Savage and Muslim Caller Mehmet 03/27/07

SAVAGE:   Mehmet, KNEW you’re up on the Savage Nation, Go ahead please.

CALLER:   Hi Dr Savage, thank you for taking my call. I’m a Muslim, I’m originally from turkey and I’ve been in this country since 93.  I’ve been listening to your show for the last 3 years.  And 80% I support what you saying, I believe in American values. My religion is Islam, my question to you is can I be a Muslim and still support American values in this country.

SAVAGE:   Sure you can, absolutely. That’s what I said all along. Look, it’s like saying can I be a Jew and still support American values, can I be a Buddhist and still support American values, can I be a Hindu can I be an atheist, Yes that’s what America is all about. It’s freedom of religion, and freedom to be non religious.  That’s what makes the country great, it’s freedom. So I don’t understand where the problem exists.

CALLER:   No, there is no problem. I just wanted to come on the air and wanted to make sure that its not only the Christians or Muslim haters that

SAVAGE:   No, no, no, no, no. when I say that the founding documents of America are based upon Christian doctrine, I am talking about the fundamental humanity of Christianity, which transcends that single religion. It is incorporated in virtually every religion, including Islam, including Judaism, including Buddhism because if you read the Buddhist tractate which I have done intimately, it’s all about the same things. If you boiled most religions down, Mehmet, when they are not fanatically interpreted, every religion can be reduced to one statement. Do not do on to others as you would  have them not do onto you, or, do onto others as you would have them do onto you, lets put it that way. Isn’t that fundamentally what every religion teaches? 

CALLER:   Exactly, I mean this isn’t

Savage:   In other words, everybody knows no matter what their religion is, even an atheist knows it’s not right to take a penny out of another mans pocket that’s not yours right?

Caller:   Right

Savage:   Ok, so you start with that basic knowledge, the basic rules of living with people can be boiled down to not do onto others as you would do onto you, or do onto others as you would have them do to you. That’s the essence of every religion.