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| Even by Fox News's standards, is this its most embarrassing interview? | Even by Fox News's standards, is this its most embarrassing interview? |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| A writer at Slate.com believes this may rank as "the single most cringe-worthy, embarrassing interview on Fox News." See if you agree. | A writer at Slate.com believes this may rank as "the single most cringe-worthy, embarrassing interview on Fox News." See if you agree. |
| Fox News anchor Lauren Green clearly thought she was opening her interview with religious historian Reza Aslan by asking a killer question: | Fox News anchor Lauren Green clearly thought she was opening her interview with religious historian Reza Aslan by asking a killer question: |
| "You're a Muslim, so why did you write a book about the founder of Christianity?" | "You're a Muslim, so why did you write a book about the founder of Christianity?" |
| Aslan, author of Zealot: the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, answered: | Aslan, author of Zealot: the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, answered: |
| "Well, to be clear, I am a scholar of religions with four degrees, including one in the New Testament, and fluency in biblical Greek, who has been studying the origins of Christianity for two decades, who also just happens to be a Muslim… I am an expert with a Phd in the history of religions." | "Well, to be clear, I am a scholar of religions with four degrees, including one in the New Testament, and fluency in biblical Greek, who has been studying the origins of Christianity for two decades, who also just happens to be a Muslim… I am an expert with a Phd in the history of religions." |
| But Green, conducting the interview on FoxNews.com, wasn't impressed. She said: | But Green, conducting the interview on FoxNews.com, wasn't impressed. She said: |
| "It still begs the question though, why would you be interested in the founder of Christianity?" | "It still begs the question though, why would you be interested in the founder of Christianity?" |
| As Slate's Daniel Politi points out, Aslan finds it necessary to repeat his credentials by talking slowly, as if addressing a child: | As Slate's Daniel Politi points out, Aslan finds it necessary to repeat his credentials by talking slowly, as if addressing a child: |
| "Because it's my job as an academic. I am a professor of religion, including the new testament. That's what I do for a living, actually." | "Because it's my job as an academic. I am a professor of religion, including the new testament. That's what I do for a living, actually." |
| Aslan explains that he isn't attacking Christianity. His mother is a Christian, he says. His wife is a Christian. His brother-in-law is an evangelical pastor. But Green is nothing if not single-minded (or should that be simple-minded?). | Aslan explains that he isn't attacking Christianity. His mother is a Christian, he says. His wife is a Christian. His brother-in-law is an evangelical pastor. But Green is nothing if not single-minded (or should that be simple-minded?). |
| First, she asks him about a critical review of the book, published incidentally on FoxNews.com, which suggests he has failed to disclose that he is a Muslim. He replies: "This isn't a Muslim opinion. This is an academic work of history." | First, she asks him about a critical review of the book, published incidentally on FoxNews.com, which suggests he has failed to disclose that he is a Muslim. He replies: "This isn't a Muslim opinion. This is an academic work of history." |
| Then, seven minutes in, Green puts to Aslan a comment from a critic who claims that a Muslim writing a book on Jesus is like a Democrat writing a book about why Reagan wasn't a good Republican. Magic. | Then, seven minutes in, Green puts to Aslan a comment from a critic who claims that a Muslim writing a book on Jesus is like a Democrat writing a book about why Reagan wasn't a good Republican. Magic. |
| Aslan isn't fazed. And Green becomes noticeably more aggressive because he answers her questions calmly and logically. If you have 10 minutes, watch the complete car crash. | Aslan isn't fazed. And Green becomes noticeably more aggressive because he answers her questions calmly and logically. If you have 10 minutes, watch the complete car crash. |
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