In the interview below, Fox News Lauren Green is interviewing the author of a new book on Jesus Christ. However, Green appears to be incapable of getting over that academic/author Reza Aslan is a Muslim. While Fox and the other networks routinely interview Christian and Jewish experts on Islam (including highly biased authors), it appears inconceivable that a Muslim would ever write a book on Christianity.
Ironically, Aslan once converted to Christianity and then converted back to Islam. However, it is his current religion that seems to be the stumbling block for Green:
GREEN: This is an interesting book. Now I want to clarify, you’re a Muslim, so why did you write a book about the founder of Christianity?
ASLAN: Well to be clear, I am a scholar of religions with four degrees — including one in the New Testament, and fluency in biblical Greek, who has been studying the origins of Christianity for two decades — who also just happens to be a Muslim. So it’s not that I’m just some Muslim writing about Jesus, I am an expert with a Ph.D in the history of religions…
GREEN: But it still begs the question why would you be interested in the founder of Christianity?
ASLAN: Because it’s my job as an academic. I am a professor of religion, including the New Testament. That’s what I do for a living, actually.
The interview repeatedly return to his religion as the most interesting aspect of the interview. It is a highly disturbing interview and a powerful example of how Muslims face double standards in their treatment in the media.
Elaine M:
GREEN: This is an interesting book. Now I want to clarify, you’re a Muslim, so why did you write a book about the founder of Christianity?
*******************
“This is an interesting book, Mr. Gibbon. Now I want to to clarify, you’re an Englishman, so why did you write a book about the Romans.”
The same mentality that suggest unless your physician has had cancer herself she has no business treating you for it.
What a moroon!!
DavidM,
Of all the humorous comments in this thread, yours are quite possibly the funniest. Polls consistently show Fox News most trusted!!? Among pinheads and republicans. Considering that studies show Fox consistently reports inaccurate facts and falsehoods, all you’re saying is that America is getting stupider and more gullible
RTC wrote: “Polls consistently show Fox News most trusted!!? Among pinheads and republicans.”
No, the polls I linked to were done by left leaning groups, like the Huffington Post.
RTC wrote: “Considering that studies show Fox consistently reports inaccurate facts and falsehoods, all you’re saying is that America is getting stupider and more gullible”
Yes, that is true too, but in reality, it mostly is the case of picking the lesser of the unreliable. Every news organization is affected by bias and slants the news through their own lens. The news organizations often make mistakes too, all of them, not just Fox News. Some are worse than others. The polls seem to indicate outlets like CNN or MSNBC are less trusted than Fox News. I realize that many here get their news from left leaning sources, so they love to use the epithet Faux News because their favorite propaganda doesn’t have center stage there, but the polls are factually true, that Fox News is the most trusted news source among all Americans.
What is interesting to me are how the left leaning news groups will constantly publish stats showing that Fox News is declining in popularity, but at the same time omit divulging that Fox News still remains the most trusted news organization. Not honest reporting at all. Very misleading to those they service.
get real,
Get real.
I think this reporter should be given a forum to play the piano and comment, a female Victor Borge. That may help her find a better rhythm and harmony to her questions.
Jonathan: No, I am real. And I am telling all what really is not what you tell them. I Know what your intent is. You do not Know Jesus. You will deny that. But I know what is on your mind.
Had the Lord be on your mind our spirits would be one. My intent is to make the fire in Gog and Magog smaller than God would have seen when humanity fell. There is no way you would have known that. That lake is chaff burning. What reality is is this: That Muslim guy favoring islamic law is anti Christ. He does not know what Christian is. Nether do you. A Christian does not do what is in following verse but Muslims have done that demanded in Qur’an. West has done the same perverting Scripture KJV. It has to be agreed that Jesus is not in either them.John 10:10
King James Version (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Shara law does not give life being a thief. Legal a system military and police do not give life being a thief. That so called scholar is also a thief at heart.
