reply to post by digital01anarchy
Uh he has....
No god but God (Updated Edition):
The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
In No god but God, internationally acclaimed scholar Reza Aslan explains Islam—the origins and evolution of the faith—in all its beauty and
complexity. This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade, analyzing how they have influenced Islam’s position in modern culture.
Aslan explores what the popular demonstrations pushing for democracy in the Middle East mean for the future of Islam in the region, how the Internet
and social media have affected Islam’s evolution, and how the war on terror has altered the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East. He
also provides an update on the contemporary Muslim women’s movement, a discussion of the controversy over veiling in Europe, an in-depth history of
Jihadism, and a look at how Muslims living in North America and Europe are changing the face of Islam. Timely and persuasive, No god but God is an
elegantly written account that explains this magnificent yet misunderstood faith.
Beyond
Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization
is both an in-depth study of the ideology fueling al-Qa‘ida, the Taliban, and like-minded militants throughout the Muslim world and an exploration
of religious violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At a time when religion and politics increasingly share the same vocabulary and function in
the same sphere, Aslan writes that we must strip the conflicts of our world of their religious connotations and address the earthly grievances that
always lie at its root.
Anyways. Reza Aslan just finished doing a Ask Me Anything over at
Reddit
Top Questions as of posting.
Q: Did you have any off-air conversation with Lauren Green after the interview? If so, what did she say? And has she reached out to you since the
backlash against her interviewing tactics?
A: No. I don't know her. I don't know anything about her actually. I've never spoken to her before or since. Frankly, I feel kind of bad for
her.
Q: Dr. Aslan,
Has studying religion influenced your faith? Do you find new things that change your view of the things you believe?
A: I think the Buddha said it right: If you want to draw water you do not dig six one foot wells. You dig one six foot well. Islam is my six foot
well. I like the symbols and metaphors it uses to describe the relationship between God and humanity. But I recognize that the water I am drawing is
the same water that every other well around me is drawing. And no matter the well, the water is just as sweet!
Q: Why did some cultures embrace monotheism, while others looked to polytheism?
Back in highschool, one of my history professors talked about how monotheistic religions came out of more nomadic peoples, where not much was had so
they turned inwards (hence once god who judges intentions and actions). In contrast, polytheistic religions came from more settled regions that had
access to everything they needed, so their gods reflected their surrounds (e.g. a god of thunder, or of the river, etc.) I never really followed up on
this theory, but it's always fascinated me and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
A: Monotheism is actually a very recent phenomenon. In the hundred thousand year history of human religious experience, monotheism is perhaps three
thousand years old. That's because the idea of a single god being responsible for both good and bad, light and dark, is something that the ancient
mind had a very difficult time accepting. And no wonder! The only way that monotheism finally "stuck" is thru the concept of angels and demons. In
other words, it was only when all the other "gods" were demoted into spiritual beings responsible for different aspects of the human condition that
people were able to accept the idea one GOD in charge of all the lower spiritual beings.