iraq’s 2,000-year-old Christian community is on the brink of extinction, its members targeted by al Qaeda attacks and fleeing abroad... This silence cannot stand. Americans of all faiths must band together and pressure the State Department to do something about the wanton murder of Iraqi Christians before it's too late and there are no more Christians in Iraq to protect. What is happening in Iraq is genocide, plain and simple. It must be stopped now."
- "The fact of the matter is that Islam, like all religions, has been in a constant state of evolution for 1400 years. It has been constantly adapting to the spiritual, the cultural, the political, the social realities and the landscape in which it finds itself, which is why there is such a wide diversity of belief and practices within the Muslim world."
See also
- No God but GodNo god but GodNo god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is a 2005 non-fiction book written by Iranian-American Shiite Muslim scholar Reza Aslan. The book describes the history of Islam and argues for a liberal interpretation of the religion...
(book) - List of Islamic scholars
- ExtremismExtremismExtremism is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards...
- List of Muslim reformers
External links
- Official website
- Reza Aslan speaks at Asia Society, November 2010 (w/ video)
- at Levantine Cultural Center
- Interview with Reza Aslan from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Reza Aslan's Intellectual Groupie's on Livejournal
- His biography
- The Islamic reformation Reza Aslan speaks with Madrid11.net
- LA Weekly Interview
- Reza Aslan Interview with Islamica Magazine
- Aslan's articles in the Public Diplomacy Blog
Video and audio
- Reza Aslan is a keynote speaker in the upcoming conference December 4–6, 2009 Los Angeles, USC CA
- Reza Aslan interviewed by Bree Walker March 30, 2008
- Reza Aslan talks about The Future of U.S./Iran Relations (video)
- Reza Aslan in Conversation with Jack Miles (video)
- Reza Aslan vs. Sam Harris Debate
- Video debates featuring Aslan on Bloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tvBloggingheads.tv is a political, world events, philosophy, and science video blog discussion site in which the participants take part in an active back and forth conversation via webcam which is then broadcast online to viewers...
- Raza's talk, "How to Get Out of the Cosmic War in the Middle East."
- Reza talks to Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks.