Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Biff the unclean · 07-06-2003, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rational BAC
I assume you would also grant that ability to show respect or not to be applicable in all other cases as far as capitalization.

To merit respect you at least have to exist.
Or are you saying that the gods Zeus and Apollo rate a capital G? Because I have gone through 3 dictionaries here and they all make the same distinction that the G is a capital letter solely when dealing with "monotheistic creator and ruler of the universe" and make a point that, lower case "[g-] any divine being".
By using a lower case "g" we are recognizing that this being has the same mythological status as the gods of Hellenism.

never been there · 07-06-2003, 01:59 PM

This could get complicated. You start off by adding a couple of words in order to say "the god Yhwh" (capital only on the proper noun). Next, you're splitting hairs like writing "Jesus christ" with only the personal noun capitalized but not the noun/adjective. I suppose this carries into other religions with "Gautama buddha" etc.

Magus55 · 07-06-2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Biff the unclean
To merit respect you at least have to exist.
Or are you saying that the gods Zeus and Apollo rate a capital G? Because I have gone through 3 dictionaries here and they all make the same distinction that the G is a capital letter solely when dealing with "monotheistic creator and ruler of the universe" and make a point that, lower case "[g-] any divine being".
By using a lower case "g" we are recognizing that this being has the same mythological status as the gods of Hellenism.

No, i use gods for the Roman/Greek pantheon. I don't capitalize gods that i don't believe in.

AJ113 · 07-06-2003, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
No, i use gods for the Roman/Greek pantheon. I don't capitalize gods that i don't believe in.

Then you won't object if I do likewise regarding the christian god?

Spaz · 07-06-2003, 06:35 PM

Well as I said before I really don't capitalize anything that's not at the beginning of a sentence, but I also try not to use god as a pronoun anyway. I always (at least try to) write "a god" or "your god" whenever referring to any god, and usually I'm only talking about the christian god.

Rational BAC · 07-06-2003, 06:40 PM

Not to get too picky Spaz but-----

I do notice that you capitalize "I" in the middle of a sentence.

OK with me. I have noticed that some posters (very very few, happily) do not do that and I find it awfully annoying. Like reading an old cover of a Prince album.

Spaz · 07-06-2003, 07:52 PM

GAH! I hate you, you spoiled all my plans

.

PopeInTheWoods · 07-07-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
No, i use gods for the Roman/Greek pantheon. I don't capitalize gods that i don't believe in.

So you write zeus and apollo?

I suppose I'd write "God" if I were referring to the biblical character by name/title. But usually, like Spaz, I'll avoid that, going with "the xian god", "your god", or "the biblical god".

Andy

Bree · 07-07-2003, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rational BAC
For example==I could say President George Washington, but president abraham lincoln and president george bush and that would be quite acceptable to you as my personal choice and right to do so ---Correct?

Of course. You may do whatever pleases you. However, keep in mind that those present (i.e. your readers) may take offence - or just think you're an idiot, either way. I think that people who don't capitalise the word "god" know this, and think it's a perfectly fine trade-off for not compromising their personal beliefs - however silly you (or others) may think them.

ComestibleVenom · 07-09-2003, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rational BAC
I assume you would also grant that ability to show respect or not to be applicable in all other cases as far as capitalization.

In the case of gods, the concept is sufficiently amorphous (varying so radically from person to person) that I think a very good case can be made that it's quite different from historical figures since the intentional refferent fundamentally varies so much.

I think it's frankly misleading to talk about a monolothic god that everybody speaks of.

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07-06-2003, 01:59 PM	#42
never been there Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 2,144	This could get complicated. You start off by adding a couple of words in order to say "the god Yhwh" (capital only on the proper noun). Next, you're splitting hairs like writing "Jesus christ" with only the personal noun capitalized but not the noun/adjective. I suppose this carries into other religions with "Gautama buddha" etc.

07-06-2003, 06:35 PM	#45
Spaz Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 1,093	Well as I said before I really don't capitalize anything that's not at the beginning of a sentence, but I also try not to use god as a pronoun anyway. I always (at least try to) write "a god" or "your god" whenever referring to any god, and usually I'm only talking about the christian god.

07-06-2003, 06:40 PM	#46
Rational BAC Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tampa Bay area Posts: 3,471	Not to get too picky Spaz but----- I do notice that you capitalize "I" in the middle of a sentence. OK with me. I have noticed that some posters (very very few, happily) do not do that and I find it awfully annoying. Like reading an old cover of a Prince album.

07-06-2003, 07:52 PM	#47
Spaz Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 1,093	GAH! I hate you, you spoiled all my plans .

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