Pilot suggested passengers discuss Christianity during LA-to-New York flight

SFGate.com ^ | 2/7/04 | AP

[CoolGuyVic]

An American Airlines pilot flying passengers from Los Angeles to New York asked Christians on board to identify themselves and then suggested that non-Christian passengers discuss the faith with them, the airline confirmed Saturday.

The pilot, whose identity was not released, had been making flight announcements before he asked that the Christians on board raise their hands, said American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner.

[fish hawk]

you use the word "forcing". I don't see any forcing in the article. What if by chance no one paid any attention to the pilot at all and what if no one complained at the end of the flight. What was he forcing?

I agree the plane is not the time or place for this but I dont see the forcing. If I was on that plane the the guy next to me started to talk religion I would politely tell him I don't discuss religion on airplanes and turn over and go back to sleep.

[Modernman]

you use the word "forcing". I don't see any forcing in the article.

Forcing is probably too strong a word. What I'm trying to say is that the pilot used his position to espouse his personal views in an innapropriate way. It's no different than if the pilot had decided to ask all the Democrats on board to rais their hands, then told the non-Democrats to discuss with them the merits of their political beliefs. Sure, nobody was really forced to do anything, but considering that the passengers were a captive audience who paid money for a flight, not a sermon, the pilot acted innapropriately.

Now, if he was a street-corner preacher trying to convert people to his faith, I would have no problems with him preaching his faith.

[flashbunny]

The airline is investigating, not the government.

The issue is whether the pilot made his passengers, the airline's cusotmers, uncomfortable with flying. That effects the airline.

"Would all the muslims raise their hands? I'd like all you non muslims to discuss the koran with the muslims on the plane."

[Modernman]

Now, if he was a street-corner preacher trying to convert people to his faith, I would have no problems with him preaching his faith.

Unless, of course, he was doing it outside my window at 3 AM with a bullhorn, in which case I'd avail myself of my constitutional right to throw stuff at him.

[Prodigal Son]

What if by chance no one paid any attention to the pilot at all

LOL, what if?

Actually, as the pilot, he is the commander of that vessel. When he is giving an announcement over the PA system, he is effectively assembling the passengers and giving them his spiel- not too much different than formation in the military.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hasn't this guy heard about the seperation of Church and state

.................yeah, we've all heard of that thing that's somewhere in the Constitution. Darned if we can find it, but hey. Such a trivial matter.

[hocndoc]

Good job, Captain Christian Pilot!

Who'd have been upset with the man if he'd reminded everyone to call their mother and father after a trip home? Well, he just spent some time working with his Father.

The man was just coming off a mission trip. He was bubbling over with the Good News. I'm proud that he did this, I pray that someone benefited Maybe *all* of the non-believers *and* believers on the plane. Someone besides me, I mean, because this story made my day.


I was raised with the idea that it's not right to push your religion on to unwilling listeners without an invitation. However, a simple suggestion or comment is not too pushy. And a Christian example is never wrong.

[RightWingAtheist]

[SedVictaCatoni]

However, a simple suggestion or comment is not too pushy.

Asking all the believers on the plane to identify themselves and begin trying to convert their neighbors is a "simple suggestion"? What the pilot did was unprofessional and ridiculously rude, to Christians and non-Christians alike.

[hocndoc]

From the article, he left the option up to the non-believers.

[SedVictaCatoni]

From the article, he left the option up to the non-believers.

And it was implicit that the Christians should make themselves available to proselytize.

[cryptical]

Who'd have been upset with the man if he'd reminded everyone to call their mother and father after a trip home?

Perhaps people who have lost their parents tragically?

I was raised with the idea that it's not right to push your religion on to unwilling listeners without an invitation. However, a simple suggestion or comment is not too pushy.

That's an opinion, and probably different than the opinion of the majority of people worldwide that aren't Christians. IMO it's just wrong to pimp your religion or politics at work.

[codyjacksmom]

Being a Christian, I say way to go. The pilot "suggested" that non-christians talk to christians about their faith. He did not tell christians to "convert their neighbor". The bible tells us to go out and share our faith and we should be thankful that someone wants to talk to us about our beliefs. I don't see any preaching being done, just sharing if the non-christian wants to.I love being able to spread the word, and if asked, I am always more than happy to share.

[The Westerner]

Who gives a sh##? So wh#t? Let him say whatever is on his mind. I choose to yawn and ignore. Could have livened things up to think about it for 5 hours. You know what, everyone has gotten so damn sensitive to every single un-pc thing. The other day a very old woman apologized for using the word colored when referring to the nanny she hired 7 decades ago for her baby. I felt ashamed of our country for causing a kind old woman to feel guilty over a word. We are on the verge of a totalitarian dictatorship with the thought police on patrol!

[Prodigal Son]

There's any number of subjects that aren't appropriate to do this with. Think about it. What if the pilot had asked "Pro-Life People" to identify themselves? Homosexuals. Atheists. Republicans. It's just not nice, it's not appropriate and he had no business doing it.

Now, what if because of his announcement he had started an argument on his aircraft between two Christians or between a Christian and Atheist or between Muslim and Jew?

It wasn't clever, his announcement. I wouldn't have felt comfortable flying with the guy at all. He should fly the plane and leave that kind of stuff at home.

[armydoc]

We all know that we all have a God-given right not to ever be offended. It's in the Constitution, isn't it? Wait a minute- God himself said in the Bible that the message of the Gospel would be offensive to those who are perishing. Yes, the pilot risked his job by doing this, and I say "way to go!" If a Muslim pilot suggested the same thing and I got a sermon about Islam as a result, I would use it as an opportunity to talk about Christianity. I truely believe that those who have strong convictions of any faith would not be bothered by this. And as far as those who don't want to hear anything about any faith, just turn to your seat-mate and say "I'm not interested in talking about this, thank you". Just like you would say if he wanted to talk about baseball, but you didn't.
This airline better be careful how it handles this. A lot of Christians are watching.

[hocndoc]

I'll discuss prolife all day, if you want. Or Christ. It's hard to leave these Truths at home.

Christianity is known for upholding love as the greatest virtue. Some have speculated that it's because our Creator is Unconditional Love. God and the pilot in question left the acceptance up to the non-believer.

Why is a simple 2 or 3 lines over the speaker much different from the originator of this thread posting the news article and then criticizing the Christian pilot?

Maybe we shouldn't discuss religion on FR. But, I didn't post the article, simply commented on it.

[codyjacksmom]

Beautifully spoken doc.

[Arkinsaw]

"Good evening everyone, we'll be flying at 20,000 feet and I'll be regaling you with a reading from some letters of Madalyn Murray O'Hare who is my personal hero. You should be thankful that you are not on Flight 12 because then you'd have to hear Captain Doug and his personal experiences with Anton LaVey".

[EuroFrog]

What do you believe happens to those who do not share your faith?

They go to hell.