Pilot reportedly promoted Christianity on flight

[imax2268]

I'm not against religion...I believe that everyone has a right to believe what they want to believe...but for me this goes a bit to far...
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American Airlines is investigating reports that a pilot asked passengers to identify themselves as Christians so non-Christians on board could talk to them about their faith, a spokesman has said.

Pilot reportedly promoted Christianity on flight
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Has anyone noticed also that major news channels are airing more and more references to God and Faith...???

Any thoughts...?

[scottcsmith]

1. Way too far

As George Carlin would say, "More shit from the bogus captain."

Just what I need as a Jew, someone proselytizing to me at 30,000 feet. No thanks.

[abrupt]

8. door to door

Lately they`ve been coming to my door . Usually when I say I`m Jewish ,they smile and hurry off the porch. Last time the guy asked "if I wanted to be saved" . I said "No thanks ,I`m not interested in being saved." He looked really hurt. Maybe they gotta quota or something.

[Wonk]

2. Really freaked out some of the passengers, from what I've heard...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=352402&mesg_id=352402
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=353639
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1099026

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1098390&mesg_id=1098390

[imax2268]

3. Wow...scarey stuff...

Rise Of The Righteous Army


”I don't think the media has really caught on to what's been going on in the last 30 years or so in America. An enormous number of people have come to faith in Christ and consider themselves evangelical Christians. And these are people that are buying, reading and distributing our books,” says Rev. Tim LaHaye.

LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have written a series of runaway bestsellers known as the “Left Behind” novels. All together, there are 40 million books in print, and another 17 million in spin-offs. Plus, “The Kids” series, audio books and comic books are worth $100 million in annual revenue.

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. Fundamentalist Christianity

Is a Doomsday Cult that rejects most of the teachings of Jesus.

[Supply Side Jesus]

5. Rolling stone has a good article on Lahaye this week

I didn't realize he, at one point, wielded alot of power in the fundy ranks. After his fall from grace, the Left behind series has given him respect and power again.
F*ckin nuts cases.

[buycitgo]

33. he STARTED the fricking CNP!!

nobody ever talks about that group here

they're perhaps the most influential little known political org in the country

BIG flap (online, of course) about Bush speech to them back before the selection.

they refused to release tape of speech, contrary to their protocol involving ALL other speeches

very secretive group, comprised of religio/economic/politico maniacs, including the likes of the deVos family, the Bradleys, Ollie North, Meese....on and on and on

good google project

[Sugarbleus]

11. I read some of those books then...

I realized they are garbage and TOSSED THEM OUT of my house! That incident on the plane sounds like the pilot knew of this series of books and used it to cause the panic these poor folks felt. What a bunch of maniacle pod people. This is some serious stuff--what's going on with the RW religious movement. I'm trying my hardest to convince hubby what I've learned............the church is going the wrong way! I think he is starting to get the picture.

I was looking something up on that movie the Passion, when I saw that another movie is set for release called "Gone". Guess what? It's based loosely on the "left behind" series...OMG!!!!!

All this religiosity in america sounds so, well...ah...FASCIST!

:scared:

[Silverhair]

13. The word "Fascist" is WAY overused.

It no longer means a particular system of gov't. It now seems to mean anything that a progressive disagrees with. So now to be religious is to be facist? The word has lost all true meaning now.

[theoceansnerves]

6. if i was in that situation

and the pilot got on the horn and started talking about religion, any religion, in that fashion, i'd be worried he was going to ditch the plane or something. that is just too bizarre.

[imax2268]

7. seriously...

I would be thinking the same thing...it's bad enough that I'm a nervous flyer...I can't stand to fly...that would just completely freak me out...

[VOX]

9. I hate to fly, too, and if the pilot started evangelizing, I'd freak!

I'd immediately figure that the plane was a goner.

:kick:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. Three words: Emotional. Distress. Sue.

It'd be very fun to see 100+ passengers gouging AA off a shitload of money. :evilgrin:

Edit: typo

[dmr]

10. Video clip

"Look around and everyone who doesn't have their hand raised is crazy".

CBS News in NY interviewed a passenger. The video clip is in the middle of the page, entitled: A pilot's alleged comments terrified some passengers, Lou Young reports. February 6, 2004
http://cbsnewyork.com/topvideos/

[izzie]

12. I read that whole thing on Free Republic and it was really fun.

I used to go down to Boston Common and hear the people when I was in college as I wished, but my mood on planes is not the same. I would hate it. It is the same with ads at movies. I did not come for that.I think most Americans think it is the wrong spot. Some even think it wrong on FR and I was interested in that so it was why I read the site.You can almost hear the nut cases over their think it is right.

[ComerPerro]

31. Didn't mean to reply here, but since I did

I can imagine what the FReepers were saying.

"This pilot is a true American hero"

[Nobody]

14. If I were on that flight I'd be writing letters

to the pilot's management about this, informing them I'd pick another airline.

Supposing the pilot was promoting any other idea, such as endorsing a presidential candidate and reading campaign literature over the PA? Or supposing the pilot was promoting Amway? Or reading bits of the Watchtower over the PA?

The pilot has a captive audience, and this is way too far.

[Az]

15. I would rather enjoy such an action

I have 3 rules of engagement in regard to religious debate. I do not attack a persons beliefs or engage in debate unless they attack me with theirs, invite me to debate theirs, or enter and already established religious discussion on their own.

I would more than welcome such a thing. I invite Jehova Witnesses in to talk, just think of the conversations possible in this mix.

On a serious note though this is part and parcel of the problem of modern fundimentalism in a diverse society. Some of their beliefs are that they are absolutely right and that they must evangelize others. These can make for some difficult times in a society that has everything from Pagan Witches to Fundimentalists.