JH,
I guess that means you refuse to address me and actually speak to me about your faith…I tried…..but you seem like just another deep end Christian dude who can’t openly talk about what you believe other than to command everyone else to follow you. You are here pretending you get to order people about how we should pray. No Muslim is here demanding anyone follow Islam. The only fanatic here shoving their religion in a very VERY intolerant way is YOU.
Like we can’t ignore you….(smile)…PEACE!
“Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a Fox news presenter. But I repeat myself.”
I don’t represent Fox news. I see God’s spirit wherever it is. Be smart. Don’t be against me.
She also misuses “begging the question”. Yes, I know there is a push to accept this misuse, since it is so widespread. I disagree with that. Your mileage may vary.
Prof. Turley speaks of the double standard Muslims face from the media based upon this one interview. I agree that this interview is somewhat disturbing, but this stems from the fact that this interviewer needs some education about religion scholars and the relationship between Islam and Jesus. There are examples of a double standard working the other way also, ones which favor Islam over Christianity.
An interesting observation concerns the comments that assume all of Fox News is as bad as this one interview. Such comments are motivated by the same kind of bias as this interviewer and represent a double standard in regards to perceptions about news agencies where Fox News is regarded in a negative light, even though polls consistently show Fox News to be more trusted than the other news agencies. (e.g.,
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/04/30/new-poll-viewers-choose-fox-news-over-cnn-as-most-trusted-news-source-n1582800
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/04/25/Poll-Fox-Most-Believable-CNN-Least-Believable
).
2.ooo anys parlán del que va fer,sense fer el que va dir.
Well played, Truly S.
Truly S. (@hotincleveland),
lol … or, as Big Chuck would say, perfecto-mundo!
LAUREN GREEN: Welcome back to Fox News! Today we’re pleased to have on our show one of the legendary songwriters of all time, Irving Berlin. Mr. Berlin, I have a rather pointed question to ask you. You wrote “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade,” did you not?
BERLIN: Yes, I did.
GREEN: But, Mr. Berlin, you yourself are Jewish, are you not?
BERLIN: Yes, I am.
GREEN: So what I’m wondering, Mr. Berlin, is whatever makes you think you are qualified to write songs about Christmas and Easter when you yourself are Jewish?
BERLIN: Well, they’re just holiday songs–
GREEN: Yes, but Christmas and Easter are CHRISTIAN holidays.
BERLIN: That’s true, but–
GREEN: I’m just wondering why you, as a Jewish man, would choose to write songs about Christian holidays. I mean, you’ve never written a Christmas card, or walked down Fifth Avenue with a woman wearing an Easter bonnet.
BERLIN: I’m a songwriter. I write songs about things people enjoy, songs about life. I don’t understand–
GREEN: But Mr. Berlin, I just don’t understand why you feel yourself qualified to write songs about Christian celebrations when you yourself are not Christian.
BERLIN: But there’s nothing particularly Christian about snow, or a pretty woman in a spring hat–
GREEN: I guess I’m just puzzled, Mr. Berlin. It doesn’t seem to me that you’re qualified to write about such Christian subjects, is all.
BERLIN: But they’re not Christian. What, I’m only qualified to write “White Hanukkah,” or “Purim Parade”?
GREEN: Mr. Berlin, I just don’t see why you would choose these topics for your songs, that’s all.
BERLIN: Oy vey.
Dredd – I am not here to argue a case for Jesus. I was only commenting on the book of Aslan and trying to impress that there was nothing original about this book and that it had a lot to do with Aslan’s faith, rather than his doctorate. You have to study this book in the light of his earlier book. The stupidity of the Fox anchor does not give leverage to his book. Fox is known for such bigotry. But Aslan’s bigotry cannot be ignored either on the basis of his education. Scholars are humans. We tend to forget this fact in America.
