It seems like vast education in religion, history, and philosophy so many atheists claim to have, they would have gotten this down by now. Any reason for this?
2006-11-14 08:16:49 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have a BA in philosophy & religion. I've read more in the history and philosophy of atheism than most anywone without a MA in the field. I nave NEVER seen a scholar capitalize the word, not Bertrand Russell, James Turner (historian of atheism), nor any philosophers of religion. I'm sorry, it just looks plain silly.
2006-11-14 08:28:23 · update #1
The dictionaries and encyclopedias I have used do not capitalize atheism or atheist. Capitalization is reserved for Proper nouns. The non-belief of any Deity is not a religion, and thereby not considered a proper noun.
2006-11-14 08:28:57 · answer #1 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If atheism is simply a term representing a numeric count of gods within a belief system such as polytheism and monotheism, then no, atheism should not be capitalized. Some people, however, also classify Atheism (myself included) as an actual, separate religion. Atheism, like any theistic religion, has a set of very specific beliefs regarding the supernatural. Monotheism and polytheism are not religions in and of themselves - no one ever says, "I'm a polytheist" when asked what religion they follow. People will stand up and say, however, "I am an Atheist."
Frankly, if a religion needs a "god" to be a religion there there are a lot of confused easterners out there. As zero is a number, so too is Atheism a religion. Just because you represent absense doesn't mean you're not representing something.
2006-11-14 16:31:11 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn L 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't see it capitalized very often. I'm happy enough when people manage to spell it correctly (the "ei" seems to give people fits). Personally I wouldn't care if it's Atheist or atheist.
Those that do capitalize it, maybe they think their faith in the lack of omniscient omnipotent beings is as respectable a faith as anyone else's. So if other faiths by default get capitalized just because it describes somebody's particular faith and lends it an air of respectfulness, then by the same logic it presumably applies to atheism too. Seems a little anal to me, though.
On the other hand, to object to how another person wishes to capitalize their own type of faith, that's perhaps slightly anal too.
I don't think atheists should be offended by anyone who chooses the lowercase spelling, nor should monotheists (or any theists) be offended by atheists who choose to capitalize it.
2006-11-14 16:35:11 · answer #3 · answered by joseph_strummer 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, as an Atheist and an English major I have to cry foul. The capitalization of the "a" in Atheist is entirely up to the individual and how they relate to their own beliefs. It has nothing to do with whether or not it is a "proper name." Hence BOTH are correct, depending on the user and context.
2006-11-14 16:23:27 · answer #4 · answered by Elphaba 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
It's like movies. They're a crap shoot. They have nothing to do with reality. Matter of fact, the property will suffer or cease to be hot if you start screwing around injecting facts. People like lies. Don't mess with success I think the rule of thumb is. Interesting picture you have. Physically impossible. But it's up there. See what I mean?
2006-11-14 16:21:23 · answer #5 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because for many it's a way of life. Not believing affects you as much as believiing. And the caps show respect - in the same way I would also capitalise religious people e.g. Jews, Christians, because I have respect for them, regardless of their beliefs.
2006-11-14 16:23:16 · answer #6 · answered by lady_s_hazy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you have a problem with them capitalizing the word Atheist then this is the wrong section to post this in. Should've been posted in Education & Reference.
2006-11-14 16:38:10 · answer #7 · answered by Maureen B 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
some people random capitalize, however, being a group such is Mormons, Christians, Jews are all capitalized explain why athiests arent. regardless i could care less for this error in capitalization, it doesnt really mean anything.
2006-11-14 16:27:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religions do it I think out of respect for the religion, but atheism isn't a religion
2006-11-14 16:25:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Wow, what a good question. I bet any time you write god, you capitalize it huh? it would only be capitalized if you were talking about the God that Christians refer to, not the god of fire or the god of war.
anyway who cares who capitalized what, does it really matter in the end? nah, not one bit.
2006-11-14 16:43:44 · answer #10 · answered by fish lips 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