Capital idea? by Nicky Wilkinson

 

Recently, a friend, who was writing up an order of service, and concerned to be consistent in the typeset, asked what was the protocol for the capitalisation of God’s pronouns. This innocent question proved to be an emotional rollercoaster for me! Have you ever thought about it? 

The UK is going through profound changes in society’s attitude to respect for authority figures in general and God in particular.  Having not lived through the reflection and debate that have led to these changes while living abroad, I often find it difficult and irksome to understand. So, I fired back to my friend: ‘capitalise all God’s pronouns!’. In my heart was an innate determination to turn back the perceived rot of an increasing secularisation of society— no mean task for the capitalisation of a few pronouns! 

My friend responded with an interesting article; https://christianediting.co.nz/deity-pronouns/. There is nothing like a bit for alternative-view reading to get all my prejudices fired up. While I desperately believed I was holding on to sanity by saving the world one capitalised pronoun at a time, I had to get over the fact that a different cultural orientation might be more dismissive of tradition. However, my new kiwi friend got my attention with some solid research, provocative thought, and consultation of a variety of style guides. I had to recognise the puniness of attempting to ‘save God’ from de-Capitalisation of his pronouns, acknowledging it might not actually be uppermost in hIs mind for. 

Disconcertingly, I learned Hebrew, Greek and old English didn’t capitalise anything. Capitalisation of nouns followed by pronouns only occurred much later in the English language, rather than some deeply ingrained ancient grammatical inference of respect. Consequently, we are used to seeing God and his pronouns capitalised, because our bibles and some hymns have modelled it at least since Victorian times.Albeit not consistently— according to our New Zealand advisor. If Moses wasn’t worried, should we be? The Victorians were — should that put us off?

Is it the grammar that elevates him ? Where does honour and respect for God come from? What would a non-Christian make of capitalisation, would it engender more respect or detract? Do the most honour imputing choruses we sing capitalise his pronouns, or is it left to our hearts to lift him up, rather than the type set. I hope the elevation of him is in my heart first. 

Nevertheless, I do still prefer to capitalise His pronouns, not because it was always so, or because He is in danger of losing something if I don’t. Indeed He will meet all of us wherever we are, and will win our respect by being who He is and not because respect is suggested in a script style. For me, I just like to think He is different from me and gets a bit of extra respect when I write.

Nicky Wilkinson is a new writer majoring in option pieces, but interested in devotional, children’s books and memoir. Formerly a history teacher in Zimbabwe, she is currently an enthusiastic grannie, artist, runner and cyclist and owns a saxophone and guitar that are not played enough. She has lived in Prague and Harare but now is settled in Sheffield UK.