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

[Theo]

It is sound biblical Christian doctrine to believe that our relationship with God includes communication with him.

[Theo]

Exactly -- "crazy" was a word the pilot light-heartedly used to describe the *Christians* on board ... not the non-Christians:

"... passengers remember the word 'crazy' having been playfully applied to the Christians on board" (from http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1075414/posts )

Sounds like someone preferred "getting offended" to "getting the humor."

[imintrouble]

Ah I see the problem.

You have a different interpretation as you see it, than I intended, decided I am wrong and are calling me on it without any facts to back you up. It is you who should be embarassed.

Now you wish to personalize your derision and allow me to back down on my opinion? That's a joke. I know exactly what I am speaking about on the subject matter of rapture and breaks with reality.

I am not at all embarassed by my comments. If you disbelieve my writing do some research yourself.

Rapture does not always indicate a religious experience, it can indicate immeasurable joy in anyone to the point of not being in touch with reality. They behave in manic fashion and want to tell everyone about it.

It is a recognized phenomenon and condition, and I have spent enough time on your caustic commentary.

Take a moment and treat yourself to some learning.

[Fester Chugabrew]

[L]et the pilot pilot the plane, and leave the proselytizing to others.

As far as I can tell that is exactly what he did.

[Lazamataz]

Ah I see the problem. You have a different interpretation as you see it, than I intended, decided I am wrong and are calling me on it without any facts to back you up. It is you who should be embarassed.

Words mean things. You state that rapture, and in this context, religious rapture, makes a person "...as out of touch and disabling as too many drinks and replaces rational thought - sometimes for days."

The facts of what you believe are apparant and available for all to see. I don't agree with you that religious thoughts necessarily cause ANY disability.

Further, you go as far as to claim this pilot was in a state religious fervor. Your evidence is that he asked people who are Christian to raise their hands. If this is religious fervor that you define as 'rapture', I can only conclude that you have a deep anti-religious bias.

[Iwo Jima]

Exactly. You and me both.

[Quix]

I strongly agree.

People weren't strong armed into raising their hands as Christians

and they certainly weren't strong armed into talking to a Christian.

What an uproar about nothing.

Evil is sooooooooo hyper sensitive!

[imintrouble]

You revel in your closed insular mind. What a waste to discuss anything with you.

[Lazamataz]

You revel in your closed insular mind. What a waste to discuss anything with you.

Another satisfied customer! :^D

[Guenevere]

After reading what the pilot REALLY said, and not the hype that has surrounded this, it's much ado about nothing.

His banter wouldn't have offended me at all!

[rwfromkansas]

neither is standing around water coolers talking, but people do it.

Big deal; he didn't harrass anybody. It was rather admirable.

[Katya]

I would feel extremely uncomfortable with a pilot, bus driver, cab driver, the maitre'd, store clerk,or just about anyone I didn't know, getting into my personal business in a very public manor. Maybe it's just cynical little me...but I'd feel concerned as to "why" they needed to know this information.

[Gopher Broke]

Bravo, pilot....I hope I am a passenger on his plane someday.

I cannot believe these stories about wierdo passengers saying they thought they were threatened or about to crash...that is anti-Christian nonsense.

I emailed American and said DONT PUNISH THIS GUY or I will not fly your airline again!