The author Reza Aslan (1972-) is a writer and producer with a deep interest in religion. No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, his first book, was greeted with enthusiasm. Aslan went on to publish several more books on religion and to become an Emmy- and Peabody-nominated producer of shows ranging from The United States of Al to his documentary Believer. Three key aspects of his background shape his work and especially this book: his Iranian American heritage, his faith journey, and his academic background.

Aslan was born into a Shi’a Muslim Iranian family. In 1979, they fled the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution and settled in Los Angeles. Aslan directly experienced as a child not only the rich heritage of Iranian culture but also the hope of the Iranian Revolution, the debates in it about Islam and democracy, and the disappointment some Iranians felt at the direction it ultimately took. Those debates live at the heart of this book. At the same time, Aslan grew up in American culture. He has the firsthand experience to understand the disjuncture and misunderstandings between the two cultures so he can attempt to bridge them.

When he was 15 years old, Aslan converted to an evangelical branch of Christianity.