Thank you, Jim Dodson, for your essay on religion (“Soulful Thoughts: Losing Our Religion,” March 3). Since my days at Meredith College in the 1950s, I’ve had a fascination with world religions and their origins.

No one has all the answers, but it seems all religions originated with mere mortals who interpreted who or what they perceived God to be.

It’s a good thing that people are questioning the reality of things they’ve been taught. Ignorance is not bliss.

I’d like to plug a book, “History of God,” written by a very bright former Catholic nun from the U.K, Karen Armstrong. She states, “Faith is not intellectual certainty but a leap into the dark and an experience that brings a moral enlightenment.”

She argues that the concept of a personal God who behaves like a larger version of ourselves was suited to mankind at a certain stage, but no longer works for an increasing number of people.

Thanks, also, to Dusty Rhoades for his hilarious “Pope Gets His Exit Interview” (March 3). It was the funniest thing I’ve read in months. Both of you guys, keep up the good writing.

Ruth Oliver Assad

Pinehurst