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A different sign from aboveBillboard promotes more separation of church-statePeter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterTuesday, June 10, 2008 |  | | SPREADING THE WORD — The Freedom From Religion Foundation bought this billboard at 14th Avenue and Fox Street to promote greater separation of church and state. Denver Daily News photo by Peter Marcus. |
In the thoughts of John Lennon, one national organization opposed to organized religion would like Denverites to “imagine no religion.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has placed a billboard at 14th Avenue and Fox Street — just blocks from the State Capitol — that asks people to stop and contemplate what the world would look like if it were free of religion.
The billboard is made to look like a stained glass window and was strategically placed near the Capitol to inspire greater separation between church and state, say the billboard’s organizers.
“We want the public to reflect on the billboard’s message and imagine a world without the rancor and divisiveness of 2,000 different religions,” said Denver attorney Robert R. Tiernan.
Lawsuits
Along with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Tiernan has filed or threatened to file several lawsuits challenging situations of church and state. The most recent lawsuit — filed in federal court last fall — challenges the Cherry Creek School District for promoting student church-going, according to the complaint.
Tiernan also challenged Denver’s official sponsorship of a prayer breakfast hosted by the mayor’s office and city subsidies for the annual Red Rocks Easter celebration. The city now charges rent to the Council of Colorado Churches for the use of the park.
The group also challenged religious wording and images from a memorial honoring the pope’s visit at Cherry Creek State Park, as well as a Ten Commandments marker on the grounds of the Capitol.
The billboard raised mixed feelings for pedestrians in the area yesterday afternoon. But everyone agreed that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has the right to display its message.
“I understand people wanting to think that way and say, ‘Let’s look at this without religion anywhere in the world,’” said Kevin Satterfield, who admitted that he himself is a practicing Catholic. “Would it be better for some people that way? Yes, it probably would.”
Looking to be offended?
Cayenna Johnson said the billboard will probably only offend people who are looking for something to get angry about.
“This is only going to upset people who actually seek out things to get angry about,” she said. “We are each responsible for how we interpret things.”
Some people, however, chose not to imagine a worlsd without religion.
“I think that we all need a little bit of spiritual guidance in one way or another, whether it be one god or another god. I think all men are in need of something to believe in,” said Les Padilla, who works nearby at the U.S. Mint.
Padilla said that while he believes in organized religion, the billboard does not bother him.
“You can pay attention to it or you can ignore it like I’ve been doing all along,” he said.
Others, however, embraced the message as a philosophy they share.
“Religion has caused a lot of divisiveness,” said Scott, who declined to give his last name. “There’s too many dos and dont’s, restrictions on what you should do and shouldn’t do. That’s caused a lot of hatred and discrimination.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has already placed similar billboards in Madison., Wis., Atlanta and Harrisburg, Pa. — all capital cities. Another one will go up in Seattle later this month, said the organization. A second billboard, with the same stained glass motif, states: “Beware of Dogma.”
Up through July
The billboard in Denver will stand through June and July.
“Imagine if the government would be neutral and let individuals reach their own conclusions about religion,” said Mike Smith, a local member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. “Perhaps then, in the words of John Lennon, the world could ‘live as one.’”
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