John Denver's Spirituality: A Closer Look at His Beliefs

No one knows for sure if John Denver was a Christian or not, but there is a bench dedicated to him overlooking Dersingham Bog in Norfolk. This bench serves as a reminder of his impact on the world, not just through his music, but also through his beliefs and philosophy.

Denver first made waves in 1976 when he appeared on the cover of Newsweek. In the interview, he was asked about his religious beliefs. Instead of providing a traditional Christian perspective, he spoke about his experiences with the human potential movement known as est, which was created by Werner Erhard, formerly known as John Paul Rosenberg. When pressed about some of the criticisms of est, Denver famously said, "Who says I’m not God?"

This answer caused quite a stir. However, it's important to note that Denver was a participant in the est training program a year or two after this interview, and he identified as a Christian. He respected the experience he had as a participant and believed that the power of words, as emphasized by est (both written and spoken), could be seen in the Bible. In John 1:1 of the Bible, it states, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God," and John 10:34 mentions 'I have said you are gods.' These verses align with the concepts of est.

Denver's youth was marked by Catholicism due to his mother's beliefs, but he was raised Presbyterian and attended church services growing up. As an adult, however, he identified with Buddhism and certain Native American spiritualities. His funeral was held at Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado, though it's unclear whether this was according to his own wishes or decided by his family.

Denver did not follow Christianity strictly. He reportedly cheated on his first wife, Annie, multiple times and was divorced twice. Most Christian religions do not condone adultery and divorce, especially among Evangelical communities. However, Denver's scenario aligns more with the modern concept of being "spiritual but not religious."

Given all these factors, the most likely scenario is that John Denver was one of those who identified as "spiritual but not religious." His beliefs were complex and multifaceted, blending elements of different philosophical and spiritual traditions.