Float joins '04 parade of religious disputes

[54anickel]

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2577072,00.html

The drama in Denver over a church float that never was and a twinkling Christmas message caps a year highlighted by similar disputes over a blockbuster film about Jesus' final hours, the place of faith in the election booth and a struggle to define moral values.

The denial of Faith Bible Chapel's unabashedly Christian entry in this weekend's Parade of Lights and Mayor John Hickenlooper's plans to remove "Merry Christmas" from atop the City and County Building galvanized many, especially conservative Christians.

Some religious leaders suggest this year's earlier battles emboldened Christians to be more vocal in their desire to keep religion in the public square. To others, the parallel controversies are robbing attention from more important issues and fueling division.

On one level, the dispute is an old one, centering on how the religious meaning of Christmas has eroded over the years.

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