@suzianne saidWriting styles and conventions - and the inconsistencies on display - from almost 250 years ago hardly seem relevant. Capitalizing "Christian" makes sense, but not "atheist" for the same reason one wouldn't capitalize "theist". And anyway, if we just agree to disagree on that, what effect does the style of spelling "atheist" with a capital A have on its intended meaning?
However, in many cases, irregular capitalization is mainly a question of style.
This is evident in many writings of the founders of America in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
@fmf saidAs I said, it is a question of style. Usually, it can also denote emphasis on a word or words in a sentence. It is a styling not completely unheard of, as I already mentioned.
Writing styles and conventions - and the inconsistencies on display - from almost 250 years ago hardly seem relevant. Capitalizing "Christian" makes sense, but not "atheist" for the same reason one wouldn't capitalize "theist". And anyway, if we just agree to disagree on that, what effect does the style of spelling "atheist" with a capital A have on its intended meaning?
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@suzianne saidOK, so it's style. But I am asking about meaning. In your view, what effect does the style, where the word "Atheist" is spelt with a capital A, have on the intended meaning of the sentence in which this particular stylization appears?
As I said, it is a question of style. Usually, it can also denote emphasis on a word or words in a sentence. It is a styling not completely unheard of, as I already mentioned.
@fmf saidI suppose that as a proper noun it implies a greater commitment. What the (alleged) Rationalists call apathetic atheists would be lower case, but the upper case Atheists insist on attempting to talk believers out of their faith.
OK, so it's style. But I am asking about meaning. In your view, what effect does the style, where the word "Atheist" is spelt with a capital A, have on the intended meaning of the sentence in which this particular stylization appears?
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@fmf saidSomeday when millennial Controll (<— joke if you don’t understand or you dont have a sense of humor) Congress they’ll do away with correct spelling punctuation because people text now.
What effect is the word "Atheist", spelt with a capital A, intended to have on the meaning of the sentence in which it appears?
@deepthought saidIn the context of this community, a kind of paranoia indicator, then, if used all the time, as is the case with sonship.
I suppose that as a proper noun it implies a greater commitment. What the (alleged) Rationalists call apathetic atheists would be lower case, but the upper case Atheists insist on attempting to talk believers out of their faith.