🎙️ Voice For Freedom Podcast | Ep. 23 "What's Breaking the West?" Most Westerners are blind to how profoundly Islamic law and culture shape the real risks in the Middle East and beyond. Danny Burmawi, a former Muslim turned Christian and exiled critic of Islam, exposes the hidden truths about what happens to those who leave Islam, how the West's foundational values are under attack, and why the fight for Western civilization is a battle over the core ideas that define human dignity and freedom. In this eye-opening episode, Danny shares his astonishing journey from growing up in Jordan — where converting to Christianity can mean losing your civil rights and facing deadly threats — to living in Lebanon and witnessing the oppressive power of Islamic law firsthand. You'll discover the stark reality of how Islamic texts explicitly command violence and political ambition, and how Western narratives are hijacked to mask the true nature of jihad and tyranny. Danny unpacks how Western success was built on Judeo-Christian values like the sanctity of life and individual worth — values now under relentless assault by ideologies seeking to erase the roots of freedom. We break down key insights on the ideological war sweeping the world: how anti-Western forces cloak their agendas in the language of resistance, why Iran's regime remains a nuclear and proxy threat, and how the ideological battle is ultimately over truth and divine authority. If you care about understanding the true stakes behind global unrest, or how to defend Western civilization's foundational principles, this episode is essential listening. Through compelling stories and unapologetic analysis, Danny reveals what both individuals and policymakers must grasp to stand against the rising tide of anti-Western ideologies. Perfect for conservatives, Christians, and anyone committed to defending liberty and truth in a changing world. 👇Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to the episode: Islam, Israel, the West, and why this matters 00:21 - Danny Burmawi's background: From Jordan, Muslim upbringing, to Christian conversion 01:37 - The Danish cartoon controversy and its impact on Danny's faith journey 02:44 - The legal and societal repercussions of converting from Islam to Christianity in Jordan 03:13 - How Islam's broad influence surpasses other religions in societal control 04:39 - Scriptural commands and violence in Islam compared to Christian reform 05:59 - Personal threats faced by Danny in Jordan and harassment of believers 06:43 - The official religious identification system in Jordan and its implications 07:22 - Civil rights restrictions for converts in Jordan, including marriage and inheritance 08:05 - The risk of apostasy in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and the danger of expressing Christianity 09:04 - Political and judicial risks for Christians in Islamic states, including detention and forced recantation 11:09 - Analyzing the false narrative of Western tolerance towards Islamic regimes 12:07 - The global ideological struggle: Judeo-Christian civilization vs. radical ideologies 13:12 - Foundations of the West: Judeo-Christian values of human dignity, freedom, and truth 14:20 - Deconstruction of Western values through man-made philosophies and gender theory 15:41 - The growing threat of anti-Western ideologies masquerading as progressive movements 16:41 - How extremist groups reframe jihad and resistance, aligning with leftist narratives 17:09 - The discrediting of Western success through accusations of exploitation and colonialism 19:23 - Hamas, Iran, and the false narrative of liberation, and their ideological goals 20:57 - The West's perception of Israel and the framing of conflicts as anti-Semitic or anti-Western 22:05 - The importance of truth, faith, and the fight for Western civilization's core principles 23:04 - The erosion of Western values and the dangers of neutrality and apathy 24:40 - Restoring confidence in faith-based foundations and the role of education 27:46 - The launch of the Ideological Defense Institute and efforts to educate on Western heritage 28:44 - The significance of understanding Judeo-Christian values beyond religious belief 29:19 - The innate superiority of Western ideas rooted in divine principles despite secularization 30:48 - The critical importance of valuing human life as a divine gift 32:23 - Defending the superiority of Western civilization's ideas through evidence and outcomes 33:20 - Distinguishing ideas' outcomes from cultural or racial superiority 35:36 - Cultural relativism and the danger of ignoring fundamental differences in practices and beliefs 36:02 - The importance of recognizing the truth about cultural differences and ideas' impacts 36:53 - The fallacy of the myth that all cultures or ideas are equal 37:20 - The depravity reflected in some cultural practices, and the West's emphasis on growth and morality 38:39 - Wrapping up: Building awareness, defending values, and the need for active engagement 39:09 - Iran's geopolitical significance and the threat of Islamic expansion 44:10 - The challenge of Iran's theocracy and the potential for regime change 45:06 - Closing remarks: The importance of understanding and acting against ideological threats 👇Takeaways The personal journey of Danny Burmawi from Islam to Christianity and his experiences in Jordan and Lebanon How Islamic law and traditions impact converts and religious freedom in Muslim-majority countries The differences between Islam and Christianity regarding violence, reform, and scriptural interpretation The Western civilization's Judeo-Christian roots and the secularization of moral values The ideological war between Western humanism and Islamic/Jihadist narratives Iran's current geopolitical significance and the threat of Islamic jihad expansion The importance of defending Western values and the role of faith in shaping civilization Strategies for cultural and ideological preservation amid growing threats 🎙️Host: Simeon Myers: Residing in the US, Simeon oversees ARISE's day-to-day operations and initiatives. Prior to pivoting with his brother to the ARISE initiative, Simeon served alongside Calev as Executive Director for the Jerusalem Institute of Justice. A bit of a renaissance man, Simeon owned and operated a jewelry design and manufacturing company in his early life. He has been a singer/songwriter with television placement, a poker professional, and currently works in film production/directing. If you can't reach Simeon, he's probably out on a mountain stream fly fishing. 🎙️Our Guest: Danny Burmawi is an author, political commentator, and founder of the Ideological Defense Institute. Born in Jordan in 1988, he converted from Islam to Christianity as a young man-a decision that forced him to leave his homeland and shaped the course of his life's work. At nineteen, he moved to Lebanon, where he spent fourteen years immersed in the region's political and religious complexities. During that time, he founded and led multiple nonprofit organizations serving across the Middle East. Danny holds a Master's degree in Theological Studies, and Islam, Israel and the West is his third published book. He now resides in the United States with his wife and son, where he continues his mission of educating the Western public and policymakers about the threat of Islamism and other tyrannical ideologies. 🔗 Learn more about Danny Burmawi at https://danburmawi.com X (Twitter): @Danburmawy Ideological Defense Institute Website: https://idicenter.org 🔗 Learn more about ARISE at https://ariseforisrael.com/ Instagram: @ariseforisrael 🔗 Watch this episode at https://youtu.be/06dKviSYycQ
