When to Capitalize...the Gods?

[xena]

Supposing its not generic?

I'd say if it refers to a specific group of gods, capitalize it, like 'May the Gods help us!' But if it’s more general, lowercase works, like 'People worship many gods.'

 

[TheKillerBs]

That's not true. I know plenty Christians who have an issue with it.

Okay, there are around 2.5 billion Christians in the world and the vast majority are fine with it. The Orthodox are fine with it. Catholics prefer not to use it in liturgy for tradition reasons but are otherwise fine with it. Mainline Protestantism is fine with it, though in general LORD is preferred. The only group I can think of who wouldn't be okay with it are those who advocate for more Jewish practice in Christianity, a radical form of Evangelicalism (usually Pentecostal,) and would be viewed either as borderline or outright heretical by the other denominations.

 

[pmmg]

Okay, there are around 2.5 billion Christians in the world and the vast majority are fine with it. The Orthodox are fine with it. Catholics prefer not to use it in liturgy for tradition reasons but are otherwise fine with it. Mainline Protestantism is fine with it, though in general LORD is preferred. The only group I can think of who wouldn't be okay with it are those who advocate for more Jewish practice in Christianity, a radical form of Evangelicalism (usually Pentecostal,) and would be viewed either as borderline or outright heretical by the other denominations.

Why so defensive? The fact is, there are many christians who will insist it is capitalized.

I know many Catholics treat it that way, and I think many of the protestants are more likely to insist on it than us Catholic types. I doubt it would rise to an issue of salvation, but I would not take for granted that Christians dont care.

First answer provided from the internet.

Query: Catholic Capitalize God

Yes, the word "God" should be capitalized in Catholicism and other monotheistic faiths because it is used as a proper noun to refer to the specific, unique divine being, similar to how you would capitalize a person's name. When referring to the deity in this way, words such as "Him," "His," and "He" are also often capitalized, though style guides may vary on this specific point. However, the term "god" in the general sense, such as in polytheistic religions, remains in lowercase.

Why "God" is Capitalized

Proper Noun:
"God" is treated as a unique name rather than a common noun when referring to the deity.

Respect:
Capitalization is a sign of respect for the divine being, a common practice in many style guides for religious terms.

Distinction:
It distinguishes the specific God of monotheistic religions from the generic term "god" used in polytheistic contexts.

Examples
Capitalized: "God created the world". "In the Gospel of Luke, heavy emphasis is placed on the Holy Spirit, who is God".
Lowercase: "Thor was a powerful god of Norse mythology".

Related Terms
Other terms referring to the Christian deity are also capitalized: God the Father, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Allah, and Jehovah.

Pronoun Capitalization
While some style guides and religious traditions capitalize pronouns like "He," "Him," and "His" when referring to God to show reverence, this is a matter of personal preference or house style rather than a universal rule.

My question here is about Thor. Suppose Thor was a real god, and not a mythical one, would his believers capitalize...I think they would. For the same reasons many Christians do. And Thor is part of a pantheon. Suppose they were all actual...who would they be treated?

In general terms, if a God is a True God, its respectful to capitalize there references. If its not a true god, its also disrespectful to a True God to capitalize them. But Gods are considered true or not true based on believers. Not on actual agreed upon terms that some are real and some are fake. No one thinks there God is fake.

 

[TheKillerBs]

Why so defensive? The fact is, there are many christians who will insist it is capitalized.

I know many Catholics treat it that way, and I think many of the protestants are more likely to insist on it than us Catholic types. I doubt it would rise to an issue of salvation, but I would not take for granted that Christians dont care.

First answer provided from the internet.

Query: Catholic Capitalize God

Yes, the word "God" should be capitalized in Catholicism and other monotheistic faiths because it is used as a proper noun to refer to the specific, unique divine being, similar to how you would capitalize a person's name. When referring to the deity in this way, words such as "Him," "His," and "He" are also often capitalized, though style guides may vary on this specific point. However, the term "god" in the general sense, such as in polytheistic religions, remains in lowercase.

Why "God" is Capitalized

Proper Noun:
"God" is treated as a unique name rather than a common noun when referring to the deity.

Respect:
Capitalization is a sign of respect for the divine being, a common practice in many style guides for religious terms.

Distinction:
It distinguishes the specific God of monotheistic religions from the generic term "god" used in polytheistic contexts.

