Reza Aslan Discusses Jesus with Evan Smith

Reza Aslan, author of  “Zealot, The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth,” outlines the argument of his book: that we can separate Jesus “the man” from Jesus “the Christ”  and place Jesus “the man” as a product of the time and place in which he lived.

In this interview with Evan Smith, he says that Jesus was an” illiterate, poor and pious peasant who lived in the back woods of Galilee who nevertheless started a movement on their behalf.”  He claimed to be a messiah and that claim eventually led to his death.