This episode was recorded on October 18th 2021.

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Mustafa Akyol joins me to discuss Muslim history and tradition. We touch on subjects like Jesus Christ from a Christian and Muslim perspective, the Virgin Mary’s role in the Quran, separation of church and state as an ideology, the dangers of literalism when facing religious texts, and much more. Mustafa Akyol is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he focuses on the intersection of public policy, Islam, and modernity.

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He’s contributed as an opinion writer for the New York Times since 2013, covering politics and religion in the Muslim world. Published by W. W. Norton, his 2011 book, “Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty,” presents a strong argument for Islamic liberalism. The book was long-listed for the Lionel Gelber Prize for best nonfiction book. It was also praised by The Financial Times as “a forthright and elegant Muslim defense of freedom.” His other books include “Reopening Muslim Minds” and “The Islamic Jesus.”

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Find Mustafa’s most important book, “Reopening Muslim Minds,” here: https://www.amazon.com/Reopening-Muslim-Minds-Freedom-Tolerance/dp/1250256062/

His book “The Islamic Jesus,” discussed in this episode: https://www.amazon.com/Islamic-Jesus-Became-Prophet-Muslims/dp/1250088690/

A free PDF of his book, “Why, As a Muslim, I Defend Liberty”: https://libertarianism.org/books/why-muslim-i-defend-liberty

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