With Friends Like This, Does God Need Enemies?
In its continuing catastrophic decline, The Politic, apparently channelling typographic instructions from the Lord, has begun editing comments in order to ensure that they show the proper degree of “respect” for God. “Matthew” (great evangelical name, that) has taken it upon himself to chastise a poster for using a lower case “g”, and to edit the poster’s writing, despite an explicit statement that the poster intended to write “god”, not “God”.
One can only be grateful that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, eternal, loving deity who created all that is, was, and shall ever be, has so staunch and brave a defender to press the shift key.
It is unclear what actual impact the use of the character “g” instead of the character “G” has on the state of the universe. It is also a bit unclear by what mechanism Matthew’s edit is supposed to increase the level of respect the original writer feels for God. Nor is it clear why the Maker of Us All favours Matthew’s unilateral imposition of a 700-year old typographical convention. But that, I suppose, is why I shall never be a theologian.
The only time person to ever edit a comment of mine was Anonalogue, just a couple of days before what appeared to be a nervous breakdown. Even his supporters (I think there were two) saw that as an appalling breach of blog etiquette.
Matthew…you know what? God doesn’t care about the upper or lower case. Really. Truly. However, She wants you to know that She really hates that boring gray masthead you guys use, and She also asked me to tell you that She’d like to have a private chat with Greg and Tom (if they haven’t already fled “The Politic” in embarassment) about some of the stuff you’ve been saying on Her behalf.
That’s just sad.
Now that was funny. With a capital F.
I will have you, and Matthew, know that I was recently talking to Them and They have assured me that an upper case letter may be OK for the
monotheists(yes, that’s how They spell it) but that They prefer the underline plus uppercase to show proper deference, humility, and respect.The Flying Spaghetti Monsterists have apparently received instruction (after reading Matthews post) that upper case + underline + bold shows proper respect.
I’m not sure where all this will end, but it is entirely possible that the christian zealots may have won this round in a confusing gaggle of HTML code that even They cannot decipher — oh shit!! was that supposed to be underlined or just bold………. or red… crap!
Well, first of all, to be on topic, I’ll admit that God being spelled with a lower-case ‘g’ is a pet peeve of mine, but not one that I’d be likely to mention unless, well, there was a post about it. That being said, I can’t imagine editing someone’s comment on my blog to fix it.
Now, for off-topic, and it’s all your fault for linking to the comments of the original post.
I’m confused. One of the commenters talks about being an “ex-gay.”
Huh?
I was of the understanding (obviously incorrect) that there are pretty much 3 choices around one’s chosen sexual preferences: straight, gay and bisexual. My other (mis)understanding is that one can THINK one is (straight or gay) and then realize later in life that one is actually (gay or straight), at which point one identifies as the ‘new’ preference and off you go.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone refer to themselve as “ex-gay” (or “ex-straight,” for that matter), except for maybe the odd TV evangalist caught with his pants down, but does that really count?
Is it me or is the “ex-gay” commenter a TV evangalist blogging incognito?
You’re right, Candace, that’s pretty off topic. It fact, it might have the effect of diverting us from the important task at hand (laughing at the Politic), which I am sure was not your intent.
Interesting question, though. Post it on your site and I promise I’ll get into it.
Not fair, I skipped the ON-topic piece of your response.
What’s your view on the use of “god” as a noun, in the following context: “The Mundugaluwompos worshipped as a god a Gestetner machine left on their island during WWII, given its extraordinary ability to reproduce”. In that context, capital G or no?
I quit botherin’ with the Politic more than a year ago and it was precisely because of their comment selection policy. It is a meaningless exercise in futility to write thoughtful, on-topic comments only to have them remain unpublished while the semi-literate screeds of Politic EchoCamber commenters get published. They have no shame, no honour and no honesty.
My little band sometimes plays some gospel music at the local united church. When our band’s glorious leader recently said we’d be playin’ there again soon, I couldn’t help myself and I blurted out — “Jesus Fuckin’ Christ! Church again?” We been gettin’ a few laffs over that one but I ain’t passed it along to the good reverend… yet.
