I posted the following on the Dawkins forum, but it also applies to Sam's writings and postings on this forum:
As I watched Richard I was pleased to see how much better he is getting at this (I was reminded of that scene in the movie “Ghandi” in which one of his supporters remarked at how much better Ghandi was getting at addressing the people). I was especially gratified that he did not just say “God” (which does end up capitalized in the CNN transcript) but rather, referred to the “Judeo-Christian god” so as to put it on a more even playing field with Thor and Zeus and the FSM. I would have gone as far as saying “the Christian deity” in order to make it clear that all these different deities are mythical. The tendency to mythology is just part of human nature.
I recommend that we non-believers clean up our language. As soon as you say “God”, “Christ”, “Saint”, “The Prophet” or “holy” you have bought into the mythology. Most people in this country don't know that Jesus of Nazareth (if he existed at all) did not have “Christ” as a last name. “Christ” comes from the old Greek word meaning “the anointed one” and was tacked on to Jesus long after his death. If you call Jesus of Nazareth “Christ” you accept the whole divine son sacrifice myth cooked up by Saul of Tarsus (yes, they call him “Saint” Paul).
Even something as simple as “holy” carries big psychological weight. It means “held in high esteem by some or other religious group,” as in “The Holy Lands” or “Holy Scripture” etc. If you use this word, you are buying into holiness itself, which puts you over the edge and into the supernatural. In dealing with the psychology of the people, choice of words matters.
