When Jews write Spiritual articles, why do they leave the "O" out of God?

Question

Instead of writing God, they write G-d??? What does this tell us? Can someone explain this to me?

Answer 1

Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; it prohibits only erasing or defacing a Name of God. However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better. The commandment not to erase or deface the name of God comes from Deut. 12:3. In that passage, the people are commanded that when they take over the promised land, they should destroy all things related to the idolatrous religions of that region, and should utterly destroy the names of the local deities. Immediately afterwards, we are commanded not to do the same to our God. From this, the rabbis inferred that we are commanded not to destroy any holy thing, and not to erase or deface a Name of God. It is worth noting that this prohibition against erasing or defacing Names of God applies only to Names that are written in some kind of permanent form, and recent rabbinical decisions have held that writing on a computer is not a permanent form, thus it is not a violation to type God's Name into a computer and then backspace over it or cut and paste it, or copy and delete files with God's

Answer 2

I think that for many it is a sign of respect. The name that God gave to Moses for Himself are the four Hebrew letters Yod Hey Vav Hey YHVH which some people pronounce Jehovah or Yahweh but the actual pronunciation is uncertain because over 2,000 years ago the Jewish people determined that God's name was too Holy to be spoken by ordinary people and only the High Priest was allowed to use "the name" on the day of atonement. What you are asking about is a carry over from that practice.

Answer 3

They believe you should not say His name (hence most references in the bible left out vowels in the original text). I'm not sure it's entirely a Jewish custom though they did write the bible. It's considered a matter of respect to not invoke his name - much like other people capitalizing the 'g' in God or even the 'h' in "His name" (and don't mistake my non-capitalization for disrespect, I just don't refer to the one and only god of the Abrahamic faiths unless I have to - not by name - it really is blasphemous even to an Atheist like me).

Answer 4

its a way of being super-duper-extra cautious.

see, for Jewish people the mere NAME of God is holy, even when its written in english, and should be treated as such.

thus to be as careful as possible, and as a gesture of trying to prevent it from inadvertently being mishandled or such, do not write it out in common usage.

kinda a better to err on the side of caution thing.

personally I don't think God is THAT picky. but you could say in a sense that the mindfulness about it is "really" the point.

Answer 5

They know that Yahweh or Jehovah is their God's name, however that is too sacred to write, so instead they replace it with G-d. So G-d takes the place of his name. In other words, to keep from writing his holy name, they replace it with something else holy, but not AS HOLY.

Answer 6

Because some believe that God's name is not to be written. G-d is the generally accepted work-around.

Answer 7

I'm not Jewish, but I think it's because anything you write down is temporary, and His name should be permanant.

Answer 8

because ha-shem- adoni -g-d is held with the deepest respect.to add an "o"is more like praying to pagan gods,from mikhal in israel.

Answer 9

Because they like to leave the middle letter to the imagination.

Answer 10

Because there are all kinds of problems if G-d's name is treated with disrespect.