Freethought & Rationalism Archive

winstonjen · 07-03-2003, 02:22 PM

Why is it that some Christians get all indignant when this is not done? Not everyone follows their beliefs, and they expect people to respect their deity. Also related is how some fundy boards ban people for insulting their deity. For an example of the indignation, see Gemma's post in this thread

beth · 07-03-2003, 02:25 PM

Well, "God" is considered to be a proper noun...

kitsune · 07-03-2003, 02:34 PM

Can a deity be insulted by not having his name capitalized?

Only if that deity is made in the human image with an fragile ego and low self-esteem.

Crap with a capital C.

Pyrrho · 07-03-2003, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by winstonjen
Why is it that some Christians get all indignant when this is not done? Not everyone follows their beliefs, and they expect people to respect their deity. Also related is how some fundy boards ban people for insulting their deity. For an example of the indignation, see Gemma's post in this thread

What makes this all the more pathetic is the fact that this site is:

Internet Infidels

What would any reasonable person expect to find at such a site? It just goes to show that some people are not reasonable.

Kthulhu · 07-03-2003, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Heathen Dawn:
Look, why does EVERYTHING have to follow the Scientific Method? What you've just described is the Scientific Method. Which may be good for scientists trying to find how the world works, but not necessarily good for life at large.

This masterpiece just ruined yet another monitor for me. I really need to buy a monitor with a spray guard on it this time.

~The Thing That Should Not Be

winstonjen · 07-03-2003, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pyrrho
What makes this all the more pathetic is the fact that this site is:

Internet Infidels

What would any reasonable person expect to find at such a site? It just goes to show that some people are not reasonable.

No, I think that they just expect people to obey their traditions when they don't feel like respecting ours. :boohoo:

paul30 · 07-03-2003, 04:08 PM

Many Christians apparently are under the misconception that "God"--capitalized--is a proper name.

In fact it is just a generic term, like cat.

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."

The reason for this evasion is found in the nature of early cultural thinking. In almost every culture you can name, in its early stages, people believe names are magic. If you know someone's or something's true name, you have power over it.

(You can see an echo of this in our word "spell." Its primary meaning is to get the proper letters in the proper order. But it also contains the notion of casting a spell, and summoning spirits by "spelling" their name.)

Yahweh did not want people getting power over him; so he never told his name.

Yet the misconception that "God" is a name persists.

I know plenty of people who will not say the word "God," and who write it "G*d."

Spaz · 07-03-2003, 04:45 PM

I usually only capitalize it when I'm being a jackass

. Otherwise I don't capitalize hardly anything except at the beginning of a sentence. I can say christian, muslim, jew, god, jesus, it doesn't matter to me.

Arken · 07-03-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by paul30
Many Christians apparently are under the misconception that "God"--capitalized--is a proper name.

In fact it is just a generic term, like cat.

I disagree with you. God is both a proper name and a generic term. It is a proper name when referring to the judeo-christian god in specific (who, in English, is named simply God) and it is a generic term when referring to any god out there.

Think of it this way... there's people named Guy and there's just a person who's a guy.

Triple Six · 07-03-2003, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pyrrho
What makes this all the more pathetic is the fact that this site is:

Internet Infidels

What would any reasonable person expect to find at such a site? It just goes to show that some people are not reasonable.

Good to see that you have capitalized the "I"

Personally I don't consider that a fictitious concept like the judeo-christain god qualifies for a proper name. So it is lower case for me.

And if the god botherers feel insulted then it is their problem. I have no intention of wasting my time insulting something that doesn't exist.

07-03-2003, 02:22 PM	#1
winstonjen Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,425	Capitalising 'god' Why is it that some Christians get all indignant when this is not done? Not everyone follows their beliefs, and they expect people to respect their deity. Also related is how some fundy boards ban people for insulting their deity. For an example of the indignation, see Gemma's post in this thread

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

07-03-2003, 02:25 PM	#2
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	Well, "God" is considered to be a proper noun...

07-03-2003, 02:34 PM	#3
kitsune Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: below the blinking moon Posts: 6	Can a deity be insulted by not having his name capitalized? Only if that deity is made in the human image with an fragile ego and low self-esteem. Crap with a capital C.

07-03-2003, 04:08 PM	#7
paul30 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 870	Many Christians apparently are under the misconception that "God"--capitalized--is a proper name. In fact it is just a generic term, like cat. 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." The reason for this evasion is found in the nature of early cultural thinking. In almost every culture you can name, in its early stages, people believe names are magic. If you know someone's or something's true name, you have power over it. (You can see an echo of this in our word "spell." Its primary meaning is to get the proper letters in the proper order. But it also contains the notion of casting a spell, and summoning spirits by "spelling" their name.) Yahweh did not want people getting power over him; so he never told his name. Yet the misconception that "God" is a name persists. I know plenty of people who will not say the word "God," and who write it "G*d."

07-03-2003, 04:45 PM	#8
Spaz Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 1,093	I usually only capitalize it when I'm being a jackass . Otherwise I don't capitalize hardly anything except at the beginning of a sentence. I can say christian, muslim, jew, god, jesus, it doesn't matter to me.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.