Canceled Historian EXPOSES the Truth About Islam (ft. Raymond Ibrahim) | Live Free with Josh Howerton

July 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Real History Behind the Crusades and Islam's Expansion

Raymond Ibrahim, a Coptic Christian historian and former Library of Congress researcher, has spent two decades studying primary sources in Arabic about Islam's military encounters with the West. His work has gotten him canceled from speaking engagements, shadow-banned on social media, and labeled an Islamophobe—not because he fabricates claims, but because the original sources tell a story that contradicts what most people learned in school.

Ibrahim's entry into this field came shortly after 9/11, when he was working in the Library of Congress's Near East section. He came across uncatalogued Arabic writings by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri that revealed a deliberate double-speak strategy. In messages translated for Western audiences, Al-Qaeda leaders cited political grievances—the Crusades, colonialism, Israel, even the Kyoto Protocol. But in Arabic writings intended for Muslim audiences, the message was entirely different: "We have to hate them because of who they are. They are infidels, enemies no matter what they do."

The Five Centuries That Weren't Peaceful

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What you'll learn

1 Timestamped Navigation Outline
2 (00:00) **Introduction and Context** - Josh Howerton introduces Raymond Ibrahim and explains why he reached out to him
3 (03:24) **Why Ibrahim is "Canceled"** - Ibrahim explains his background and how he became a controversial figure
4 (10:05) **Primary vs. Secondary Sources** - Ibrahim explains how he discovered the real history between Islam and Christianity
5 (17:37) **The Crusades Myth Dismantled** - Ibrahim responds to the claim of "five centuries of peaceful coexistence"
6 (27:53) **How Fake History Propagates** - Why the false narrative persists
7 (33:33) **Rewriting History to Control the Future** - The strategic weaponization of fake history

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Was everything you learned about the Crusades wrong? Why has the history of Christianity and Islam been so misunderstood? And what can history teach us about today's cultural and geopolitical challenges?

In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh Howerton sits down with historian and bestselling author Raymond Ibrahim for a thought-provoking conversation about the history of Christianity and Islam, the Crusades, the rise of Islamic empires, religious persecution, and the way history shapes our understanding of today's world. Together, they examine common misconceptions about the Crusades, discuss how historical narratives influence modern culture, explore the persecution of Christians throughout history, and consider how Christians should think biblically about history, religious freedom, immigration, and engaging their neighbors with both truth and love.

Whether you've wrestled with questions about the Crusades, Islamic history, Western civilization, or the role of Christians in today's culture, this conversation challenges listeners to pursue truth with wisdom, humility, and a biblical worldview.

In this episode you'll discover:

What really sparked the Crusades—and why history is often misunderstood.
How historical narratives shape modern culture and politics.
The history of Christian persecution in the Middle East.
How Christians can think biblically about Islam while loving their Muslim neighbors.
Why understanding history matters for faithfully following Christ today.

Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free.

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