[LincolnMcGrath]

16. One Nation UNDER GOD! SAY IT!

[Punkingal]

17. As a former American Airlines employee...

I can tell you management will not be happy! (Not that I give a shit about AA management. I did say FORMER employee. LOL)

[trof]

18. "This pilot is flabbergasted."

Evidently there can be only ONE thread on a subject.
This is becoming more than a little annoying.
:-(

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1101074

Since you can no longer reply to THAT thread:

Just saw an interview on CNN with two of the passengers on the American Airlines flight with the proselytizing captain.

One passenger said "He told us we could use the next 4 1/2 hours to good advantage (discussing religion/christianity) or just sit back and watch the movie. Then he said 'If you're not christian, you're crazy'. He asked christians to raise their hands. I don't think any hands went up. People were scared and worried about what was going on. Many asked cabin attendants to pass notes up to the cockpit. He came back on the PA later and apologized to 'his crew' if he had said anything to upset them."

Evidently he had recently returned from some kind of christian retreat in Costa Rica.

This is just unbelievable and unimaginable to me. I would never want this guy flying me or my family anywhere. I wouldn't want him on my crew either. Maybe it's time for annual psychological tests?
And how would you feel about this guy toting a sidearm?
jeez

[Az]

21. Expect more of this type of thing

There is a cultural revolution bubbling below the surface (sometimes not below) of our society. Post Modernism is giving way to its own weaknesses. Post Modernism may be excellent for creating an environment for a multitude of cultures to dialog for a time but it stagnates progress.

Because PM does not allow for any one position to be correct none can progress. Eventually what happens is the formerly oppressive systems learn how to make use of the machinations of PM to game the system and place themself back on top.

The institutions that ruled during the Dark Ages are still intact. They still believe they have the ultimate say on truth. They continue to inject their beliefs into society. Thus the collision between Post Modern morality and old time Fundimentalist Authoritarianism.

[cprise]

36. PM really is a problem

Mainly because we in the United States insist on flogging it so much.

At first, you had liberals basing their worldview on it.

Then, conservatives got pushy and said "We're in charge now. It's really all the same to you anyway."

[drdigi420]

29. And people laugh when I tell them that

religion is dangerous

[peacetalksforall]

20. There is more than just outrage involved...

these passengers (and it could have been one of us) were trapped.

These pilots are usually well trained and managed (including self-management through their union).

By this action which is so totally unorthodox, the passengers had no way to know if it was to become worse. We don't know yet if any other crew member did anything about it while it was happening or in the minutes after. If it were one of us, we would have been thinking that the pilot could have been thinking rapture.

I initially said I would have spoken up in a loud voice. What if that had started some kind of dangerous commotion.

This is happening because of the b l u r between church and state and between church and corporation.

This pilot should be fired no matter what the reaction of the rapturous fundamentalist proseltizers and their blind believers.

20,000 + feet off the ground in steel, aluminuum, and plastic with a 100 other souls and hard ground below and an insane man.

The airlines don't need any other financial setbacks. Only fundamentalists will dismiss this stupidity.

[trof]

22. A-MEN!

Every word you said.
Thanks

[Loonman]

23. I don't think the guy should get fired

He screwed up, just make sure it never happens again.

[trof]

27. Sorry, to me his actions reflect extremely poor judgment.

Good judgment (excellent judgment, one could hope) is what we're (pilots) being paid for. That, and a certain amount of eye-hand coordination and good reflexes.
But the "good judgment" part is paramount.

Not only did he have the bad judgment to decide this would be a good time to share his particular religious beliefs with a captive and already chronically edgy (post 9/11) "audience", he did this at a time when the airlines are bleeding financially, with (evidently) no regard as to how this might affect his company and his own career and family. whew, long sentence, sorry

Yes, I do think he was emboldened to do this by the current fundie "We, and ONLY we are right" politico-"religious" atmosphere and politicians' reluctance to go against it.

Given the circumstances I laid out in paragraph 2, his behavior transcends bad judgment, it is idiotic.
And damned scary.

[drdigi420]

24. we drug test pilots

shouldnt we also religion test them?

i'm not sure i want someone that thinks some magic man in the sky is 'going to save them' being responsible for my safety

religion is more than silly and annoying, it is dangerous

[Az]

25. Should pilots that believe

they could be raptured at any moment be allowed to fly passenger jets?

[BL_Zebub]

26. I don't seem to have this problem on flights.

People see the horns on my head and wisely assume that converting me is not likely.

[TrogL]

28. I'd be on the phone to the FAA in a heartbeat

I'd fire up my cell right there on the plane if I could hit a repeater. Failing that, I'd call the airline directly and inform them of what was going on, so the co-pilot could be instructed to take over the flight and the pilot relieved of duty.

At an absolutely minimum, I would suspect somewhere in the manuals there's a note saying "DO NOT DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING WITH PASSENGERS: drugs, sex, religion, politics, music or any other controversial topic. Discussion with passengers should be limited to topics directly associated with their comfort on the flight."

I was on a flight recently with "cute" inflight announcements. I found them unprofessional. I'm sure someone with a poor command of English would find them confusing and upsetting.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

30. I called American Public Relations

I am a Platinum Advantage Member from all my business travel over the past decade. I said I will be flying other airlines of the pilot is not reprimanded. Discussing religion at work is usually against most companies' rules.

[spanone]

32. Replace christian with muslim and this dudes at Gitmo!!!!

[ComerPerro]

34. No kidding

amen

[The Blue Knight]

35. I deal with Fundies all the time.

It fucking blows.