# Airline pilot wants to know your religion before taking off **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295 "2004-02-09T17:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/41 "2004-02-10T04:08:21Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > I find it funny that in a supposedly “Christian nation” like this, an expression of faith is met by everyone reaching for their phones and getting nervous. Hey, I’ve read Left Behind and a number of the sequels. I’d be getting pretty concerned myself. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/42 "2004-02-10T06:50:19Z")
> [@El Gui](#): > > "‘If you are not [a christian], you’re crazy.’ " > > That’s rather hard to misunderstand, no? > > And it’s not very “brotherly”, either. Were you responding to me? Because I was saying that what was “misunderstood” was whether the pilot intended to do something crazy like crashing the plane, not whether he was being an asshole. I’m sure I was clear about that. Some of the passengers were afraid he might do something crazy. But don’t you think that if the guy intended to crash the plane, he would have done so? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/43 "2004-02-10T07:12:05Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > Were you responding to me? Because I was saying that what was “misunderstood” was whether the pilot intended to do something crazy like crashing the plane, not whether he was being an asshole. I’m sure I was clear about that. Some of the passengers were afraid he might do something crazy. But don’t you think that if the guy intended to crash the plane, he would have done so? Well it’s very easy to conclude that now, after the plane is safely on the ground. Very poor judgement on the pilot’s part. Maybe he _was_, as has been suggested just “high on Jesus” following a deeply spiritual experience. But I think the preference these days is for airline pilots to not be high on anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/44 "2004-02-10T08:06:03Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well it’s very easy to conclude that now, after the plane is safely on the ground. What does that mean? Are you of the opinion that the pilot intended to crash the plane? I’m just not seeing it. I’m as much against what he said as the next guy, but that’s no reason to make wild assumptions. I’d need a little more evidence before I accuse someone of attempted murder.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/45 "2004-02-10T11:29:19Z")
I wonder what the pilot thought when nobody raised a hand. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/46 "2004-02-10T13:37:11Z")
The notoriously sensationalistic “news” on [IMDb.com](http://IMDb.com) is reporting that one of the passengers on the flight was actor Jason Biggs, of the _American Pie_ flicks. I wish he’d have had the forethought to raise his hand and say “I may not be a Christian, but I **love** pie. Who else loves pie?” 😃 Oh, and on behalf of sane Christians nationwide, I apologize for the dimwitted pilot. We aren’t all like that, folks. Really. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/47 "2004-02-10T16:20:44Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > What does that mean? Are you of the opinion that the pilot intended to crash the plane? I’m just not seeing it. I’m as much against what he said as the next guy, but that’s no reason to make wild assumptions. I’d need a little more evidence before I accuse someone of attempted murder.:rolleyes: With 20/20 hindsight, it’s pretty clear that he had no intention to crash the plane. To those on the plane immediately after the announcement was made, it wasn’t all that clear. Some of those passengers may well have been terrified. Haj ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/48 "2004-02-10T17:57:58Z")
If I’d been on board, my thoughts would have immediately turned to Egyptair 990 and pilot Gamel el-Batouti repeatedly chanting “I rely on God” as he dove it into the ocean. Christian religious fanatics can be just as deadly as any other kind. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/49 "2004-02-10T18:35:26Z")
The pilot did an brief interview with, of all places, [The Advocate](http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11260&sd=02/10/04). The editor happened to be on the flight. > [@](#): > > He … explain[ed] that he felt God wanted him to witness to the passengers on his first flight upon returning to work for American Airlines after his mission [in Costa Rica]. Despite this feeling, he said, he had decided not to say anything–but then he got another sign from God. > > A minor problem with the plane’s braking system had developed during final checks before takeoff, he said, a problem that might have grounded the aircraft, on which every seat was taken, in part because another American flight from Los Angeles to New York had been canceled that morning. But after a simple maneuver involving a power source, the braking problem inexplicably “disappeared,” Findiesen said, and the plane was cleared for departure, and that’s when he knew he had to use the P.A. system to talk about his Christian faith. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/50 "2004-02-10T19:19:59Z")
