Pat Dollard

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Creeping Sharia:

Across the country, airport chapels are removing all traces of the most prominent religions, except when it comes to Islam.

ATLANTA — Ordained a United Methodist minister, the Rev. Chester Cook has now become a jack of all faiths.

On a recent day, Cook welcomed a Christian-oriented Army chaplain, a Muslim family and a Buddhist ticket agent to his interfaith chapel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — a snapshot of the grab bag of faithful who make a stop in the chapel.

Across the country, chapels designed to offer passengers refuge and reflection in bustling airports are making changes: Removing denomination-specific decor, adding special accommodations and hosting services geared to accommodate an increasingly diverse group of travelers flying with faith.

In Atlanta, it means a simple stained-glass window marking the entrance to the 1,040-square-foot chapel on the third floor. Inside there’s room for 30, and a library stocking everything from Gideon Bibles to Jewish mystical texts. A large floor mat provides a cushiony spot to kneel for prayer; officials don’t set it aside for any specific faith.

Removing the crosses and other typical markers of church to make others welcome might seem extreme in a more traditional chapel.

As travelers become more numerous and more diverse, Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports now advertise prayer rugs and special Muslim facilities. And in Cleveland, airport officials have discussed toning down the Catholic orientation of the airport’s ornate chapel.

“It’s responding to the needs that are present in our society and among travelers, ” Jamnicky said.

The airport chapel in Atlanta offers a one-size-fits-all religious experience. A silhouette of a person kneeling is the only prominent icon in the chapel. Spare rosaries, yarmulkes, prayer shawls and a Catholic Mass kit are tucked away for use as needed.

A large compass on the chapel floor, meanwhile, was created with multiple faiths in mind.

“We also looked at the direction of the chapel so that the north, south, east and west could all be clearly understood without using any religious symbols,” Cook said, explaining that Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths face east for prayer.