First interview with pilot who told Christian passengers to raise hands

Advocate (via Christianity Today) ^ | Feb. 10, 04 | Pilot Roger Findiesen/Compiled by Ted Olsen

[churchillbuff]

Guess who scored the interview with the Christian airline pilot? On his first flight after a short-term missions trip to Costa Rica, American Airlines captain Roger Findiesen flipped on the Public Address system in the cabin and explained that flight 34 was second in line for takeoff. Then he continued on a personal note.

"I just got back from a mission," he said. "You know, they say about half of Americans are Christians. I'd just like the Christians on board to raise their hands." After a pause, he went on.

"I want everyone else on board to look around at how crazy these people are," he said jokingly. "Make good use of [the flight], or you can read your paper and watch the movie." ....[snip]

Amazingly, only one publication was able to score an interview with Findiesen himself. Even more amazing, that publication is The Advocate, a gay magazine—editor-in-chief Bruce C. Steele was on the flight. Even more amazing: The Advocate's article is fair, even positive, toward Findiesen's actions.

"I just wanted to give Christians a chance to talk about why they're Christians," Findiesen told Steele (who notes that "at no time did Findiesen mention homosexuality or say anything antigay") "I obviously couldn't go back there and address everyone directly, so I used the P.A. I felt that God was telling me to say something. … There's actually no regulation against doing what I did."

[gdani]

Thats right only clergy may speak of such things!

Not quite.

It's kind of like going to church & the pastor starts sermonizing about the proper technical steps to take before a plane lifts off.

Maybe I'd be interested in what he has to say -- but not while he's on the clock.

[Lazamataz]

Come on now, as much as I wish it was, life is not like a Van Halen video (actually, I think that's teachers, but whatever).

It *isn't*?

(looking up) Okay, you. Put your clothes back on. Life's not like this. Nice garters, by the way.

[Bella_Bru]

It *isn't*? (looking up) Okay, you. Put your clothes back on. Life's not like this. Nice garters, by the way.

LMAO!

[Modernman]

(looking up) Okay, you. Put your clothes back on. Life's not like this. Nice garters, by the way.,

1)Where the hell do you work?

2) Are they hiring?

[Lazamataz]

It's kind of like going to church & the pastor starts sermonizing about the proper technical steps to take before a plane lifts off.

Well, why not?

After all, they do it in Mosques all the time.

[gdani]

After all, they do it in Mosques all the time.

Funniest response I've seen in a while.

I would have said it myself if I would have thought of it.

[Lazamataz]

1)Where the hell do you work?

It's a little club called the Badda Bing, Badda Boom.

2) Are they hiring?

Sure, but I'm a demanding boss.

[Fester Chugabrew]

I want . . . . I don't want . . . .

As if the whole world is concerned about your personal wants. Why be so concerned about mere words from other people? So what if people express their personal views to you in person? You have a spine, don't you?

[MineralMan]

"I want . . . . I don't want . . . .
As if the whole world is concerned about your personal wants. Why be so concerned about mere words from other people? So what if people express their personal views to you in person? You have a spine, don't you?"

Of course the whole world doesn't care about my personal wants. Businesses, however, generally do care about the wants of their customers.

This pilot did not express anything to anyone in person. He did so over a PA system on a closed box that people were locked into. Different situation.

Nobody could tell him they didn't want to listen to his nonsense. Nobody could get up and leave, as they can if approached on the street by a wild-eyed preacher.

You mistake the situation. You mistake my reaction. I pay for a ticket on an airline. The airline flies me to my destination. If I want a sermon, I'll drop into any of the two dozen churches in my little town.

Let the pilot fly the plane, OK?

[Iwo Jima]

I can guarantee you that I would have gotten myself and my family off of that plane. And there is no way that I would have raised my hand.

I would have been thinking "What's next? Will the ones who raised their hands be told to reach into the back of the seat in front of them, take out the yellow stars, and pin them on the other people?"

Just too weird. After 9/11, passengers have to be able to trust their instincts.

[Fester Chugabrew]

This pilot did not express anything to anyone in person.

Exactly. All the more reason to carry on with business as usual. Or would you feel "threatened?"

[Physicist]

I felt that God was telling me to say something.

Speaking for myself, I'd just as soon not fly with a pilot who believes he's receiving verbal instructions from God.

[imintrouble]

I wonder if some posts are beyond your comprehension as I have seen you react this way on other threads Are you one of those "read the first sentence and blow up reactionaries" while insulting the sincere poster at the same time?

Let's try this slowly. I did not equate religion with mental illness.

Perhaps you can identify with the "euphoria" of getting rid of a terrible headache or a toothache.

Some people are weighed down by the stress of their daily lives and either turn to a religious "rest" or a therapeutic "rest".

In those few hours, some arrive at a release so profound, it is called a "rapture" and it relieves them of the earlier binding of whatever had led them to find help.

Religion can do it for lost souls, therapy can do it for emotionally lost people and it does cause a break - albeit temporary - in some.

Their joy and relief is so fantastic to these people, they want to share it with everyone - I think it is human nature to share "good stories and events one has experienced."

If that is still too deep for you, I can't simplify the behavior any farther. It is out of your reach.

If you are merely disagreeing with me, that could have been accomplished without the theatrics on your part.

I think "Balderdash" suits you just fine.

[Lazamataz]

Speaking for myself, I'd just as soon not fly with a pilot who believes he's receiving verbal instructions from God.

So yer more comfortable with the pilot who's getting his instructions from Sam the Border Collie? ;^)

[Truth29]

He made an announcement over the PA system that has been variously reported, but which could be interpreted as dangerous. The various comments and interpretations on this thread alone are a good argument why he should not be making such comments and such "requests." The airline is very lucky there was not direct passenger action to stop the plane from taking off - just like has been discussed and
advocated on so many threads at FR.

[Physicist]

Well, F.Y.I., Sam the Border Collie only asked Abraham to pick up Isaac by the skin on the back of his neck, using his teeth. Nowhere near as dangerous as that knife stunt God thought up. And Abraham wouldn't even do it: he just told Sam to roll over and play dead.

[imintrouble]

Agreed - and do you think that behavior was in keeping with a man who had hours and months and years of strict training in the operation and safety practices of flying a commercial aircraft filled with passengers?

No.

I rest my case. He was in no condition to fly the plane at that particular time, and had he been aware of his behavior, he would have backed out of the flight himself.

I trust pilots. Many people who fly all the time trust pilots. They are trained to be observant and thorough, and this was not a man who was either. He was out of control.

[Lazamataz]

I appreciate your desire to distance yourself from your comments. I'd probably want to do so as well:

There is a behavior which is often occasioned by certain events in a person's life. They go into a temporary "rapture" and want to "share" this rapture with the rest of the world.....

.....And break with reality it was people.....

.....Had this rapture been exhibited prior to the flight, he should have been replaced. It is as out of touch and disabling as too many drinks and replaces rational thought - sometimes for days.

You equate religious thought (which you defined as 'rapture') with drinking too much and/or being irrational -- for days even.

So sorry if pointing out your comments causes you embarassment.

[MineralMan]

"Exactly. All the more reason to carry on with business as usual. Or would you feel "threatened?"

No, not threatened; just annoyed. As I said, let the pilot pilot the plane, and leave the proselytizing to others. He's got work to do, and my safety depends on his doing it well.

[swarthyguy]

New Slogans for American.

--On a Wing and a prayer

--Leave the prolestyzing to us

--American, we answer to a higher authority ( good for delays, too