Why "G-d" instead of "God"

Am I missing something?

Published on March 16, 2006 By Rightwinger In Religion

In my time here at JU, I've noticed a lot of people who will put "G-d" in place of simply using the word "God". It contains three individual characters, just like the word "God", so it's not like they're using shorthand or anything. I guess it doesn't really matter, but they do it anyway. Why is this?

Comments

bakerstreet

on Mar 16, 2006

Jewish practice of not taking the Lord's name in vain, I think.

cactoblasta

on Mar 16, 2006

I think I heard it explained like this:

Basically you're supposed to take god's name very seriously. So you're not supposed to, say, write it down and then set fire to it, or throw it in the bin (which begs the questions, how do you dispose of scraps of paper with God on it? But that's a question for another time).

The same principle apparently works online. Out of fear that someone will print out something mentioning god and then do something unpleasant to it, you take the precaution of writing G-d. That way noone can take offence because who you're talking about is cleverly hidden so that no supernatural being will ever know you left that opportunity open.

Ionolast

on Mar 16, 2006

God isn't his name, it's his title.

Adventure-Dude

on Mar 16, 2006

BakerStreet,

Your thinking is correct in origination. That is definitely a practice from the Jews with the giving of the Hebraic letters Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey. Many Jews today use the name Adonai or Hashem when refering to the Almighty. Hashem literally means "The Name" referring to YHVH. These names are used to give reverence to the name and also out of fear of mis-speaking his name. So I agree with the three previous comments.

As for me I use the - in order to set it apart. Where I live so many use the name god so loosely and give it lack of reverence. So when I refer to G-D I use the hyphen to set it apart and make it stand out. This is my own personal conviction but not trying to impose anyone else. Hope that helps RW.

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KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 16, 2006

ya.....what Dude said!!

I like that Dude, the part about setting his name apart and making it stand out. That cannot be a bad thing!!

Rightwinger

on Mar 17, 2006

Hm. Interesting opinions; thanks.

As to not "printing" His name (or even His "title", as Icon pointed out), the Bible itself (and that would include the Old Testament, which the Jews use) is nothing more than a conglomeration of ink and paper which will eventually wear out and be "destroyed" in some fashion, and then necessarily disposed of.

Adventure-Dude

on Mar 17, 2006

RW,

Many have tried to destroy it in the past but it still remains. To you it may be just paper with ink blots to others it is a way of life.

One looks at it as a curse the others see it as a blessing. or another way
One views it as bondage the other freedom.

Ionolast

on Mar 17, 2006

Many have tried to destroy it in the past but it still remains. To you it may be just paper with ink blots to others it is a way of life.

One looks at it as a curse the others see it as a blessing. or another way
One views it as bondage the other freedom.

I'm pretty sure he meant each individual copy. Sheesh.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 18, 2006

"The world will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

I think of that when I read of all those thru the years that tried to kill off God's word. They are all dead and are as compost, but God's word is still the best seller of all time.

There is no doubt that this "ink and paper" is being divinely protected.

One views it as bondage the other freedom.

Those who think of Christ as a slave owner have not investigated his claims throughly thru. He does not come to set us in bonds but to set the "captives free."

Rightwinger

on Mar 19, 2006

I'm pretty sure he meant each individual copy. Sheesh.

Wow....Icon the Wonder Atheist comes to my rescue here; wonders and miracles never cease.

Yes, people, that's exactly what I meant. Quit lookin' so deep, fer croyin' awt lawd.

I personally think it's silly to worry so much about someone "destroying" God's name or title by throwing it away or somehow mistreating it.
After all, the main source of our knowing God is, in itself, nothing more than a series of histories, testimonies and documents committed to paper, then later collected into one volume for our consumption.
This volume is made of materials that themselves do, in fact, have a finite existence. They will, and do, wear out; they can be used and used until they fall apart, they can be destroyed in a house fire or ruined in a flood. Even torn apart in a car wreck.
A bible itself is just a book---or rather a series of them. It's not a talisman, or something to be kept on a pedestal and enshrined so no one can touch it.

It's the Message inside that matters, folks, not the paper and ink itself.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 20, 2006

It's the Message inside that matters, folks, not the paper and ink itself.

Amen, the paper and ink are just the materials used to get the message out!!

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