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God and god?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
I agree with the article: capitalized "God" is a proper noun for gods that are named or referred to as "God," while "god" is the general noun that refers to any god.
Edit: and in cases where someone is using irregular captialization, we can usually identify whether they're using "God/god" in either sense by the grammar, especially the articles: "I believe in god" - likely a pronoun. "I believe in a God" - likely a noun.
Not any more.
shmogie
Well-Known Member
Yes
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
In an more abrahamic environment, I can see capping God to refer to the monotheistic god in all three religions. If I'm speaking of god as a proper noun, I may caps it. Most times I don't anymore because I see no sacred importance in using it as a proper noun unless I'm speaking of Jehovah or Vishnu, then I caps because it is a proper name rather than a general term that isn't owned by one or three religions.
I went to a Christian forum and they basically fussed when I didn't caps god. It's like in person. I don't say, I used to believe in The Lord our God. I just say, yeah, I used to believe in god as defined by the church. But I don't put emphasis on god by titles since I never had an intimate relationship with the church concept of god. So, a lot of its personal preference.
As for jews not writing out gods name in full, I understand it but find it odd. If god has no name and no name nor anything can describe him, it would not make sense to say G-d because it's such a generic term it can apply to any abrahamic god. If they used J-hovah or even HaS-em or something like that, than I can see it since its specific to Judaism. But not the word god.
Other than that, like the article, it's a proper noun. Referring to your OP, I only caps when both parties are familiar with the term and that situation I'm being respectful. Other times if I said Jesus is God, then I would caps. It's all in context.
Indeed. Context is everything. I would never speak of experiencing god in a mystical experience for instance. It would be God, as meaning the Divine. It will always be capitalized in that context.
stvdv
Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I capitalize my name and names of others (and country names, city names). So obviously I capitalize God.
I capitalize Bible, Talmud and Koran. Would look very strange to not capitalize GOD in my opinion.
This is standard.
I take it a step further by even capitalizing proper names which eschew the standard.
So you become "Stvdv".
I follow proper grammatical conventions. A significant number of people apparently do not, which makes things quite confusing. Around here, I can never assume that if someone says God, they actually mean God. Often they mean god, gods, deities, goddesses, or theism just in general rather than God (proper noun) the Abrahamic deity.
But not all uses of "God" are names.
Would you have a problem with the capitalization in "God is a god?"
That would not be a proper use of God. "Jehovah is a god", would be. God implies there is only One. "A god, suggest numerous deities. It would be like saying Humanity is a person.
I don't see how this follows. I call my mom "Mom;" I sure hope nobody takes this to mean that I think no other mothers exist.
No, it would be like saying "Adam is a person."
In this context, "God" would be God's name, like Adam, or Alice, or Susan. I think most people think of God as "The Divine", as a classification of order, like "humanity" would be, rather than as a personal name or term of endearment. "Father," or "heavenly Father" is comparable to mom or dad as names of relationships. Then someone might say "the heavenly Father is God", and that would be like saying "Adam is a person (or human)", or "Jesus is God, or Divine."
Whatever the reason for using the capitalized form, in grammatical terms, it's used as a name.
These terms are also used as names, grammatically speaking.
And in the same way, someone might say "God is a god."
GoodbyeDave
Well-Known Member
No. Jehovah is not a name, but a mistake made by people using bad Bible translations.
People who believe in a Supreme Being, creator of the universe, will very commonly refer to that being as "The God", or "God" if they don't have articles. Such people do not necessarily deny the existence of gods — for example ancient Canaanites and many modern Africans. Unless they've been told what to call the SB, what else could they do?
In English usage, it's like the difference between "a prime minister" and "the Prime Minister". Simple!
Skwim
Veteran Member
Just read my posts . . . .if you dare.
...
As for what others do, mox nix. Do whatever you like.
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Good post, Quint! I follow conventional grammar in the matter. I don't mind other people creating their own convention as I understand that some people feel more reverent by always capitalizing god. However, I do object to those sour folks who create their own conventions, then insist everyone else follow them. That's not only anti-democratic, authoritarian BS, but it's rude, obnoxious, and arrogant, too. Not to mention, just plain wrong. But go ahead! Ask me how I feel about it!
How is "I don't pray to your god" an insult?
stvdv
Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I have no problem how people write God. I believe there is 1 God though given many names, hence I write always God.
Some write G-d out of respect, some write God out of respect
Some write god out of lack of respect, some write god because they see more than 1 God
And maybe some write god to irritate or trigger others or another emotional reason
God is linked with belief and belief is subjective, so anyone is free to write God however he wants IMO