'Lord of the Rings' star shares surprising story about Islam and slavery

June 05, 2015

Writer

John Rhys-Davies, star of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy and 'Indiana Jones' films, joined Glenn on radio to discuss his new movie that Glenn really enjoyed - 'Beyond the Mask'. The conversation took an interesting turn when Davies spoke of his fear of the end of western European Christian civilization and need for people to unite against true evil in the world. To illustrate his point, Rhys-Davies shared a story from his childhood when he saw a real-life slave ship bringing children to Saudi Arabia.

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Below is a rush transcript of this segment:

GLENN: So last night, Tania and Cheyenne and I went and we saw a new movie that we hadn't heard about. Somebody on Facebook said, hey, Glenn, you need to look into this movie called Beyond the Mask. I posted, does anybody know about it? It posted in select theaters. We saw it last night and absolutely loved it. Just loved it. It is made by two guys. Two families that were home-schooling families, and they used to get together. And they liked to make historic videos and films. Well, that doesn't sound like a good movie. That sounds like, okay, that's great. And I'll let somebody else watch that. This is a really good movie. This is something that reminds me very much like the Swamp Fox or Johnny Tremain that Walt Disney did with, you know, modern production tied to it. Really well done. Well acted. And one of the main guys in it, in fact, he plays the evil uncle is John Rhys-Davies. You may not know his name, but you've seen him a million times. He played Gimli in Lord of the Rings. He was the guy who wore the fez -- I don't remember the character's name -- but the guy who wore the fez in Indiana Jones. Indie's -- I can always just hear him say, Indie! He was the friend over in Egypt of Indiana Jones.

John, are you there?

JOHN: I am indeed -- [inaudible] welcome for our film. I think it's rather generous of you. Thank you very much.

GLENN: Thank you. First of all, you're over in England. And we appreciate you talking to us today. But one thing that I don't think people know is you were a guy that you were very radically left in the 1960s, and Margaret Thatcher kind of changed your mind. Actually kind of -- you were trying to shout her down or something. And she had a great comeback. Right? Do I have the story right?

JOHN: I was a young left-wing idiot in those days. And she was our constituency MP in Finchley, and a bunch of us decided to go along and, you know, make her look tough, rough. And each one of them got up and asked a question, and she shot them down in flames. I chickened out. I decided that I would just forget my question. And just -- just listen for once. And she was -- she hadn't actually gotten into her full stride yet. Her voice was still a bit shrill. But she had an absolute mastery of fact. And she could -- it was pretty easy for her to shoot us down.

GLENN: Now, here you are, you're playing a bad guy, and you play it really well. A bad guy in Beyond the Mask. It's opening in select theaters this weekend. You're in Whales. Are you not?

JOHN: I'm in London, actually. But I'm working on something else in London.

GLENN: So how did you get involved with this American family Christian movie that, you know, was made by homeschoolers. I can't imagine that that was the thing, hey, I have to do a film done by a couple of homeschoolers.

JOHN: Well, you make it sound a little more radical than it was. The truth of the matter is, I like independent films. And I like independent filmmakers. And you can get great production values out of Hollywood. But you seldom really get something where people are trying to talk from the heart. And, you know, I -- I'm -- I'm in this paradoxical situation of being I suppose a radical -- a skeptic and a rationalist really. But I have an enormous -- I have an enormous number of Christian friends who put up with me rather well. And I have an enormous sympathy for them. And, you know, right at the moment, I'm one of those who actually believes that we're in danger of losing western European Christian civilization. And now is not the time to bicker. Now is the time to find what we have in common.

GLENN: Holy cow.

JOHN: And, you know -- you know, and build bridges, rather than sneer and scoff and scorn.

GLENN: John, you are -- you're speaking to an audience of 10 million people here in America that feel exactly the same way. That we are -- we're in real trouble. And nobody is willing to say it. Nobody is willing to do it. And the religious people -- and really, some of the atheists too. We're just tearing each other apart. And we have a lot we agree on. We have a lot we agree on. I'm good friends with Penn Jillette who is a big atheist in America. And we get along famously because there's so much to agree on, the basic principles of life. And western civilization and we really are on the verge of losing it.