That the author’s faith is not present in his academic work is, however, impossible to accept. The man is obviously searching for an answer through an organized religion-islam to catholicism, then back to islam- as well as the scholastic method. A certain amount of bias will always exist when one is spiritually and emotionally linked to the topic. At least the author has made an effort to present his version of the topic in an organized and accepted method. Scholasticism is the science of knowledge which is based on the attempt to surface everything relevant, organize this relevancy in a way accepted by scholars from all denominations, and present it openly for discussion. The woman would have done a better job to focus on his scholasticism and his faith. It is the same for Jews, Christians, and all believer/scholars. It is accepted that the story of Jesus was written several generations after his death. It was written slowly and carefully. There was and is no evidence, even that he existed let alone performed at any of the events in the stories. Homer’s stories were oratory until put down in words. There was a Troy, economic rivalry between the Eastern Greeks and the Western Greeks, people believed in gods. But for a few twists and turns here and there and the mother of an emperor, we could be worshiping someone else now. For myself, regardless of whether or not the author is Islamic, Jewish, or Christian, he is a scholar and is making an attempt at being unbiased. The woman leading the charge is simply a fool and unfortunately the type of fool that too many people listen to.
Had that guy found Christ he would not be compelled to be part of any named religion.
Never trust a fanatic. Hughes, I mean you.
Jesus got false accusations too. I defend people religions spotted with the world oppress with man made laws using Gods word like it was a gun. I do not do that stop giving false Pharisaical accusations abominable accusations. The people that are fanatical are against the-people I defend like the minding there own business gay, zoosexual, furry, clothing optional person. Fanatics hire police men and make legal buildings to condemn people. Fanatics influence people to kill like the Taliban and eye for eye sharia following Muslims and USA military. They are fanatics. I am against them. Bow your head saying you are sorry for your false words.
This is a perfect example of how convincing a media personality can be. To any reasonable person this is merely a tool with the credibility of being black on a conservative show, well articulated, and neutral with an inquisitive intensity. All in all one would expect some sort of unbiased position here with control and clarity. She is nothing more than some pencil/pen twirling idiot stooge for a conservative media. Her concerned focus and obvious plan of attack take her out of the realm of journalism and into that of late night evangelical shows where she should add a few inches to her hairdo.
The really scary thing here is that this ability to appear legitimate pervades our political and judicial system. Citizens receive information that is mostly, if not all, vehicle with little, or wrong content. The message is the massage.
Judges, Senators, Congressmen, and other politicians/hacks who have been elected based on media barrages like this, make up most of our government and judiciary.
There are many people with casts amounts of knowledge…. I would trust someone with these credentials to write a book about such subjects….
Sam, July 29, 2013 at 6:48 am
While I fully agree that the interview was of such low quality, I cannot agree that Aslan’s work is scholarly, factual or original. Nor can I accept that it is not written with an agenda. His religion DOES play a huge role. While stating that the gospels are just myths, his arguments are all based and backed by the gospels. Aslan is good at playing with words on his gullible readers. Please read the book before ye judge his work.
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The Koran calls Jesus a prophet, Judaism says that too, only Judaism says Jesus was a false prophet.
The Koran also says the books of the Bible are scripture.
Judaism Denys Jesus as Lord one way. Qur’an denies Jesus as Lord in another way making him equal to John the Baptist. Thomas did not deny Jesus as Lord at all. Satan denies Jesus every which way. Who is in Judaism and the Muslim religion at this point in time?
Judaism denies Jesus as Lord one way. Qur’an denies Jesus as Lord in another way making him equal to John the Baptist. Thomas did not deny Jesus as Lord at all. Satan denies Jesus every which way. Who is in Judaism and the Muslim religion at this point in time?
L. Green may be caught up in a dogma storm:
Dogma is tricky and nuanced sometimes.
Please compare Aslan’s book with the 3 works of S.G.F.Brandon on Jesus, written in 1951, 1967 (Jesus and the Zealots) and 1968; you will see a lot of overlap. Aslan’s work is just old wine in a new bottle. His faith helps him to express the idea more powerfully. Aslan’s earlier work on Allah, extolling his greatness and mercy, in his book “No God, but God” will reiterate what I say.