If you are looking for the definitive answer as to whether or not there is a God, look no further!! (Because I have absolutely no idea and can’t answer that for you!)
I believe in God. Yes, I do. As I have mentioned before in earlier posts, I was raised Catholic and I still am a Catholic. I am a bad Catholic, but, I have made the choice to continue to practice that faith – from time to time. For me, God is a little like Mother Nature. God is a presence, nature working together, God is all things. Whether Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God, I do not know. I do believe in holy people, prophets, both new and old.
I would rather not get into why I have chosen to remain a Catholic, or how I can call myself that when I don’t believe in all of the Catholic doctrine or even go to Church regularly. Rather, this post is about internet etiquette and religious intolerance.
I love that I have many friends who are of other faiths, Jews, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. I also love that I have many friends who are Atheists. As I continue to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc., I also continue to grow in my appreciation of these faiths, or lack thereof.
Sometimes, I can almost hear my atheist friends questioning me in their minds, “How can she be so educated, continue to educate herself, and still believe in God?” That’s OK. We don’t have to understand each other.
I don’t believe in stories like creation and Adam and Eve. I do believe in science. I believe in the Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model for the early development of the universe. The key idea is that the universe is expanding. Consequently, the universe was denser and hotter in the past. In particular, the Big Bang model suggests that at some moment all matter in the universe was contained in a single point, which is considered the beginning of the universe. Modern measurements place this moment at approximately 13.82 billion years ago, which is thus considered the age of the universe. After the initial expansion, the universe cooled sufficiently to allow the formation of subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. Though simple atomic nuclei formed within the first three minutes after the Big Bang, thousands of years passed before the first electrically neutral atoms formed.
So how do I still believe in God? It’s that “single point.” Where did it come from? Perhaps science will one day have an answer to that. And my follow-up question will probably address whatever answer is available; “And where did that come from?”
Maybe I just want to believe in God. That could be true. Like many others before me, God brings me comfort. I pray. I feel better.
By now you must be wondering what any of this has to do with internet etiquette. Here we go . . .
I have a lack of tolerance for people who flaunt their atheism on the internet by putting down those who believe in God. There, I said it and I think you know what I mean.
If you want to post your beliefs, I’m down with that. If you want to have a conversation about it, great! (As long as you don’t get angry and aggressive.) If you want to complain that you don’t like seeing Facebook posts about religion, then take your own advice and look the other way!
Guess what? I am not a fan of all the religious posts on social media either. But I never step over the line and try to offend the poster. That’s right, I said you stepped over the line.
Consider this: If you don’t like someone calling you ugly, stupid, fat, laughing at your red hair, teasing you because you are tall, short, wear braces, are freakishly brilliant, don’t get algebra, are dull and boring, chose to drive a pink car, like boy bands, eat vanilla syrup on your pickles and so on and so forth – then leave people who believe in God alone!
In my opinion, those types of posts are written:
- To try to convert others. (We know from history that conversion doesn’t go over well!)
- To prove you are right and others are wrong. (That’s pretty conceited.)
- To offend others. (Yep, having your fun at someone else’s expense.)
Show a little respect. Show a little grace. Show a little maturity.
Adventures in Ankara 
You decide