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!
| God or god -> do you capitalize God/god? | |
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| Post #1 Dec 19 2006, 03:32 | |
Neowinian Senior  Group: Registered Posts: 2,096 Joined: 10-October 03 Member No.: 37,629 
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| Post #2 Dec 19 2006, 03:35 | |
Never try, never fail! Group: Registered Posts: 2,189 Joined: 10-June 06 From: New Jersey, USA Member No.: 169,609
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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. |
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| Post #3 Dec 19 2006, 03:35 | |
Go ahead, make my day. Group: Registered Posts: 3,048 Joined: 30-August 03 From: New York Member No.: 34,369
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Quote - (Quick Shot @ Dec 18 2006, 22:35) [snapback]588148391[/snapback] it is grammatically incorrect to spell the word as god Why? |
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| Post #4 Dec 19 2006, 03:37 | |
Neowinian Super Cool   Group:  VeteranPosts: 17,653 Joined: 28-January 02 From: Moline, Illinois Member No.: 9,158
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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  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" 
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| Post #5 Dec 19 2006, 03:37 | |
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Neowinian Senior Group: Registered Posts: 2,096 Joined: 10-October 03 Member No.: 37,629
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Quote - 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. |
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| Post #6 Dec 19 2006, 03:37 | |
Neowinian³  Group: Banned Posts: 6,367 Joined: 9-July 03 From: USA Member No.: 32,407
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No, I usually don't.
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| Post #7 Dec 19 2006, 03:39 | |
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Resident Fanatic  Group: Registered Posts: 754 Joined: 10-January 04 From: Arizona Member No.: 44,931
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Hey,
If you name was Thomas, would you type thomas. name of something. |
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| Post #8 Dec 19 2006, 03:40 | |
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Never try, never fail! Group: Registered Posts: 2,189 Joined: 10-June 06 From: New Jersey, USA Member No.: 169,609
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Here is an interesting article I found about this subject
LINK |
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| Post #9 Dec 19 2006, 03:40 | |
Der Übermensch Group: Registered Posts: 950 Joined: 27-July 05 From: the abstract reality of thought Member No.: 120,270
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I capitalize it when I am referring to the Christian god, otherwise no.
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| Post #10 Dec 19 2006, 03:41 | |
Neowinian  Group: Registered Posts: 24 Joined: 7-May 05 From: Brooklyn.NYC, NY Member No.: 109,344
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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.
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| Post #11 Dec 19 2006, 03:43 | |
Web Designer/Webmaster  Group: Registered Posts: 1,267 Joined: 15-May 02 From: Seattle, Washington (USA) Member No.: 12,651
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Quote - (Diffused Mind™ @ Dec 18 2006, 19:35) [snapback]588148394[/snapback] 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. |
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| Post #12 Dec 19 2006, 03:43 | |
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T.I.P.I Group: Registered Posts: 2,351 Joined: 30-March 04 From: Chicago Member No.: 51,387
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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. |
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| Post #13 Dec 19 2006, 03:44 | |
6EQUJ5? That was me!  Group: Registered Posts: 351 Joined: 10-April 04 From: Dutch in the Philippines Member No.: 52,372
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I always write god, just like tooth fairy, santa claus etc. since they all fall into the same category....
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| Post #14 Dec 19 2006, 03:48 | |
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Never try, never fail! Group: Registered Posts: 2,189 Joined: 10-June 06 From: New Jersey, USA Member No.: 169,609
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Quote - (RudyJ @ Dec 18 2006, 22:44) [snapback]588148419[/snapback] 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. |
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| Post #15 Dec 19 2006, 03:48 | |
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Neowinian Senior Group: Registered Posts: 2,096 Joined: 10-October 03 Member No.: 37,629
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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.
Quote - (boogerjones @ Dec 19 2006, 03:43) [snapback]588148417[/snapback] 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. |
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