I am curious as to why a person of Jewish faith would want to refer to the name of God as G-d? I know that the ANCIENT Israel people did not even pronounce the name of YHWH, as it was thought to displease God, Yet all through the old testiment you see God's name. If indeed we use the name of God,I was wondering ,do you at all even READ the passage I made because of it? Am I being offensive to you? I really need to know.
2007-06-15 16:52:50 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Superstition. They think it's a name even though "God" is just a title. They don't want to offend by risking a misspelling of the word or using it in vain.
2007-06-15 16:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Not offensive at all! The reason is fairly simple. We believe that to write G-d in a way which can be destroyed--that is, on paper or in an e-mail that can be deleted--is disrespectful. When prayer books and the like become too old for use they are not destroyed but instead put into a special place where unusable texts are permanently kept.
2007-06-15 18:51:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mark S, JPAA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its because of the commandment not to deface a name of G-d. if you simply don't write it, it can't be defaced at any point in the future, either accidentally or deliberately. some orthodox jews will alter the name of G-d in their spoken language outside of prayer or ritual as well, by saying elokim instead of elohim, hashem instead of the 4-letter name, etc.
2007-06-15 18:50:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the Hebrew language vowels were originally spoken, but not written. Eventually vowels were added, in the form of dots and accent marks, to make reading Hebrew easier. But they were not added to the names of God, so as not to alter or disrespect his name in any way. They often carry that tradition over into other language, use G-d instead of God in English. It is a sign of respect. Similar to the way many Christians will use "thee" and "thou" in prayer as a sign of respect. Or Muslims will add (pubh) after the name of God or a prophet as a sign of respect.
2007-06-15 17:03:07 · answer #4 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Maybe they think that the word "God" is too sacred to spell out all the way in written form. I wonder how they pronounce it. Do they vocalize it the same way they spell it, like "GgggDdd" or something?
Maybe they should just say "gosh" like other people nickname him as. Like go pray to Gosh! or Gosh Darnit! when they get mad.
If the Jews wind up taking over U.S. politics, I wonder if they would change our currency from "IN GOD WE TRUST" to "IN G-D WE TRUST".
2007-06-15 16:59:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You don't write god on a non-permanent medium becuase to delete or throw away something with God written on it would be disprespectful to him.
2007-06-15 16:56:41 · answer #6 · answered by Zarathustra 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They're taking the "taking the Lord's name in vain" commandment to the extreme. It doesn't mean that at all. Jesus had a lot to say about the Jews twisting the commandments out of context. It was done then, and it's still done today.
2007-06-15 16:56:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Actually, it has to do with respect and respect for items with Ha'Shem's (G-d's) name written on it.. If we drop a siddur (prayer book) we have to pick it up and kiss it.. If something with Ha'Shem's name in it become old and tattered, we have to bury it.. All of this is out of respect ....
2007-06-15 17:02:28 · answer #8 · answered by Furibundus 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
no, ur not offensive. it just means that we dont wanna offend the big guy, so some write it like that, and maybe god doesnt like that spelling? so some just spell it like tht
2007-06-15 16:56:50 · answer #9 · answered by anne 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