I came across this blog the other day, and thought it was worth sharing with you:
Margaret Downey, successful businesswoman, atheist and social activist, was recently on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles on American Airlines. As the plane was coming in for landing, she awoke to Christian music playing over the plane’s sound system.
In a letter to American Airlines, Ms. Downey writes,

In total we had to listen to three songs about a religious doctrine we find disturbing. I’m sure that a Jewish family, a Hindi family and nontheist people such as my husband and I were equally offended that American Airlines was promoting the Christian doctrine in a space that could not be escaped from. We were a captive audience!

I expect my airlines to remain neutral in matters of religion. This is why I will not fly Alaska Airlines. They promote and proselytize Christianity at ever opportunity.

Please confirm that this type of religious incident will not happen again when I use American Airlines. Please also explain who was responsible for the religious promotion on this flight — the pilot and/or the staff.

As a Christian, even I notice when Christian music is being played in public places. I hear Chris Rice all the time in the grocery store; his last hit single, “When Did You Fall In Love” made the mainstream charts.
But those kind of benign love songs are quite different than actual worship music apparently piped into the cabin of Ms. Downey’s plane.
Then again …

How many songs with completely religious lyrics do we hear every day on the oldies radio stations and in public places where muzak is piped in? The Byrds’ “To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)” is taken directly from the book of Ecclesiastes. “Jesus Is Just Alright” became a hit in 1973 when it was covered by The Doobie Brothers. Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky.”
And that’s not even beginning to talk about artists with Christian themes in their music, from U2 to Bob Dylan to Johnny Cash to Van Morrison to a lot of country music.
So is hearing a worship song about the “glory and power of God,” as Ms. Downey noted in her letter was playing in the plane’s cabin, any different than hearing “Jesus Take The Wheel?” over the same sound system?
Surely, atheists shouldn’t have to listen to preaching in public places where they’re held captive – like the cabin of an airplane. Nor should Christians have to listen to music they find equally offensive to their religious beliefs in similar situations – perhaps Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl”.
American Airlines responed to Ms. Downey, apologizing that she was offended and assuring her that “that your feedback is being shared with appropriate managers who oversee the areas of Flight Services and Inflight Products.”
So when does the music cross the line? When it’s sung by a Christian artist? Should Carrie Underwood be banned from being played? Would one song been tolerable but three too much? How does a public company respond?
I’d love to know what you think!
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