Reza Aslan is an Iranian-American author, scholar of religious studies, television producer, and host. He was born on May 3, 1972, in Tehran, Iran. In 1979, following the Iranian Revolution, Aslan and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and identifies as both Iranian and American.
Aslan attended Del Mar High School in San Jose, California, graduating in 1990. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He later received a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing from the University of Iowa’s Writers' Workshop and a Ph.D. in Sociology, with a focus on the sociology of religion, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Reza Aslan is the author of several best-selling books that explore religion, extremism, and global politics. His notable works include No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, which offers a historical view of Islam and its transformations into the modern era. Another major publication, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of Terror, examines the ideological roots of terrorism and the misuse of religion in political conflicts. This work was later reissued under the title Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalization.
Aslan's writings often explore religious violence across different faith traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. His academic insights on extremist movements such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban have contributed significantly to public discourse on global terrorism and religious ideology.
In addition to his academic work, Aslan has built a career in media as a television host and producer. He is known for bringing accessible and informed commentary on religious and cultural issues to a mainstream audience. Through both broadcast and print media, he aims to foster a nuanced understanding of the role of religion in contemporary society.
Reza Aslan was previously engaged to journalist Amanda Fortini, but the couple ended their engagement in 2008. In 2011, he married Jessica Jackley, the co-founder of Kiva, a microlending platform. They have three sons together and reside in Los Angeles, California.
| Birth Date: | 3 May, 1972 |
| Age: | 48 yrs |
| Occupations: | Writer |
| Citizenship: | Iran |
| Birth Place: | Tehran |
| residence: | Los Angeles |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Iranian-American author, commentator |
| Spouse: | Jessica Jackley |
| Net Worth 2021: | 3 million |