Examples
Capitalized: "God created the world". "In the Gospel of Luke, heavy emphasis is placed on the Holy Spirit, who is God".
Lowercase: "Thor was a powerful god of Norse mythology".

Related Terms
Other terms referring to the Christian deity are also capitalized: God the Father, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Allah, and Jehovah.

Pronoun Capitalization
While some style guides and religious traditions capitalize pronouns like "He," "Him," and "His" when referring to God to show reverence, this is a matter of personal preference or house style rather than a universal rule.

My question here is about Thor. Suppose Thor was a real god, and not a mythical one, would his believers capitalize...I think they would. For the same reasons many Christians do. And Thor is part of a pantheon. Suppose they were all actual...who would they be treated?

In general terms, if a God is a True God, its respectful to capitalize there references. If its not a true god, its also disrespectful to a True God to capitalize them. But Gods are considered true or not true based on believers. Not on actual agreed upon terms that some are real and some are fake. No one thinks there God is fake.

My whole earlier point was about using or not using the Tetragrammaton, not capitalisation. Jews do not use the Tetragrammaton, as they view it as dangerously close to breaking the commandment to not use the Lord's name in vain. Generally in Christianity, we have absolutely no qualms about using it, and in some currents the Jewish position is seen as nonsensical (though which pronunciation to use can be contentious and they're all reconstructions so many will default to using Lord instead, as the Apostles did, being Second Temple Jews). Yeah, I agree, capitalise God when referring to the Lord, it would be disrespectful not to. But that wasn't my point.

Where it comes to Thor, there are two issues. One is that the word "god" is slightly problematic, because there is a bit of an equivocation of terms in the word when it refers to a monotheistic deity and a polytheistic deity. When it denotes function, as a spiritual being that receives worship, the word god is adequate, but where it comes to ontology, there is a bit of a disconnect. For monotheists, God is a transcendent being in a class all on his own, and other spiritual beings are on a different category (in Christianity, these would be angels and demons depending on whether they submit to God or rebelled against Him). For Eurasian polytheists, the transcendent reality (which is not a being in this kind of polytheism) can only be reached by worship of the lesser spiritual beings. These are their gods. Note that the reality of pagan deities was not truly disputed by the monotheistic religions of late Antiquity - Jews and Christians alike thought that there might have been a god dwelling in the pagan temples, but these were seen as rebellious, deceitful beings usurping worship which rightfully only belongs to the God of Abraham. Then comes the problem of non-Eurasian religions (such as sub-Saharan African and Native American traditional religion, Siberian polytheism might be included here too but North African polytheism would not), which is that they were written down through an early modern Christian lens so concepts are pretty distorted.

The second issue is that you have to look at it the way the native worshippers see it. Do pagans themselves capitalise the word god when they refer to their own gods? From what I've seen from the little pagan-produced content I've consumed, the answer seems to be no. In that case, then capitalising the word would be imposing a Christian paradigm. If they do, then what I've just said is irrelevant, and yeah, your argument about it being disrespectful to a real god to not capitalise the word god when referring to them would be valid.

 

[skip.knox]

>I think I just have to capitalize them all, or capitalize none. I lean towards all.

Real-world examples are irrelevant here. I vote with pmmg.

 

[TheKillerBs]

>I think I just have to capitalize them all, or capitalize none. I lean towards all.

Real-world examples are irrelevant here. I vote with pmmg.

Why are they irrelevant?

 

[pmmg]

I think because we are talking about a fantasy reality where these gods many be true gods, and not present reality.

 

[skip.knox]

Why are they irrelevant?

The conventions of capitalization (which have changed over time and across languages, but let's stick with current and English) are peculiar to each religion and sect. In many cases, those conventions are followed not so much as a convention of capitalization but as a way of showing reverence. Since we're talking about fiction that is not trying to imitate the real world, I say current RL practices aren't relevant to the question.

Which is a typically long-winded, pedantic way of saying what pmmg said. <g>

 

[Karlin]

Just use Don Marquis' convention of no capital letters ever...

 

[pmmg]

Just use Don Marquis' convention of no capital letters ever...

I'd like that, but I don't think that is what I am going to do.

 

[TheKillerBs]

The conventions of capitalization (which have changed over time and across languages, but let's stick with current and English) are peculiar to each religion and sect. In many cases, those conventions are followed not so much as a convention of capitalization but as a way of showing reverence. Since we're talking about fiction that is not trying to imitate the real world, I say current RL practices aren't relevant to the question.

