I don't capitalize the word "god" but I don't do it out of spite or the need to offend people. I was just wondering if people get offended by this and why.
2007-09-30 22:46:40 · 33 answers · asked by Two quarters & a heart down 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I do believe that people are just looking for a reason to complain or get offended. It's as if they are walking around with a chip on their shoulder..
Bless them all
)o(
Trinity
2007-09-30 23:57:32 · answer #1 · answered by trinity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
absolutely! My sister in law is one of them and she gets offended because god to her is the most important being in the world and as such I guess is a BIG NOUN so must be capitalized.
but since I have friends of various strong religious viewpoints I find that writing in personal context the best bet is G-d that seems to keep them less disgruntled since it's now capitalized for those that need it and not really written out for those that believe your not supposed to even write the word as that would also be disrespectful to the almighty.
In the end there isn't enough I can do to the written word though to keep everyone happy so I tend not to worry about it too much anymore.
2007-09-30 23:02:54 · answer #2 · answered by pbj 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't get offended because it only makes that person look bad. There are gods, which are not capitalized, but then there is God. God is a title to indicate the God, not a god. Thus, grammatically, God should be capitalized in circumstances when you are talking about God. I don't capitalize the word god because it's just a word. God is a title. It doesn't matter if God doesn't exist, as one other answerer (Captain Bunkum) said. It's not about whether God "deserves" to be capitalized or not. It's about showing the distinction when you speak of the God or just a god.
When you say "god doesn't exist", it is a grammatically incorrect sentence. I'm sure that you think that the Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't exist. But see, I was talking about the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and not just any (or a) flying spaghetti monster. There needs to be a distinction. If someone doesn't capitalize God when he/she talks about Him, it just makes he/she look bad. That's all.
2007-09-30 23:13:47 · answer #3 · answered by Thardus 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I am a Christian. I do not get offended and I don't think God does. The reason it should be capitalized is to distinguish the Christian God from all other gods such as pagan gods, etc. Even in the Bible 'god' is not capitalized when referring to idols or other false gods. So if you mean the Christian God, it should be capitalized so people will know which god you refer to.
2007-09-30 22:52:25 · answer #4 · answered by Prof Fruitcake 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think when you capitalize God, it's supposed to be the head honcho who actually created everything. When you're talking about the gods of Greek mythology, then you'd normally use lower-case.
I usually do capitalize it myself, as a formality - although, some people do get a little too bent out of shape over this topic, admittedly.
2007-09-30 23:18:09 · answer #5 · answered by Lunarsight 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Due to western society's programming I still, on rare occasion, accidentally capitalise the 'g' for the xian god but I most often wrap it in a coupla apostrophe marks.
I do it to show it means nothing to me, to show distain and disrespect for the concept of invisible guys in the sky and, I treat the concept as a rather quaint, but nevertheless harmful, superstition.
If I upset anyone by it, I'm pleased.
Whilst ever we 'respect' anyone's bowing before imaginary beings we give licence to the evil their fundies do.
In other words, if fundies hadn't gone crazy, bombing buildings; if fundies hadn't gone crazy, spewing their hate and vitriol at gays and women choosing abortions; if fundies hadn't gone crazy threatening everyone outside their clique with hell, etc, etc, I may never have been too concerned about their weird delusions but ...
2007-10-01 02:44:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As it's a proper noun, you have to capitalize it, regardless of whether God exists or not. I mean, we capitalize Santa.
2007-09-30 23:37:08 · answer #7 · answered by Mark A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some do, but that is their own silly fault.
People get offended when I refrain from capitalising "america" as well... but I couldn't give a toss less. If it isn't worthy of my notice (e.g. god, america, etc) then it isn't worthy of a capital letter.
2007-09-30 22:56:34 · answer #8 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I get mildly offended by people using his name in vain.
(Think of me as an orthodox Jew in this case)
2007-09-30 23:18:49 · answer #9 · answered by philip 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes of course, i get offended. Especially if I knew them personally, that doing such manners.
Meaning, I know they really intentionally do it face to face to me, trying to make me get offended and burst in sorrow into my heart seeing they've despised His Holiness, not giving Him a due respect!
To others whom i don't know their true motives, i felt sorry for them in doing such out of love and care to the Mighty Creator God.
And maybe you've noticed in my way of writing. That because of the gratitude in my heart to the One and Only True Living God and Lord Jesus, i made a point unto myself to always pay respect by keeping Him my Lord and Savior all the way, and withour fear of persecution from non-believers. And always boldly proclaim, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! My Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.
2007-09-30 23:07:12 · answer #10 · answered by Ephesians 2:8 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