Why do Jews spell "G~D"?

Question

I am very serious with my Jewishness and I accept the existence of the omnipotent.

I find it difficult to say or write the word "god" (whether spelt in uppercase or not, doesn't matter). Therefore I always write "G~D" or other similar ways of spelling. The Torah gives me the impression that the omnipotent is reluctant to be "god" and we are all clamouring forcing him/her/it to be "god". I also feel guilty using the inadequate word "god". It sounds so pejorative.

I find that so many other Jews doing the same. I know of friends who have done away with using the word "god" or "g~d" altogether but instead use words like the Creator or the Eternal.

# I would like to hear from other Jews their view on spelling "g~d".
# Is it practiced by Jews of other languages too? Like French, Russian, Hindi or Arabic.
# What about non alphabetic languages like Chinese?
# How is it written in Yiddish?
# When did the practice start?

Answer 1

His name is too holy to spell it is a sign of respect just like everyone else said. In fact we don't even speak his name, he refer to him as Adonai or Hashem. As far as I know, Jews in other languages practice that as well. I am not sure about Arabic, it's hard to leave out the spelling in Allah, because if it can easily mean another word.
I believe it started around the 3ard century BCE, but this may help you also.
Q. Why do some Jews spell God, "G-d"?
From Rabbi Jeffrey Wolfson Goldwasser

A. God's name is treated with unusual care in Jewish tradition. The divine name, YHWH (spelled with the Hebrew letters yud, hey, vav, hey) is never pronounced. Traditionally, Jews read the word "Adonai" (often translated as "the Lord") whenever reading God's holiest name in Torah or in prayer. However, "Adonai" is not God's name.

Among some traditional Jews, speaking even the word "Adonai" is avoided outside of worship or study. This "stand-in" for God's name is itself replaced by "Ha-Shem" ("The Name"). The practice also has been extended to other Hebrew words associated with God. For example, the Hebrew word "Elohim," which means "God" (the title, not God's name), is pronounced "Elokim" outside of prayer and study.

In recent years, some Jews have carried the practice even further by abstaining from writing the English word "God" and substituting the spelling, "G-d" or "Gd." However, there is no prohibition in Jewish law from writing "God" in any language other than Hebrew.
Some Reform Jews observe the custom of spelling God as "G-d." Most do not. In any case, it would be inappropriate and opposed to Jewish values to correct or shame a person for keeping this practice if it is done out of respect and reverence for God.

L'Shalom,
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser

Answer 2

In Hebrew ("the holy tongue") it is a sin to say or write most of God's names (he's got a few) when not related to prayer. There are other names used, such as Hashem, which are OK to be said or written. So while these rules don't actually apply to English out of respect some Jews (not all) write G-d and others write Hashem (which may leave some non Jews clueless).

Answer 3

I'm not a Jew but think I know. In old testament times the people were so afraid of blaspheming the Lord they never wrote or said his whole name.
Cultural thing. Passed down and probably a habit picked up from the people who raised you.
Considering how easy it is for the world to take his name in vain on any pretext perhaps this is right thinking.
being Pentecostal I praise the name of the Lord all day. God loves you and so does his son Jesus, and so do I. God Bless!

Answer 4

In Hebrew, you may not destroy the name of G-d. The actual name is written out in holy books, but you may not throw those away. (If a prayer book or Tanach, etc. is too worn out to use, it may be buried.)

It is probably not really necessary in English. G-d's name in English is not considered to have the holiness the name does in Hebrew. And on the internet, it is just electrons or something. (I admit I don't really know.) But it is still done out of custom and respect.

I don't know what to do in Chinese, where words are written with one symbol for a whole word. Good question. I will check back to see if anyone answers that.

Answer 5

Oo I know the answer to this. Jews feel that the name of God is in so much respect that they can not afford to write his enitre name out.

For example, if a Jew had to write God's name on paper it would be G-D because the paper will be thrown into the trash and they feel it is a disrespct to God to put his glory filled name in the garbage

Answer 6

I don't worry about it. when I say "God" I have a certain meaning. I think the concern you refer to is extremely valid.

but at the same time, I find using a reference to a reference to a reference does not solve the problem in question, but rather merely obfuscate it.

if when you think of God you think of a certain thing, referring to a reference to a reference is not going to change anything about the limited conceptualization.

hopefully you follow what I mean.

Answer 7

great question. I'm not sure if this is true but i was told that the written word g-d can be disposed of there for disposing of g-d. i don't know about the language thing but it should be interesting to see the replies. i to am very uncomfortable printing the word g-d in full.

Answer 8

In the English language, "God" refers to the one true God, while "god" refers to a false deity like an idol or a mythological being (like Zeus or Thor).

I don't think you should use "god" or "g~d" to refer to God as it makes him out to be no different to an idol.

As for the origin of the practice, AFAIK it goes back to the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity. They began to take the commandments a lot more seriously so took steps to protect themselves from breaking them even inadvertently. So as to prevent themselves from taking God's name in vain, they avoided using it directly.

I haven't heard of this modern practice of typing "G~d" before.

Answer 9

....most of us spell G-d with the slash because G-d's name is too holy to write out. G-d is not a name but a title but we don't write it anyway as a matter of precaution. It's just out of respect.

Answer 10

I, personally, write "God" in full, but I understand those who don't. Aparently, those people feel that going around randomly writing "God" violates the commandment of "You shall not take God's name in vain".