Reza Aslan - Reza Aslan is a writer and scholar of religions.
Born in Iran, Aslan is currently a research associate at the University of Southern California's Center on Public Diplomacy. He was a visiting assistant professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Iowa and the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction at the Iowa Writer's Workshop.
A frequent commentator on television, radio, and in print, Aslan is a graduate of Santa Clara University, Harvard University, and the University of Iowa. He is the author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam and How to Win a Cosmic War: Why We're Losing the War on Terror.
Jonathan Curiel - Jonathan Curiel is a journalist in San Francisco. He is the author of 'Al' America: Travels Through America's Arab and Islamic Roots.
What does being Muslim in the United States mean today? U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East greatly affects the everyday relations for Muslims living in the United States. How does our foreign policy shape the identity of Muslim Americans or put their identity in crisis?
Scholar and author Reza Aslan discusses Islamic identity in the United States, how the U.S. media portrays Islam, and to what extent the media factors into the formation of identity and stereotypes.
I enjoyed this very much, but I have to quibble with a few things. Reza Aslan forgets that Muslim Americans are not the only "Other" in America- there are Latin Americans, GLBTQ Americans, Atheists, etc. Indeed, he is too willing to pass over the inherent and continuing racial problems in the United States. But again, over all very good.
Think about this 78% christ things is a false claim. when does any religious creatures ever tell the the truth.
when he say's our history"excuse me" but american history does not belong to the newcomers such the 5 generation
americans. this speaker is a nile and has nothing to offer!.
He's wrong. Language and culture is what divides us, not religion. Religion divides groups of countries or continents. No christian has to go to church on a regular basis in order to satisfy Aslan's definition. By saying "christian", he is combining Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Anglican, etc. all into one convenient group, christian. It took centuries for these sects to evolve and now he has genericized christianity. I don't agree and I'm not even a bible thumper...
Very good and clear talk, Dr. Aslam. I do, however, find it a shame that religion has anyhing
to do with nation image. Some of us have no religion, nor do we desire any. I'm a native
born American, but I really consider myself more of a Scot. I enjoyed your lecture.
What I believe Reza is saying is that people tend to genericize Islam as well, when it is in fact, a very diverse and far from monolithic faith. I'm absolutely sure he understands the differences among the many denominations of Christianity and would never consider it monolithic, so his point is that it's a shame that more people don't understand that Islam is just as nuanced.
rkm and Athonora, Caity is correct. Islam and Muslim are essentially shorthand (or superclass) for Sunni, Shia, Druze, etc. just like Christianity and Christian are shorthand (or superclass) Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, etc.
Loved it and I have to admit my bias: I especially liked the credit given to the mid west with a desire to seek understanding. The coastal areas already know, LOL! Too true Reza, Too true!