The current rule seems to be that it’s proper (and almost mandatory) to capitalize the first letter of gOd when referring to the Judeo-Christian deity but not proper to capitalize it when referring to the Greek gOds or any particular gOd of other people. This rule confers an unearned legitimacy and status on the Judeo-Christian deity.

I believe it’s time for us to change this rule. I believe that unless Jewish people or Christians can provide us with logic and evidence that proves their deity is somehow more sensible, more real, or more likely to exist than the thousands of other deities people have invented over the ages, their deity should not be taken any more seriously or accorded any more respect than those of others. Objective investigation of religious issues demands a level playing field. It’s time for the Judeo-Christian deity to lose his unfair advantage.

Indeed, given the many years and centuries that the Judeo-Christian deity has enjoyed that unfair advantage, I believe some penalty is in order – not to punish that non-existent deity or his followers but to re-establish the proper degree of skepticism with which we ought to approach any mention of the divine. Although intellectual skepticism might be adequately re-asserted by a simple change from God to god, I believe more than that is needed to re-assert skepticism on the emotional level – the level theism and religion alike seem to draw much of their strength from. In other words, I believe we need to strip God of its undeserved and unfortunate connotations.

In order to achieve these goals, I believe it’s time we atheists started writing and thinking in terms of gOd - a word that emphasizes the big nothing at the center of the concept it represents.

Although this may seem to be an unprecedented suggestion in its details, it is hardly unique in its general approach. Many Jewish people and others aware of the power of language seem to have historically refused to mention the name of their deity at all. When pressed, they have often resorted to dodges and halfway measures, such as G-d. If religious people can manipulate the way they represent their deities in order to reflect and foster their belief in, awe of, and submission to those deities, it seems only far that we atheists be permitted to use gOd as a way of reflecting and fostering our belief that gOd is a meaningless, empty concept that too many people have been tricked into respecting and taking far more seriously than it deserves.

Furthermore, if we atheists are expected to respectfully maintain our silence while Muslims open and close their communications with intrusive, distractive, and irritating rote phrases such as “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet,” it seems only fair and proper for us atheists to expect them to respectfully maintain their silence as we begin using a term that’s in accord with our deepest beliefs.

Words are powerful things. We shouldn’t allow others to dictate to us how they must be used. We especially shouldn’t allow others to dictate such things to us when it’s clear that they do not have our best interests at heart.

So:  gOd.

In the beginning, gOd said…

Jesus, the son of gOd…

gOd save the Queen…

In gOd we trust…

One nation under gOd…

So help me, gOd…

It’s time that this empty lunacy be exposed for what it is, wherever and whenever it pops up.

Let’s see how fast we can spread the word and stop the madness.