Name: Roger Daleiden
Where and when I was born: Milwaukee on the vernal equinox (March 20).
Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (MFA in fine art painting and printmaking), UW-Stout (BS in studio art).
Family: Mary Jane, and cat Neeko.
How I came to work at FFRF: I was looking to change jobs after five years as a graphic designer at a catalog company when I heard of a graphic design position open at FFRF. I was eager to get back into an editorial environment that is focused on education and cultural advancement.
What I do here: I’m here to help create our newspaper, brochures and other printed materials to assist in communicating our message to promote nontheism and help defend the separation between church and state.
What I like best about it: It is important to me that the job that I do helps to improve the lives of others, by promoting knowledge and reason over myth and fantasy.
What gets old about it: Parking in downtown Madison is very hard to find on our little isthmus between lakes Mendota and Monona.
I spend a lot of time thinking about: Planning my next outdoor adventure. It’s early fall now, so I’m still obsessed with bicycling and hiking.
I spend little if any time thinking about: The massive amount of time I wasted in mandatory church services.
My religious upbringing was: Roman Catholic. I was sent to Catholic schools from the second grade until the end of my sophomore year of high school. I decided that enough was enough, and so I transferred to a public high school. I have never looked back.
My doubts about religion started: I have always been interested in science and science fiction. As I learned more about scientific fact, modern religion seemed more similar to primitive mythologies that were trying — and failing — to explain the natural world and the universe.
Things I like: I am fairly absorbed with outdoor activities like hiking, bicycling, paddling, and downhill skiing.
Things I smite: Our current political climate, where politicians wave the bible and claim to be religious, when in reality they are just pandering for votes to maintain their money and power.
In my golden years: Some day I hope to get back to producing fine art (art for art’s sake), whether it’s traditional media or digital, as I still may have something to say.