Sticks and stones won’t hurt god’s bones. What harm can names do?
JB
How about spelling it ‘g-a-w-d’. I do that all the time. Perhaps a test…
How about spelling it “god” or “God”, depending on your personal beliefs, and trusting the creator of the Universe to correct it if It doesn’t like it?
Hmmmmm…
“Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” - John 10:34
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”
Psalm 82:6
Yup. Spelled with a lower-case ‘g’.
Insane thinking of course, is that which confuses words with the thing.
“Insane thinking of course, is that which confuses words with the thing.”
should be:
“Insane thinking of course includes that thinking with confuses words with the thing or the idea.”
[...] (HT: Stageleft). [...]
Wanna hear a real good one Ian? Neither of the original languages of the bible - Aramaic and Greek - have capital letter’s in their alphabet. Meaning capitals and lowercase letters where used differently by different scribes when it was translated into the Latin Vulgate.
Don’t even get me started on what ‘bar nasha’ and ‘bar nala’ really mean…
Sorry, let me correct that - have mixed case. I believe Greek is nothing BUT capital letters and Aramaic has no sense of case.
Still, it’s kind of impressive to learn that God reads the Politic.
Mike, I believe the Roman alphabet, which is what the english version is based on originally had only single case letters - that which are now ‘upper case’.
Ever contemplate the meaning of ‘bar abbas’, the form of the name of the ‘theif’ that was apparently crucified beside Jesus?
How about… “son of god.” Or, using the original Roman alphabet, ‘SON OF GOD’.
“Still, it’s kind of impressive to learn that God reads the Politic.”
Well, apparently HE knows the Minds of all Men. Therefore, HE would KNOW the IDEAS being communicated. HE does not need matthew editing the typography.
“Mike, I believe the Roman alphabet, which is what the english version is based on originally had only single case letters - that which are now ‘upper case’.”
Yes, but the Old Testament was written in Aramaic and the New Testament was written in Greek,
And yes, I know what ‘bar abbas’ means - son of the father. No symbolism there eh?
But if he reads the politic, he probably knows how to make lowercase Greek letters.
That’d be AnonaloGue.
It’s not about God, it’s about the letter Gee. Which is Getting tired of beinG pushed around.
Sorry, days late to the party yet again.
Re “g” vs “G” when it comes to God. In my opinion, which may or may not be grammatically correct, I believe that the “g” should be capitalized when God is referred to as a proper noun. Eg: “Please, God, can you make X happen” or “Please, God, can you …” or “God bless our gracious Queen.” In a sentence about “gods” then no, it does not need to be capitalized. Incas had “gods” that they worshipped; they possibly (depending on their alphabet) capitalized the name of their Sun God and possibly even capitalized the descriptive term of “Sun God” but I suspect (and of course could be wrong) that the general term of “god” or “gods” were not capitalized.
And, while the debate may rage as to whether or not God reads the Politic (or, for that matter, Stageleft), there should be no debate whatsoever as to who, if anyone, cares which gods do or do not.
Balb, re: your question (comment #6) about “g” or “G,” in the example you provide I would go with the lower case “g.”
I will have to think about whether or not I care enough about the question as to whether I post about it.
Damn interesting question, no? And could stir up some sh*t.
I will decide tomorrow if it’s worth it. Much to do outside of blogging, though, so I may not have the time.
“I believe that the “g†should be capitalized when God is referred to as a proper noun.”
Excellent. Then by all means, do so. I probably will too, in exactly the same instances as you.
And if Mike or stageleft or Smarter than Ezra adopt a different typographic convention, the editor in me will frown slightly. Then my brow will unfurrow, I will shrug internally, and move on.
But:
- I will not presume to amend their spelling against their will, and,
- I will not indulge in the fantasy that God, god, GoD or GOD shares shares Matthew’s petty obsession or his control issues.