JOHN: Well, I mean, I think -- I think America is still the last best hope of mankind. But I think we really are going to lose it in Europe. You know, we --

GLENN: When was the last time you were here? We're not doing so well?

[laughter]

JOHN: I lived in the states incidentally. I used to live -- I listened and watched your show whenever I got back to the states.

GLENN: Oh, you're kidding.

JOHN: So, but the -- here in Europe, you know, the demographics have just been ignored by the politicians. And, you know, I'm not a statistician or anything like that. But, you know, when you have contraception in a country for 40 or 50 years and your birthrate goes below that magical 2.1 per woman figure on average, you get a declining population. And what we are doing, we're not merely replacing our indigenous European population with refugees from Africa and the third world, we're actually replacing our culture as well. And that is catastrophic. You know, we are -- I grew up in Africa. I was taught to respect Islam in all those customs that Muslims must endure. I was aware of. You know, and would try and observe. I have some -- some -- let's put it this way. I have many friends of mine who are Muslim, but I would not wish to live in an Islamic world or an Islamic country.

There is -- there is -- it isn't a question of finding similarities. You know, there is in Islam a direct confrontational attitude towards, you know, the unbelievers. And it's -- and it's really set in stone because the prophet was the last -- the last person that God talked to as a prophet. Therefore, everything he says is set in stone. You cannot contradict the prophet. And some of the things that the prophet said, though you will always people saying, well, he didn't actually mean this. What it really means is, you know. But it is really there. And I've got -- I'm one of those people who have a particular bee in my bonnet about slavery.

The reason is simple. I grew up in Africa. My father was a policeman. He came home one day. We went at lunchtime. He said, get in the car. And he drove me down to the dockside. And there was an Arab dhow in the harbor. And he said, you see that dhow? Twice a year it comes down from Saudi Arabia. It stops in Aden. It comes down the Somali coast. It stops here. It's bringing trading goods down. Then it goes on to Beira in Mozambique. But on the way back up, it always have two or three little black boys ,and they're being taken back to Saudi Arabia as slaves.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

JOHN: And his anger was palpable and communicated itself to me. And I've always been -- you know -- you know, when people have a little bee in their bonnet about things and you say, oh, that's odd. But a little out of place. That was one of my bees in my bonnet. And I was outraged. Outraged to see justifications for slavery again.

GLENN: Yes. And the world is -- you know what is amazing. Here in America, we're spending so much time celebrating Bruce Jenner becoming Caitlyn Jenner. And we're not talking about the slave trade that's going on. The slaughter of even the homosexuals. The slaughter of -- the crucifixion of children because they're Christians in the Middle East. We're not paying attention to that. We're just dead asleep in America. It's shameful. It's shameful, John.

JOHN: Well, it's shameful. We have exactly the same thing here. I mean, you know, obviously I'm in show business. You and I both have friends who are gay. You know, but gay marriage here was just about the last thing that the -- that the gay community was expecting. It was so -- down the list of things that needed real serious attention because harm was being done. I mean, you would have got to about 15,000 other things that were priorities, you would have thought. And I always sort of -- I always say, look, if I could have one week to change the world, I would probably execute everyone who used the word "rights" if they didn't back it up with the obligation of responsibilities.

GLENN: Responsibilities. Oh, my gosh. Wow, John. Man, we are up against the clock here. I hope that we can have you back. Because you are fascinating. And one of the few that are really willing to say the truth and say it in a kind way, in a loving way, and just speak common sense. And, A, I wish you all the best of luck. And best of luck on this latest film. Which, again, I recommend highly. If you are anywhere, look for it this weekend. It's open in select theaters. It's called Beyond the Mask. But it is really good. Really, really good. And John Rhys-Davies plays the bad guy in it. And --

JOHN: The bad guys. How dare you, sir. I am the queen's most loyal object.

GLENN: John, thank you so much. And God bless you. Thank you.

JOHN: And you, sir. Thank you very much for having me.

Colorado counselor fights back after faith declared “illegal”

Drew Angerer / Staff | Getty Images

The state is effectively silencing professionals who dare speak truths about gender and sexuality, redefining faith-guided speech as illegal.

