{"title":"Reza Aslan","description":"\u003cp\u003eReza Aslan’s works delve deeply into the intricate histories and spiritual landscapes of religion, with a particular focus on Islam. His writing combines rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, offering readers profound insights into faith, identity, and cultural transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlurring the lines between biography, history, and spirituality, Aslan’s books explore pivotal figures and moments that have shaped religious beliefs and societies. Expect thoughtful examinations that challenge assumptions while illuminating the enduring impact of faith on human experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"no-god-but-god","title":"No God But God","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNo God But God\u003c\/em\u003e by Reza Aslan is a masterful exploration of the rich history and profound depth of the Islamic faith, revealed in an elegant narrative that is both informative and enlightening. This acclaimed book, now fully revised and updated to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of 9\/11, delves into the origins and evolution of Islam from its inception in the 7th century to its impact on today’s global stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAslan begins with the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the societal conditions of pre-Islamic Arabia, offering readers an insightful understanding of the context from which Islam emerged. He continues to trace the development of Islamic theology, law, and mysticism, providing clear explanations of complex concepts without sacrificing scholarly rigour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book addresses pivotal issues of belief, such as the distinction between the Quran and the Bible, the spiritual significance of the Hajj pilgrimage, and the role of Jesus within Islamic thought. Furthermore, Aslan explores the intricate dynamics of the Muslim community’s relationships with Jews and Christians, along with an enlightening discussion on gender equality within Islam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis updated edition features significant new material reflecting recent political and social changes. It includes new chapters on the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, providing a comprehensive look at how these movements have shaped contemporary Islam. Additionally, it explores the changing face of Islam in Europe and North Africa, touching upon topics such as the controversial debate over the veil, the role of women within the religion, and the Iraq War’s influence as a Jihadi recruiting agent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAuthored by a Muslim with a deeply personal connection to the subject matter, \u003cem\u003eNo God But God\u003c\/em\u003e fills a crucial gap in the literature available to a broad audience. It provides a nuanced perspective that is often missing from Western discourse on Islam. Reza Aslan’s eloquent prose and thorough research render this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand one of the world’s most influential religions in its historical, theological, and modern contexts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695535775980,"sku":"9780099564324","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780099564324.jpg?v=1725633127"},{"product_id":"zealot-by-reza-aslan-9781760296131","title":"Zealot","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e#1 New York Times Bestseller\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTwo thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the 'Kingdom of God'. The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was captured, tortured, and executed as a state criminal. Within decades after his shameful death, his followers would call him God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBalancing the Jesus of the Gospels against historical sources, Aslan describes a complex figure: a man of peace who exhorted his followers to arm themselves; an exorcist and faith healer who urged his disciples to keep his identity secret; and the seditious King of the Jews, whose promise of liberation from Rome went unfulfilled in his lifetime. Aslan explores why the early Church preferred to promulgate an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary, and grapples with the riddle of how Jesus understood himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a thought-provoking, elegantly written biography with the pulse of a fast-paced novel, and a singularly brilliant portrait of a man, a time, and the birth of a religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'riveting biography'\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003cem\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'compulsively readable'\u003c\/em\u003e - \u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A vivid, persuasive portrait of the world and societies in which Jesus lived and the role he most likely played in both' - \u003cem\u003eSalon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46534451101932,"sku":"9781760296131","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20348253482814.jpg?v=1749435075"},{"product_id":"an-american-martyr-in-persia-by-reza-aslan-9781324065920","title":"An American Martyr in Persia","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLittle known in America but venerated as a martyr in Iran, Howard Baskerville was a twenty-two-year-old Christian missionary from South Dakota who travelled to Persia (modern-day Iran) in 1907 for a two-year stint teaching English and preaching the gospel. He arrived in the midst of a democratic revolution—the first of its kind in the Middle East—led by a group of brilliant young firebrands committed to transforming their country into a fully self-determining, constitutional monarchy, one with free elections and an independent parliament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Persian students Baskerville educated in English, in turn, educated him about their struggle for democracy, ultimately inspiring him to leave his teaching post and join them in their fight against a tyrannical shah and his British and Russian backers. \"The only difference between me and these people is the place of my birth,\" Baskerville declared, \"and that is not a big difference.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1909, Baskerville was killed in battle alongside his students, but his martyrdom spurred on the revolutionaries who succeeded in removing the shah from power, signing a new constitution, and rebuilding parliament in Tehran. To this day, Baskerville's tomb in the city of Tabriz remains a place of pilgrimage. Every year, thousands of Iranians visit his grave to honour the American who gave his life for Iran.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this rip-roaring tale of his life and death, Aslan gives us a powerful parable about the universal ideals of democracy—and to what degree Americans are willing to support those ideals in a foreign land. Woven throughout is an essential history of the nation we now know as Iran—frequently demonised and misunderstood in the West. Indeed, Baskerville's life and death represent a \"road not taken\" in Iran. \u003cem\u003eAn American Martyr in Persia\u003c\/em\u003e, like Baskerville's life, is at the centre of a whirlwind in which Americans must ask themselves: How seriously do we take our ideals of constitutional democracy and whose freedom do we support?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855707492588,"sku":"9781324065920","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/a81ba30babd24626fdf670dacc8398f9.jpg?v=1759284946"},{"product_id":"no-god-but-god-the-origins-and-evolution-of-islam-by-reza-aslan-9780385739764","title":"No god but God: The Origins and Evolution of Islam","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religions, has crafted an accessible and fascinating introduction to Islam in this young adult nonfiction work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEngaging, accessible, and thought-provoking, \u003cem\u003eNo god but God\u003c\/em\u003e is a persuasive, elegantly written, and accessible introduction for young readers to a faith that for much of the West remains shrouded in ignorance and fear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdapted for young readers from \u003cem\u003eNo god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam\u003c\/em\u003e, this exploration of Islam by Reza Aslan delves into the rituals and traditions of a religion that is largely misunderstood by the West. It covers the religion's origins—the revelation of Muhammad as Prophet and the subsequent uprising against him, and the emergence of his successors—as well as Islam's complex history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNo god but God\u003c\/em\u003e is sure to stimulate discussion and encourage understanding of the Islamic faith and the people who follow it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eNo god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"This welcome addition to Islamic studies provides a valuable context for reflection about the origins of issues facing Muslims and their neighbours today.\"—\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"An introduction to Islam as evocative as it is provocative.\"—\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"Wise and passionate book.\"—\u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/em\u003e Best Book of the Year\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47597355499756,"sku":"9780385739764","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780385739764-no-god-but-god-the-origins-and-evolution-of-islam.jpg?v=1777949980"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/reza-aslan.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}