# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/61 "2004-02-11T10:44:53Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I wouldn’t find it comforting to know that the pilot of a craft I’m in is probably looking forward to his/her afterlife. I want someone flying my plane who’s _really_ fearing death. In “Last Chance to See”, Douglas Adams wrote of flying into Zaire on a missionary flight even though they weren’t part of then mission, because that was the only plane they could get seats on. The preflight chat didn’t just include information about where to find the emergency exits; the pilot added a short prayer. Adams writes: > [@](#): > > I wasn’t disturbed so much by the “O Lord, we thank Thee for the blessing of this Thy day”, but “We commend our lives into Thy hands, O Lord” is frankly not the sort of thing you want to hear from a pilot as his hand is reaching for the throttle. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/62 "2004-02-11T11:18:49Z")
I realized something yesterday. My boss was flying cross-country on American on Friday on a flight I booked for him. I have told him worse things could have happened than being stuck in Chicago for a few hours! _Good Morning America_ had one of the passengers on the flight on their show yesterday. She said that, after a lot of the passengers had given the flight attendants flak about the pilot’s statement, he came on the PA system and apologized to the flight attendants, but not the passenger. She also said she told the pilot off as she was getting off the plane. Good for her! My response would have been similar to what it was a couple of months ago, when I was on a Greyhound bus stuck in front of a man who was talking louldy on his cell phone about his recent or current mission trip. During his conversation, he bragged about converting a Catholic to Christianity and driving the demon of homosexuality out of a man. Since I’d gotten far too little sleep and was leaving a gathering of friends at the crack of dawn to make a Lessons and Carols service at my church 250 miles away, I got a little snarky. I slipped him a note quoting the Gospel which said, “Do not be like the hypocrites who pray out loud on the street corner, for their reward is on earth” and signed it “The silent Christian in the seat in front of you.” It had limited effect; he tried to convert me to Christianity. 😕 He did quiet down a bit, but not enough for me to sleep. I would have written a note citing that verse, handed it to a flight attendant, and asked him or her to give it to the pilot. I don’t think it would have worked, though. I have had religious experiences which have left my soul singing with joy and wonder at God’s existence. In that, I do empathize with the pilot. However, I’ve noticed that bludgeoning people over the head with a blunt object, even a verbal one, is not the most effective way to pass on the message, and I would have been very worried, too. I might also have pointed out that this Christian _is_ crazy, and rather glad of it! CJ ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/63 "2004-02-11T13:42:16Z")
> [@1920s Style Death Ray](#): > > 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). I agree , the man should recieve professional help and counselling and then be fired. 1984 style. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/64 "2004-02-11T14:37:04Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. Yeah, it was a sign all right. A sign that God no longer wants him to be a pilot for American Airlines. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/65 "2004-02-11T15:15:41Z")
I’m struck by the thought that fundamentalist Christians (or those who believe in the rapture of the “Left Behind” series) in all good conscience should recuse themselves from occupations that involve piloting passenger aeroplanes. Of course it would be crazy to be left behind at 35,000 feet without a qualified pilot in the cockpit. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/66 "2004-02-11T17:54:00Z")
> [@1920s Style Death Ray](#): > > (I suspect he realises his mistake). Given that he apologized to the flight attendants because they were bothered by people who were disturbed by his comments rather than to the people he disturbed with his comments, I suspect he doesn’t. I further suspect that if he is disciplined in any manner he will sue the airline for “violating his rights” and every right-wing wack-job religious broadcaster and FAUX NEWS talking head will hold him up as yet one more martyr to godless “political correctness.” ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/67 "2004-02-11T18:08:20Z")
Another reason not to fly AA (one of the other is their disgusting muffins). Reminds me of the qualms a friend of mine had flying into Pakistan, when the pilot said “We will be landing in Karachi at 12 o’clock local time… Inshallah”. My friend commented that he really hoped it would be Insh-pilot, as he was the one with all the training. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/68 "2004-02-11T18:21:31Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > and to further proclaim that all who do not are crazy. Let’s keep the facts straight – he did not say that non-Christians were crazy, as in stupid or insane. He said that Christians were crazy, as in “you wild and crazy guys, I love ya.” True, some passengers interpreted it as the former, but they must have misheard. You can see this from some of the later reports. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/69 "2004-02-11T20:59:43Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > I’m struck by the thought that fundamentalist Christians (or those who believe in the rapture of the “Left Behind” series) in all good conscience should recuse themselves from occupations that involve piloting passenger aeroplanes. Why? These folks are _thrilled_ at the idea of the Second Coming of Jesus, since that means the world will get destroyed, and all non-believers will be cast into a fiery pit full of wailing and teeth-gnashing and punishment, while they pull up the lawn chairs and laugh at the misguided victims from their heavenly vantage point (or something like that). They’ve already _shown_ they don’t care about the sufferings of non-believers, knowhutImean? ---
