Progressive Spirit

As fellows of the Jesus Seminar search for the historical Jesus behind the Gospel and Creed, so Lesley Hazleton searches for the historical Muhammad behind the Qur'an and Hadith.   In 2013 she released, The First Muslim:  The Story of Muhammad and talked with me about this fascinating person who changed history.  Lesley Hazleton has reported from the Middle East and her work focuses on the the intersection of politics and religion. Previous books include After the Prophet:  The Epic Story of the Sunni-Shia Split in Islam, Jezebel:  The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen, and Mary: A Flesh and Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother.  She blogs at The Accidental Theologist.