God or god -> do you capitalize God/god?

[lostspyder]

I personally find it a bit insulting as agnostic/atheist to be forced to capitalize god. It seems to infer that god does exist, but every time I hand in a paper to a professor where I do not capitalize it, they mark it up. I find it rather frustrating to be required to write god in a manner that betrays my personal beliefs.

And to the inevitable 'get over it' or 'what diffrence does it make', it does. Its no different from using the N***** word, after all those are just letters right?

akk my poll didn't attach!

[Quick Shot]

it is grammatically incorrect to spell the word as god that's why he marks it wrong.

but on the other hand it's funny

Roman and Green gods do not need the g capitalized.

[Diffused Mind]

it is grammatically incorrect to spell the word as god

Why?

[John Veteran]

Do you feel that capitalizing the word God means you believe god exists? Just capitalize God for all your papers and then don't capitalize god outside of those particular classes. It's just text.

With that said, I've always thought of it as just a proper noun - "God" is a name, "god" is a type of being, just like "human". Basically, I think it's a grammar thing and not a religious thing... So basically, I agree with your professor :p

Just because I refer to someone in particular (ie. God) doesn't mean I'm affirming their existence or their superiority over anyone (especially myself). If I were to refer to John Doe, do you think I'm envisioning someone specifically? No, I'm more envisioning a description of a person, not the person himself.

Edit: BTW, I believe in "God" ;)

[lostspyder]

it is grammatically incorrect to spell the word as god that's why he marks it wrong.

Its because God is supposedly a proper noun (ie: a specific instance of a type of object), but how can a noun be proper if it does not exist?

Furthermore, you only capatlise it when you are talking about a specific god, for example when I talk about God, but not when im talking about god.

[xxdesmus]

No, I usually don't.

[blade1269]

Hey,

If you name was Thomas, would you type thomas. name of something.

[Quick Shot]

Here is an interesting article I found about this subject

LINK

[nvllsvm]

I capitalize it when I am referring to the Christian god, otherwise no.

[lxAleXxl]

It's proper to capitalize God if you're talking about the God who monotheists believe in (Christians, Muslims, Jews). All other gods are not capitalized, such as ancient Greek gods. It's just the proper way of expressing yourself.

[CrimsonBlur]

Why?

Because God, in that context, is THE god, not a god, it is "his" name, or the name you are using for "him". Therefore it's capitalized. Zeus is a Greek god, one of many, and that particular god's name is Zeus (which is always capitalized), not God.

You capitalize the name God for the same reason you capitalize anyone else's name at all times.

[boogerjones]

Capitalizing "God" is not a matter of belief or opinion. The Christian "God" is always capitalized, as are pronouns that refer to Him. <--

I'm an atheist, but you're being ridiculous.

Also, it sounds like you have no understanding of your faith (or lack thereof). Atheism and agnosticism are not the same thing.

[RudyJ]

I always write god, just like tooth fairy, santa claus etc. since they all fall into the same category....

[Quick Shot]

I always write god, just like tooth fairy, santa claus etc. since they all fall into the same category....

tooth fairy is a description of a person.

Santa Clause is a persons name

God is a dudes name.

not the same category my friend.

[lostspyder]

The problem is that when I reference god, I am referencing no god in particular because I don't believe that any particular god nesicarly exists, I reference god as a theology rather then a particular entity.

Capitalizing "God" is not a matter of belief or opinion. The Christian "God" is always capitalized, as are pronouns that refer to Him. <--

I'm an atheist, but you're being ridiculous.

Also, it sounds like you have no understanding of your faith (or lack thereof). Atheism and agnosticism are not the same thing.

I'm an atheist as far as personal gods go, but am open to the possibilities of an impersonal god. To say I believe any pop-god could exist is wrong.

Its also funny too that people say they only do it with the Christian god, because any god of any religion must be capatilized.

[John Veteran]

I always write god, just like tooth fairy, santa claus etc. since they all fall into the same category....

But Santa Clause is an identity, even though no one fulfills that identity. Children know who the Tooth Fairy is. Everyone knows who "God" is, whether or not they believe in his existence.

And just to note, I'm not in accord with the whole "capitalizing pronouns referring to God" thing... I still write "him" and not "Him" because it looks incorrect to me.

[Tiger.Girl]

If I created a character in a fiction book the persons name would still be capitalized it wouldn't matter if I made it up or not. The Christian God is a name and therefor a proper noun. The word god doesn't have to be capitalized otherwise. You look foolish if you can't use proper English. You must capitalize Santa doesn't mean you have to believe he exist.

[RudyJ]

tooth fairy is a description of a person.

Santa Clause is a persons name

God is a dudes name.

not the same category my friend.

They are mythical beings.............that's why they fall into the same category for me.

[Quick Shot]

They are mythical beings.............that's why they fall into the same category for me.

0oh. lol. okay.

Isn't Santa St. Nikolaus ?. the not so mythical being guy.

[John Veteran]

If I created a character in a fiction book the persons name would still be capitalized it wouldn't matter if I made it up or not. The Christian God is a name and therefor a proper noun. The word god doesn't have to be capitalized otherwise. You look foolish if you can't use proper English. You must capitalize Santa doesn't mean you have to believe he exist.

Exactly! :yes: Exactly...

I fail to see why this is so hard to understand.

[br_]

in terms of english grammer (which i'm very good at i just don't use it online very often) it's like the word 'mom.' here's an example:

"Say 'Hi' to your mom for me," said the old man to his friend.

"Hi, Mom," said the old man's friend.

basically you capitalize it if you're using it as a name for someone/thing specific (as in "praying to God") but you leave it lowercase if you're referring to the term 'god' in general (as in "praying to a god")

[Berserk87]

heres what i heard "i shouldnt have to hit the shift key, when typing God, becuase im an athiest" <--- wtf?

its really not that hard, its just proper grammer, and if your not a fan of proper grammer, do it for respect of the readers.

[lostspyder]

If I created a character in a fiction book the persons name would still be capitalized it wouldn't matter if I made it up or not. The Christian God is a name and therefor a proper noun. The word god doesn't have to be capitalized otherwise. You look foolish if you can't use proper English. You must capitalize Santa doesn't mean you have to believe he exist.

See that too is awkward, for example

"There are so many Thomas' in the world" or "there are so many thomas' in the world"

You always say the first.... I think...

but "There are so many Gods in world" or "There are so many gods in the world"

You always say the latter.

its really not that hard, its just proper grammer, and if your not a fan of proper grammer, do it for respect of the readers.

If its grammatical, then what does respect have to do it. Even your statement seems to imply that the use of 'god' disproves him and isnt just a gross error.

Why should decapitalizing it disprove god, while capitalizing it have nothing to do with its existence?

Edited December 19, 2006 by lostspyder

[v0ltage789]

Even if you don't believe, which I really don't either, if you are referring to an individual it is grammatically correct, however if you are saying something like "The roman gods" or "that person is god like" it is not.

[5Horizons]

Erm, I think you're confused because "god" can be used as an noun (blah, sorry, thanks Quick Shot) and also a proper noun. The Christian god is named God. Hercules is a greek god.

I mean, if my name was Charles and you didn't believe in me, then would my name suddenly be charles? :p

Edited December 19, 2006 by 5HORiZONS