-Life as a Decorated Scholar | Writer | Producer-
Within modern day twenty first century, some might flippantly say that the role and importance of organized religion has reached a low point as far as reach, sway and importance within daily life for many around the world.
Stating one’s belief in being able to carve out a successful career built on studying, writing or producing works on the matter may also raise eyelids or provoke some hefty skepticism.
However, such musings would be wholly short-sighted.
Take the US in which seven out of ten Americans identify as Christian. According to an estimation in 2020, Islam has 1.9 billion adherents, making up about 24.7% of the world population. Add in that much of contemporary societal customs, norms and laws from around the world are easily traced back to religious influence.
Sure, things may be changing and perhaps youth in some pockets and countries are shifting away from religion, but make no mistake, these movements are in no way going to eradicate the influence or importance of organized religion in all its various forms from human existence anytime soon.
If you believe in the simple, yet profound truism about predicting the future being an exercise in discerning our past, then you would be forced to acknowledge the criticality of understanding the role of religion.
On today’s show, we have an exceptional guest who is not only eminently qualified to speak on matters of organized religion based on his own experiences and study of it, but also from his extraordinary record of professional achievement and success attached to it all.
Introducing
REZA ASLAN is a leading expert on world religions. He is also a NY Times best selling writer, professor, and an Emmy- and Peabody-nominated producer.
Background & Accomplishment
His books, including his #1 New York Times Bestseller, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (over a million copies sold), have been translated into dozens of languages around the world. His latest book is An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville (October 2022). Reza is a recipient of the prestigious James Joyce Award.
His producing credits include the acclaimed HBO series The Leftovers and the CBS comedy United States of Al. Aslan is also the host and Executive Producer of two other original television programs: Rough Draft with Reza Aslan on Topic, and CNN’s documentary series, Believer.
He served as an Executive Producer on the ABC drama, Of Kings and Prophets, and on the Emmy-nominated documentary series The Secret Life of Muslims.
In 2006, Aslan co-founded BoomGen Studios—the premiere entertainment brand for creative content from and about the Middle East—which has provided an array of targeted services ranging from strategic messaging to grassroots marketing to publicity and social media outreach, to producers, studios, and filmmakers.
Aslan’s first book, International Bestseller No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, has been translated into seventeen languages, and was named one of the 100 most important books of the last decade by Blackwell Publishers.
He is also the author of Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in a Globalized Age (originally titled How to Win a Cosmic War), and God: A Human History, as well as editor of two volumes: Tablet and Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East, and Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalties, Contentions, and Complexities.
Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth has been translated into twenty-seven languages worldwide and is soon to be a major motion picture with a script co-written by Aslan and Oscar- screenwriter, James Schamus.
Education
Aslan’s degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Santa Clara University, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University, 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, where he was named the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction.
Academia
Aslan is a tenured Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside and serves on the board of trustees for the Chicago Theological Seminary and The Yale Humanist Community.
Finally, Reza is co-host of the popular podcast Metaphysical Milkshake which he and actor / producer Rainn Wilson produce and host.
Born in Iran, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, author and entrepreneur, Jessica Jackley, and their four children.
Reasons to Listen
In this entertainingly poignant conversation, listeners are treated to a fascinating discussion on religion encompassing takes on its present standing, role and value within society.
Reza also shares his own unique professional positioning as an academic who strives to make his findings accessible by way of producing best selling books, and decorated television and film productions on matters related to his expertise.
Listeners will also get a fascinating look at his soon to be released and latest book, An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville.
All up, this episode offers listeners a gateway into thought on a topic that permeates, shapes and influences much of the world we live within. I’d highly encourage everyone to have a listen. You won’t be disappointed.
A Memorable Quote from the Episode:
“You have to understand that religion is not just a set of beliefs and practices. Religion is a matter of identity. Religion is how you define yourself. It’s one of the major markers of your identity; the things that make you who you are along with your race, ethnicity, gender, your sexual orientation, nationality, you know all of those things. I think that when you start thinking about religion in those terms as a form of identity then you understand very quickly how it permeates every aspect of life.”
-Reza Aslan
Check out the Video Conversation:
For those who desire to view the full video conversation of this discussion, you can do so via Youtube.
Words of Wisdom:
Hear from Reza as he shares advice to scholars who are interested in finding ways of making their own work that much more accessible and widely read.
Discover More
For those interested in learning more about Reza and his work, you can find out more about him at his website and by following many of the links on this very page. Further you can find him on the following social platforms:
Keep Listening!
I hope you enjoyed the episode. For more, check out additional episodes here!
