Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Arken · 07-03-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Proud atheist
Personally I don't consider that a fictitious concept like the judeo-christain god qualifies for a proper name.

I agree that he's fictional, but I'd call him a character, not a concept. He's the main character in that famous work of fiction, the Bible. Thus, his name deserves to be capitalized as much as any other fictional character's name. After all, Shakespeare didn't write 'hamlet, prince of denmark' now did he?

On the other hand, capitalizing the 'h' in 'him' when referring to God is just weird.

EstherRose · 07-04-2003, 01:03 AM

If I promise not to chastise you when you don't capitalize God, will you promise not to chastise me if I capitalize Him?

Magus55 · 07-04-2003, 01:12 AM

We capitalize God and Him out of respect - whats wrong with that?

Groovy Cosmic Monkey · 07-04-2003, 01:34 AM

Doesn't seem like that big a deal to me. I'm a Christian but I tend to write "he" and "him" with a lowercase "h" when I refer to God, but write "God" with a capital "g". I personally don't see what all the fuss is about.

Secular Pinoy · 07-04-2003, 01:51 AM

Atheologians usually use lowercase "god" for the concept of deities in general, and the capitalized "God" for a specific god, usually the god of theism, or the christian god.

Bumble Bee Tuna · 07-04-2003, 10:50 AM

I got into this argument playing Scattergories with a fundie girl. "Names in the Bible", letter G.

She put down God. I said that was ridiculous.

God's name is Yahweh/Jehovah/Jesus/Yeshua. His TITLE is God. I tried analogy: Do we say that George Bush's name is "President"? Could I say her name was friend because she was my friend?

She didn't budge, unfortunately. And I wasn't going to push the issue. After all, I had put down "Gideon".

btw, Magus, congrats on missing the point. Nobody cares if you want to capitalize words out of respect. What we're thinking is ridiculous is if you get indignant when WE don't capitalize it.

If God were a name, I could see capitalizing it. It's not.

-B

AJ113 · 07-04-2003, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
We capitalize God and Him out of respect - whats wrong with that?

Do as you like, dude. Just don't expect others to do likewise, otherwise you'll be disappointed.

Biff the unclean · 07-04-2003, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by paul30
This is doubly odd since Yahweh went considerably out of His way NOT to let on what His actual name is. "Yahweh" is an evasion--"I am what I am," meaning, essentially, "I'm not going to tell you my name."

That's what he'd (He'd?) like you to believe Paul.
In Hebrew they only have consonants. So god's name is spelled YHWH and we are supposed to think it means Yahweh.
His real name is Yahoowahoo, which is too embarrassing for words and explains why he never mentions his parents who he has never forgiven.

JaeIsGod · 07-04-2003, 11:38 AM

I generally capitelize 'God' and 'Him' when im on a christian board or in a place with lots of christians. They seem to like it and it's not that much trouble anyway. Though if im in a real hurry I wont capi.

Barcode · 07-04-2003, 11:41 AM

I capitalize the word ... but it's more of an automatic response when I'm typing or writing; it's only when I read back afterwards and think " ooops "

It doesn't offend me, and I can't be bothered to debate the semantic implications of capitalizing it or not ...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-04-2003, 01:03 AM	#12
EstherRose Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 183	If I promise not to chastise you when you don't capitalize God, will you promise not to chastise me if I capitalize Him?

07-04-2003, 01:12 AM	#13
Magus55 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 7,204	We capitalize God and Him out of respect - whats wrong with that?

07-04-2003, 01:34 AM	#14
Groovy Cosmic Monkey Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 235	Doesn't seem like that big a deal to me. I'm a Christian but I tend to write "he" and "him" with a lowercase "h" when I refer to God, but write "God" with a capital "g". I personally don't see what all the fuss is about.

07-04-2003, 01:51 AM	#15
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Atheologians usually use lowercase "god" for the concept of deities in general, and the capitalized "God" for a specific god, usually the god of theism, or the christian god.

07-04-2003, 10:50 AM	#16
Bumble Bee Tuna Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 7,333	I got into this argument playing Scattergories with a fundie girl. "Names in the Bible", letter G. She put down God. I said that was ridiculous. God's name is Yahweh/Jehovah/Jesus/Yeshua. His TITLE is God. I tried analogy: Do we say that George Bush's name is "President"? Could I say her name was friend because she was my friend? She didn't budge, unfortunately. And I wasn't going to push the issue. After all, I had put down "Gideon". btw, Magus, congrats on missing the point. Nobody cares if you want to capitalize words out of respect. What we're thinking is ridiculous is if you get indignant when WE don't capitalize it. If God were a name, I could see capitalizing it. It's not. -B

07-04-2003, 11:38 AM	#19
JaeIsGod Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 760	I generally capitelize 'God' and 'Him' when im on a christian board or in a place with lots of christians. They seem to like it and it's not that much trouble anyway. Though if im in a real hurry I wont capi.

07-04-2003, 11:41 AM	#20
Barcode Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Portugal Posts: 633	I capitalize the word ... but it's more of an automatic response when I'm typing or writing; it's only when I read back afterwards and think " ooops " It doesn't offend me, and I can't be bothered to debate the semantic implications of capitalizing it or not ...

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.