**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, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/70 "2004-02-11T23:58:52Z")
Yeah, given what fundies think will happen to non-Christians in the years following the rapture, most would probably consider it merciful to have us die in a plane crash due to your flight crew being raptured away midflight. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/71 "2004-02-12T01:59:01Z")
As long as the airline ensures that the co-pilot is a heathen, there will be somebody there to safely bring the plane home in the event of rapture. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/72 "2004-02-12T05:00:39Z")
> [@Dr. Lao](#): > > Yeah, given what fundies think will happen to non-Christians in the years following the rapture, most would probably consider it merciful to have us die in a plane crash due to your flight crew being raptured away midflight. Well, since we are all going to hell, why would they care if we went south in fifteen seconds ina screaming spiral of Death or fifteen years during a bachannal at Krispy Kreme, they are going to be doing what ever Fundie do in heaven, which frankly, doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun to me. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/73 "2004-02-12T08:39:26Z")
> [@GMRyujin](#): > > I did a Google search on “United States is a Christian Nation”. You’re welcome to peruse the links [here.](http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22United+States+is+a+Christian+Nation%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-tab-web-t&cop=mss&tab=) > > From this [page,](http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/9/9.aspx) I found the interesting quote… > > “The poll found that 45 percent of Americans hold the view that the United States is a secular nation in which religious belief, or lack of it, is not a defining characteristic. **Twenty-nine percent believe the United States is a Christian nation, and another 16 percent believe the United States is a Biblical nation, defined by the Judeo-Christian tradition.** ” > > Evidently SOMEONE does, thus the snarky tone of my post. Ah. I don’t, hence the snarky tone of mine. No offense. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/74 "2004-02-12T11:44:04Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#): > > . . . He said, “If you are a Christian, Raise your hand” > > and then he said that if you weren’t then you were crazy . . . Nope, wrong. There was an editor for The Avocate on board, and he interviewed the pilot afterward. According to the editor, the pilot said **about the Christians** “I want everyone else on board to look around at how crazy these people are.” ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/75 "2004-02-12T15:09:04Z")
I’m inspired… Today I will push out a pop up window to 10,000 users in my corporation. The actions of the AA pilot have been a sign from God to me to extoll how tantric sex has led me to new insights into the mind of God. I’ll encourage my coworkers to explore tantric sex - using their lunch hour wisely. I’ll also push out a link to a website with pictures, just in case I can’t get fired fast enough. Imagine if you logged into Amazon and your “welcome” screen was a encouragment to open yourself to the teachings of Scientology - done not because Amazon itself had decided to change their message - but because some programmer had decided it was his mission. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/76 "2004-02-12T17:36:01Z")
I was GOING to post my surprise at all the people who pitted the pilot and then referred to themselves as [fellow] Christians. And I was going to thank them for the encouragement I’m feeling from finding there are [fellow] Christians in the Pit. And how warm ‘n’ fuzzy it was to realize that there are believers who are skeptical enough to be dopers (and even knew how to use the F-word where appropriate). But then I read Shirley’s remark that heatherns may end up at a “bachannal at Krispy Kreme”… Hmmm … I may change teams … ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/77 "2004-02-12T18:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > But then I read Shirley’s remark that heatherns may end up at a “bachannal at Krispy Kreme”… Hmmm … I may change teams … Behold the power of a Donut! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295/78 "2004-02-12T19:49:42Z")
> [@digs](#): > > But then I read Shirley’s remark that heatherns may end up at a “bachannal at Krispy Kreme”… > Hmmm … I may change teams … Heretics! Schismatics! The One True Heathen Way is Dunkin’ Donuts. Although I understand the Pagans hold with Starbucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-pilot-wants-to-know-your-religion-before-taking-off/228295.md?page=3)