8/12/2019 William Lane Craig Criticizes Reza Aslan

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William Lane Craig Criticizes Reza Aslans New Book Zealot

July 3! "#3

In response to the recent buzz surrounding Reza Aslans new book Zealot: The Life and Times of esus of

!azareth"# popular theologian $illiam Lane %raig dismissed the books claims that esus is historicall&

unknowable'

Aslan has offered nothing new under the sun when it comes to offering a criti(ue of the historical esus"# %raig

said in response to Aslans book' In fact" he is attempting to re)ert scholarship back to the earl& *+,,s b& echoin

Albert -chweitzers book" The .uest for the /istorical esus' Like -chweitzer" Aslan claims that esus is

historicall& unknowable and we can ne)er get back to the real esus'#

%raig" a %hristian apologist" also re0ected Aslans claim that esus was a member of an official Zealot nationalist

part&'

Additionall&" Aslan makes an illicit" anachronistic allusion to esus and the Zealot part& of the ewish people"#

%raig added'

8/12/2019 William Lane Craig Criticizes Reza Aslan

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1uring esus lifetime" the designation of zealot merel& referred to a person who was politicall& a nationalist and

2zealous2 for ewish independence' According to man& scholars" it would be stretching it to claim that esus" or an&

of the zealots of esus time" were members of the official Zealot nationalist part&" which wasnt organized untilA'1' 34536'#

%raig also claimed that Aslans book lacked historical accurac&'

The reasons Aslan presents for esus crucifi7ion are lacking in religio8historical accurac&"# %raig said' There

were certainl& political reasons that in)ol)ed Rome and 9ilate' 9ilates action to offer one criminal for anotheraccused criminal; was not unprecedented' 9ilates moti)ation seems to ha)e been more political rather than

s&mpathetic to esus' 9ilate was onl& tr&ing to appease the crowds for he had alread& dealt with rebellious ews in

the beginning of his go)ernorship'#

In light of the conte7t of political and social tensions" the historical background information sheds light on wh&9ilate e)en cared about the situation"# %raig continued'

9ilate could ha)e done radical actions at the wa)e of a hand such as not e)en listen to the ews about esus" or hecould ha)e listened and immediatel& sentenced /im to death' Tr&ing to offer appeasement to the ews in light of

what seems to be a s&mpathetic approach to esus" but not wholeheartedl&;" he gi)es them an option to release aprisoner of Rome back to the ews' /oping that this ma& dilute or sol)e the situation" the ews chose