he says "reza aslan is not a new testament scholar. book is educated amateur summary and synthesis of a particularly skeptical but quite long-established line of new testament scholarship presented to us as simple fact." what do you say to that? >> i think the opinion about the scholarship is perfectly fine. that's a good opinion. i actually cite all the scholars who disagree with every single point that i make in the book. and i cite all the scholars who agree with me. i mean, it turns out that people have been writing about jesus for a very, very long time. and so, you know, i'm immersed in that studies. but to the credentials part, and i really hate doing this because there is nothing more annoying than somebody having to talk about his credentials, but all right, here we go again. my bachelor is from santa clara university, in scripture and tradition which is fancy talk for new testament. i have fluency in biblical greek. master's of theological study from harvard. my ph.d. coursework was all done in history of religion. dissertati

religious scholar reza aslan and warren green over aslan's book on jesus. >> you're a muslim so why did write a book about the founder of christianity. >> 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 for two decades who happens to be a muslim. it's not that i'm some muslim writing about jesus. i am an expert with a ph.d. in the history of religions. >> it still begs the question, why would you be interested in the founder of christianity? >> 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. >> while it may be unfathomable to some that a muslim, even an academic muslim, would write a book about jesus, the american people seem to be slightly more tolerant. since the video went viral aslan's book sales have skyrocketed. on friday "zealot" was in the number eight spot, by sunday it had hit number one where it remains today. the book "zealot, the life and time of jesus of naz czar ret" has angere

attention to your credit your thumbs with the suit really very clear on the outside of the colors aslan raising hope no go back you believe you know all next on larry king now. our in a place of my very well brooklyn where they used to travel up the hill and i did visit central park trump of course blocked the r.v. look for a little have a nice one anyway of the park in the with one of my favorite people the terrific that the jet bridges academy award winning he stars in this summer's r i v day it opens this friday night he's opposite ryan reynolds are i b d stands for rest in peace police department right wrist peace department rest in peace the part some people are calling it rip. what do you make of this film i don't know what to make it is totally a crazy crazy crazy movie yeah sorry i like to make that as a cage especially at summer time gives them some people to chortle at is it fun to do oh yes specially when you've got guys like ryan and mary louise parker and you know and kevin bacon to work with and it makes it all but of the three d. is incredible yeah and all these axes scen

. >>> also tonight religious scholar reza aslan, being the subject of the most embarrassing inie

. >>> also tonight religious scholar reza aslan, being the subject of the most embarrassing interviewhas ever done. >>> plus, shocking video of white youths rye rotting and running rampant through the streets of huntington beach, california. do we need to have a national dialogue about the violent destructive white youth culture

. >>> also tonight religious scholar raza aslan, being the subject of the most embarrassing interview>> plus, shocking video of white youths rye rotting and running rampant through the streets of huntington beach, california.

. >> his name is riza aslan. he was born in iran. is he hiding his faith?hristian in his teens. he found jesus then returned to islam, i don't know why. he made a choice to do that. he has a great respect for jesus. which is -- you know, this guy seems -- he's well-educated, well-spoken, wrote a great book. i'm glad it is becoming a big hit. weird to see this politicized. i don't see any other religion like this where there's pro and con on a political spectrum where conservatives are anti-muslim. go on twitter, there are people who say anti-muslim and islam. and tcot hashtag and conservative and tea party. so there are actually people -- imagine if you put i hate jews on your profile, i hate black people. you would never do that because in society it is not accepted. still on the right it is accepted to demonize muslims so fox news people defended this interview. people with a brain don't. i think the amoeba brain-eating creature they talked about on cnn last night, which i think ted cruz has -- >> stephanie: ted "an amoebaate my brain" cruz. >> i'm glad p

it's about jesus christ and it is written by a biblical scholar by the name of riza aslan.was on fox news the other day and the anchor, loren green, asked him a pertinent question but he's very -- he's got an answer for her for sure as to what the hell are you doing writing a book about jesus. here's how that interview went. >> this is an interesting book. now, you're a muslim so why did you write about a book about the founder of christianity? >> 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. so it is not that i'm just some muslim writing about jesus. i am an expert with a ph.d. in the history of religions. >> it still begs the question why would you be interested in the founder of christianity? >> because it is my job as an academic, i'm a professor of religion, including the new testament. that's what i do for a living, actually. >> so embarrassing for fox. >> bill: i know. "buzzfeed" is

reporter: the biggest bookstore in portland oregon hosted a reading and question session with reza aslanchristianity. jesus was a jew. >> now the biggest selling author. but now his book zealot didn't zoom to number one until after an interview on fox. lauren green starting the ten minute segment with a challenge regarding his muslim faith. you're a muslim so why did you write a book about the founder of christianity. >> it's not that i'm just some muslim writing about jesus. i am an expert with ph.d. in the history of religions. >> green, minute after minute kept asking versions of the same question. >> why would you be interested in the founder of christianity. >> he was compelled to keep giving versions of his same answer. i am a historian. my mother is a christian. my wife is a christian. this isn't a muslim opinion. i'm not sure what my faith has to do with my 20 years of academic study of the new testament. >> the interview went viral and his book was a publishing home run. >> for any writer, any thinker to have inadvertently launched such a public discussion is about the best thin