This week, free speech is once again on the line before the U.S. Supreme Court. At stake is whether Americans still have the right to talk about faith, morality, and truth in their private practice without the government’s permission.

The case comes out of Colorado, where lawmakers in 2019 passed a ban on what they call “conversion therapy.” The law prohibits licensed counselors from trying to change a minor’s gender identity or sexual orientation, including their behaviors or gender expression. The law specifically targets Christian counselors who serve clients attempting to overcome gender dysphoria and not fall prey to the transgender ideology.

The root of this case isn’t about therapy. It’s about erasing a worldview.

The law does include one convenient exception. Counselors are free to “assist” a person who wants to transition genders but not someone who wants to affirm their biological sex. In other words, you can help a child move in one direction — one that is in line with the state’s progressive ideology — but not the other.

Think about that for a moment. The state is saying that a counselor can’t even discuss changing behavior with a client. Isn’t that the whole point of counseling?

One‑sided freedom

Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor in Colorado Springs, has been one of the victims of this blatant attack on the First Amendment. Chiles has dedicated her practice to helping clients dealing with addiction, trauma, sexuality struggles, and gender dysphoria. She’s also a Christian who serves patients seeking guidance rooted in biblical teaching.

Before 2019, she could counsel minors according to her faith. She could talk about biblical morality, identity, and the path to wholeness. When the state outlawed that speech, she stopped. She followed the law — and then she sued.

Her case, Chiles v. Salazar, is now before the Supreme Court. Justices heard oral arguments on Tuesday. The question: Is counseling a form of speech or merely a government‑regulated service?

If the court rules the wrong way, it won’t just silence therapists. It could muzzle pastors, teachers, parents — anyone who believes in truth grounded in something higher than the state.

Censored belief

I believe marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God. I believe that family — mother, father, child — is central to His design for humanity.

I believe that men and women are created in God’s image, with divine purpose and eternal worth. Gender isn’t an accessory; it’s part of who we are.

I believe the command to “be fruitful and multiply” still stands, that the power to create life is sacred, and that it belongs within marriage between a man and a woman.

And I believe that when we abandon these principles — when we treat sex as recreation, when we dissolve families, when we forget our vows — society fractures.

Are those statements controversial now? Maybe. But if this case goes against Chiles, those statements and others could soon be illegal to say aloud in public.

Faith on trial

In Colorado today, a counselor cannot sit down with a 15‑year‑old who’s struggling with gender identity and say, “You were made in God’s image, and He does not make mistakes.” That is now considered hate speech.

That’s the “freedom” the modern left is offering — freedom to affirm, but never to question. Freedom to comply, but never to dissent. The same movement that claims to champion tolerance now demands silence from anyone who disagrees. The root of this case isn’t about therapy. It’s about erasing a worldview.

The real test

No matter what happens at the Supreme Court, we cannot stop speaking the truth. These beliefs aren’t political slogans. For me, they are the product of years of wrestling, searching, and learning through pain and grace what actually leads to peace. For us, they are the fundamental principles that lead to a flourishing life. We cannot balk at standing for truth.

Maybe that’s why God allows these moments — moments when believers are pushed to the wall. They force us to ask hard questions: What is true? What is worth standing for? What is worth dying for — and living for?

If we answer those questions honestly, we’ll find not just truth, but freedom.

The state doesn’t grant real freedom — and it certainly isn’t defined by Colorado legislators. Real freedom comes from God. And the day we forget that, the First Amendment will mean nothing at all.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck joins Megyn Kelly LIVE — One night ONLY in Fort Worth!

Get ready for sparks to fly. For the first time in years, Glenn will come face-to-face with Megyn Kelly — and this time, he’s the one in the hot seat. On October 25, 2025, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Glenn joins Megyn on her “Megyn Kelly Live Tour” for a no-holds-barred conversation that promises laughs, surprises, and maybe even a few uncomfortable questions.

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This promises to be more than just an interview — it’s a live showdown packed with wit, honesty, and the kind of energy you can only feel if you are in the room. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss your chance to see Glenn like you’ve never seen him before.

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What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

When did Americans start cheering for chaos?

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.