Which is a typically long-winded, pedantic way of saying what pmmg said. <g>

I don't think pmmg's argument works at all. They themself admitted that nobody thinks their gods are fake.

I also don't understand why bring up other languages on a question about modern English language. Regardless of the subject matter being communicated, the language used should reflect the way the language is currently being used, unless you're deliberately trying to evoke a different time period. In that context, I maintain my position that the way real modern English speakers who believe they have real gods address said gods is of utmost relevance. It is the way the language is currently being used.

 

[pmmg]

I suspect that if I was to talk to a true believer in Norse Mythos, they would capitalize their gods. even with today established language guides.

I did say no one thinks their gods are fake, but I do personally think some of them are. I don't believe in Zeus and Thor. I'd capitalize otherwise

Now back to fiction and what fictional people would do...

 

[pmmg]

I maintain my position that the way real modern English speakers who believe they have real gods address said gods is of utmost relevance. It is the way the language is currently being used.

Okay, and how do real modern English speakers who believe they have real gods treat their gods in writing? Do they capitalize their terms?

 

[Miles Lacey]

Okay, and how do real modern English speakers who believe they have real gods treat their gods in writing? Do they capitalize their terms?

In most countries colonised by the British you were taught that the only time you would use the upper case letter G in the word "god" was if you were referring to the Judeo-Christian deity. If being caned or strapped didn't reinforce that rule a fine or a spell in prison or even a psychiatric institution for violating blasphemy laws certainly did.

That legacy continues into the present. Even now most English speakers who worship any god or gods that isn't the Abrahamic deity use a lower case g when referring to those deities.

 

[pmmg]

Well...I feel what is missing is that when those British types were enforcing their capitalizing, they were living in a world where they did not believe in Zeus or Thor. If they had, they might have enforced it a different way.

I'm gonna say, I give up. I don't think its getting across that things would be different in a world where gods are believed to be real.

 

[Miles Lacey]

Well...I feel what is missing is that when those British types were enforcing their capitalizing, they were living in a world where they did not believe in Zeus or Thor. If they had, they might have enforced it a different way.

I'm gonna say, I give up. I don't think its getting across that things would be different in a world where gods are believed to be real.

There are countries in which English is widely spoken where the Abrahamic faiths are not the major religions. In India Hindus use capital first letters when they refer to categories of deities as well as the deities themselves when writing in English.

Matters are further complicated by the use of words from local indigenous languages into the spoken and written English in many countries. In India they insert Hindi words. In New Zealand we insert Maori words. That does complicate grammar rules somewhat.

If they lived in a world where Zeus or Thor were considered as real as Allah or Jesus Christ I would expect that they would be referred to as God(s) rather than god(s).

 

[pmmg]

NVM...I reconsidered this post.

I think I will just continue the way I am, which is capitalizing each instance to avoid confusion.

 

[Karlin]

I would capitalize the names of gods I don't beieve in, as a matter of respect. And I would not agonize about such details, certainly not in a first draft.

 

[Devor]

Maybe it should just always be capitalized. It occurs to me that in Christianity we generally even capitalize words like "Him" when they refer to God, which goes beyond the normal expectations for the English language.

I was going to ask, if a Muslim were to type the following sentence, would they capitalize the word?

I believe in the one and only God, Allah.

And I realized that was a silly question, as a style guide would probably say no it's not being used as a proper noun, but a lot of believers would feel obligated to anyways. The style guide answer isn't wrong or disrespectful, but the pious urge is usually to go the extra step.

 

[Karlin]

Maybe it should just always be capitalized. It occurs to me that in Christianity we generally even capitalize words like "Him" when they refer to God, which goes beyond the normal expectations for the English language.

I was going to ask, if a Muslim were to type the following sentence, would they capitalize the word?

I believe in the one and only God, Allah.

And I realized that was a silly question, as a style guide would probably say no it's not being used as a proper noun, but a lot of believers would feel obligated to anyways. The style guide answer isn't wrong or disrespectful, but the pious urge is usually to go the extra step.

1. I think "Allah" is a proper noun
2. Muslims, as far as I know, also refer to the Prophet, capitalizing the word

Check some Muslim sites, or ask a Muslim.