I was so pleased to hear from the publisher of the Selma Sun in Alabama, inviting me to write columns for their weekly Religion page.  The first column, “And the Greatest of These is. . .Faith?,” was published last week.  This week’s topic is: “If Religion is Love, Why Religion?”

I’ll be posting these, along with my Citizen-Times columns, each week.

Carol and I were in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama a few years ago but didn’t make it to Selma.  This weekend, we watched the film “Selma” and were deeply moved (horrified and energized) by the story of the serious organizing, by Martin Luther King and others, that led to the courageous March from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.  One major direct result was the Voting Rights Act, gutted by the Supreme Court a few years ago.  Earlier, we were inspired by the film “John Lewis: Good Trouble.”  I highly recommend both films.

Now, I sense an opportunity to learn from the people of that region, to have conversations and connections with readers in Selma and beyond (Selma has about 18,000 residents.  About 80% are African-American, with 1 in 3 living below the poverty line).

I hope my small contribution to the ideas and issues influenced by faith, will encourage more open discussion and freethought.

I welcome responses from all readers.