Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza AslanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the end, I was delighted that I read this book, Zealot. I'll admit it. I hesitated to begin, jealous of my personal interpretation of Jesus, the man of Nazareth. I didn't exactly want to waste any time on a volume of descent.
As I read, I began to realize that Reza Aslan was not "messing with" my own distinct and life-long picture of the adult Jesus. Nor was this self-proclaimed historian denying that "my" Jesus the Nazarene actually walked the walked and talked the talk - even more so when presented in context - and he may have done it with a zeal that the gospels do not portray.
The history of the Jews under Rome during the life of Jesus and, later, of the twelve (James taking the place of Judas) and of Paul, was told once more; this time, in an absolutely amazing and lifelike scenario. Aslan hauled me down into a land that was not of my own making.
The adulthood of Jesus became clearer in some ways. I realize now that most of the "historical facts" that I knew were dry statistics; lists of names of kings, rabbis, and Roman statesmen paired with recounted dates of wars and rebellions. I could suddenly, while reading, see Jesus and his followers as a group alive in the active, dangerous, remarkable world of their time.
I was particularly interested in the relationship of James, the brother of Jesus, to Paul, who never met the man Jesus. How was it that Paul's doctrine was accepted as the foundation of the church while James's was disregarded? Now I understand that historical events stepped in and solved the question forever.
Don't read this book if you have a totally closed mind or if you are ultra-sensitive as to whether or not the New Testament, written so long after Jesus lived, is 100% accurate.
I remember remarking that I was not going to review any of this summer's non-fiction but would simply give stars. Yet, I had to let you know that, all in all, my personal image of Jesus the Man remains intact, has not suffered any affront, and has even grown to some extent. Four Stars for Reza Aslan and Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth.
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