Is writing out the tetragrammaton inappropriate?

Question

I'm Catholic, and would prefer answers for this question from fellow Roman Catholics, Jews and Orthodox Christians.

I'm a student, and on term papers and exams (and generally, any other paper I consider important), I write out the tetragrammaton on one of the pages (similar to "JMJ" by Catholics). I don't see it as a "good luck charm," but as assurance that I'm not doing the work "unaided." Professors have never made a fuss about it, either because they haven't seen it, or don't mind.

My question is, is this inappropriate, or worse, is it in violation of God's commandment not to take God's name in vain?

Answer 1

The four Hebrew characters, הוהי. —transliterated YHWH—are known as the Tetragrammaton.

God’s name in this form was inscribed on European coins for decades.

God’s name can also be found on buildings, monuments, and works of art as well as in many church hymns.

According to the German Brockhaus encyclopedia, at one time it was customary for Protestant princes to wear an insignia composed of a stylized sun and the Tetragrammaton.

The symbol, also used on flags and coins, was known as the Jehovah-Sun insignia.

Clearly, the deeply religious Europeans of the 17th and 18th centuries knew that Almighty God had a name. More significantly, they were not afraid to use it.

Answer 2

*Is Catholic*

No. Taking God's name in vain, if you are following Deut., is to swear a false oath. To "take a name" means to swear an oath. To do it in vain means to swear something that you do not mean to do.

In these old oath covenants, when one would swear an oath it is very much saying "If I do not do XYZ then this god(s) shall dam n me".

This is retained today, though we do not recognize it. Amen is an oath signifier a saying "let me be dam ned if this is not true". So today we can very much be taking the Lord's name in vain when we are doing the creed and our prayers if we are not believing in them and working out what they say.

Taking the Lord's name in vain is different from blasphemy. The reason you do not see scripture use YHWH and Jews tend to say G-D is to prevent both blasphemy as well as profane and casual usage of the Divine Name.

Answer 3

Do not the Ten Commandments forbid the pronouncing of God’s name? By no means! Although many have interpreted the third commandment in this way, note what the Encyclopaedia Judaica comments: “The avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11) as meaning ‘Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain,’ whereas it really means ‘You shall not swear falsely by the name of YHWH your God.’” Notice that the text does not forbid ‘taking up’ or pronouncing God’s name. However, even if it meant taking God’s name “in vain,” note what the Hebrew lexicon by Koehler and Baumgartner states regarding the Hebrew term translated “in vain” (Hebrew, lash·shaw′’): “name a name without reason . . . misuse a name.” Therefore, this commandment does not forbid the use of God’s name but, rather, its misuse.

BTW, in English, we pronounce God's name, "Jehovah." See Ps. 83:18

Answer 4

Sorry, I'm not any of the above, but I had to jump on this one.

Why do you religious types always try so hard to take away all the credit from yourselves?

Why are you so quick to give god credit for helping to write your papers? You did the thinking, you did the work, and whatever the outcome, it was by your hand, not gods. Why not, when you get an A+, or 100% or whatever you get, say to yourself, HEY! I did great! GO ME! Instead, you were "Aided"...

You know, you're probably not stupid, I'm sure whatever you do well is because of that, and not because of god. I really don't get it. Give yourself the credit for once.

Not to go on forever, but it's kind of the same as when someone survives some horrible accident... seems the religious types always want to praise the Great God for this, instead of giving the credit to the amazing surgeon who spent YEARS perfecting his work, going to school and so on so forth... but no, they say it's because god helped.

Sheesh... enough already.

Answer 5

The Tetragrammaton simply means " four letters", YHWH and is Almighty God's personal name. Because it is all consonants and no vowels, we do not know its correct pronunciation, but we have added to it to make it easier.
YHWH = YaHWeH = Jehovah [ English]
(Exodus 6:3) And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them.

Jesus asked us to USE God's NAME.

Using God's NAME is NOT taking it in vain.

Answer 6

No. The commandment speaks of using His name in VAIN. Whne I praise Him, pray,tell bible stories and tell my testimony I say His name. But that is not in vain.

Answer 7

hi