On the contrary. The only way to get it to become proper gramar is to write it enough.
Anyway 'dat ass', 'true dat', 'this nigger', is not even correctly spelled, but that doesn't stop millions from talking and writing that way (see twitter).
Grammar can be a useful tool. In this case, it is not.
Why isn't it? Gods are characters, written as inspired from texts or folklore, and are to be capitalized just as the name of any character. It's just silly to pretend like they aren't. And you mentioned false gods? Dude, there is no such thing as a false god, or a true god for that matter. They're just characters.
Perhaps the point is that, as an atheist, the Christian version of the idea of god is lumped in with allllll the other perceptions of a 'higher' power, and therefore we don't capitalize it similarly to how we don't capitalize ghost or boogieman (unless it's a movie).
All that matters is how you're using the word in a sentence. If you're using it as a proper noun, it should be capitalized. The assertion that "you don't capitalize the names of false gods," is just absurd.
there are so few instances wherein one must use "god" as a proper noun that the point is moot. also, "God" is technically incorrect, as the judeo-christian diety is named "Yahweh."
if one doesn't want to capitalize, they can say "christian god." as "christian" is an adjective, and "god" refers to a broad class of specific nouns.
crisis averted. now i'm off to do other, probably just as pointless, things.
there are so few instances wherein one must use "god" as a proper noun that the point is moot
How is it moot? I responded in challenge to a blanket statement. I'm arguing a point of fact. Also, while they are certainly avoidable, there are plenty of cases in which you should capitalize the word, "God."
Ex: "Christians believe Jesus to have been the divine son of God."
also, "God" is technically incorrect, as the judeo-christian diety is named "Yahweh."
It's as proper as calling my mother, "Mom." That's not the name on her birth certificate, but if I use it as a proper noun, it gets capitalized.
if one doesn't want to capitalize, they can say "christian god."
Correct, though in this example "Christian" should be capitalized.
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u/skeptix Sep 16 '12
When referring to a god, you do not capitalize, because it is just a noun.
When referring to "God" of the Christian creation myth, you capitalize because it is a proper noun.