Well, that does it for me. He was getting signs from God. He’s not just an over-enthusiastic evangelical proselytizer; he’s crazy. I don’t want to fly with him. He should be fired. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/51 "2004-02-11T00:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > From the CNN story: > In a statement, the airline said, “It falls along the lines of a personal level of sharing that may not be appropriate for one of our employees to do while on the job.” I thought this was a masterful piece of writing. Calm, controlled, and with undertones to suggest that somewhere at the airline headquarters a pilot was getting a dressing down so extreme his earlobes would melt. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/52 "2004-02-11T00:30:41Z")
_“A minor problem with the plane’s braking system had developed during final checks before takeoff, he said, a problem that might have grounded the aircraft, on which every seat was taken, in part because another American flight from Los Angeles to New York had been canceled that morning. But after a simple maneuver involving a power source, the braking problem inexplicably “disappeared,” Findiesen said, and the plane was cleared for departure, and that’s when he knew he had to use the P.A. system to talk about his Christian faith.”_ How big a step is it to “Captain, we’re getting a warning light about the landing gear not being fully extended.” “Don’t worry. My faith tells me the gear will hold.” Well, probably a pretty big step. But I don’t want to fly with him either. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/53 "2004-02-11T01:08:25Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > How long before we start hearing protests in the papers and on the 'net complaining about AA’s persecution of poor God-fearing pilots, and/or how atheism has taken over airlines that were founded on the bible? > > How long until Bush agrees with them publicly? > > . This just struck me as funny, very clever, too. that were founded on the bible! LOL I know some christians are discussing this, saying whats wrong with that? However, if one had said “Any Jews? Want to tell the rest of the passengers why Jesus wasn’t the messiah?” they would be UP IN ARMS. I found gobear’s comment about the pilot being raptured funny too. Imagine if he had been. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/54 "2004-02-11T01:58:49Z")
> [@vanilla](#): > > I know some christians are discussing this, saying whats wrong with that? > However, if one had said “Any Jews? Want to tell the rest of the passengers why Jesus wasn’t the messiah?” they would be UP IN ARMS. I dunno, I tend to have an issue with a pilot who thinks it’s his place, in his profession which has nothing inherently related to religion of any sort, to openly ask who on the plane shares that faith, **and to further proclaim that all who do not are crazy**. Even if that is his sincere personal belief, it’s not something appropriate for a workplace environment. My best guess, as you noted above, is that the way to explain the issue of this with them is to replace “Christian” with something they see nothing wrong with not being. For example, your friends probably see no issue with people who are not in the general practice of raping puppies or killing virgins on their wedding night. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/55 "2004-02-11T02:05:03Z")
killing a virgin on their wedding night? Gosh, how big would the guy have to be??? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/56 "2004-02-11T02:45:34Z")
I guess asking John Holmes is out, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/57 "2004-02-11T02:57:44Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > A minor problem with the plane’s braking system had developed during final checks before takeoff, he said, a problem that might have grounded the aircraft, on which every seat was taken, in part because another American flight from Los Angeles to New York had been canceled that morning. But after a simple maneuver involving a power source, the braking problem inexplicably “disappeared,” Findiesen said, and the plane was cleared for departure, and that’s when he knew he had to use the P.A. system to talk about his Christian faith. This guy sounds like the kind of person who hits every green light on the way home from work and thinks it’s a “sign” from God. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/58 "2004-02-11T03:02:04Z")
Heh, Fire the ass as soon as he lands. He has a job to do. He does not know how to do his job. Bingo, bango. Goodby. Fire the guy on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/59 "2004-02-11T04:52:38Z")
I disagree. Although his actions were clearly wrong, I believe everyone should be given opportunity to improve themselves. If the Captain had a history of this kind of thing, then sure, fire him. If this is a first offence, then I’d be continuing his employment on the provision that he is professionally assessed as to his mental suitability to hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical, and that he is councelled and made to understand exactly why it was not the right thing to do (I suspect he realises his mistake). ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/60 "2004-02-11T09:26:27Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > With 20/20 hindsight, it’s pretty clear that he had no intention to crash the plane. Yeah, isn’t that what I said? Did I say I thought the _passengers_ knew at the time, or that they shouldn’t have been concerned? 'Cuz I sure don’t remember saying that. > [@](#): > > To those on the plane immediately after the announcement was made, it wasn’t all that clear. Some of those passengers may well have been terrified. Yeah, wasn’t that point made about 30 or 40 posts ago? I think you’re looking for an argument where none exists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295.md?page=4)