Why do people write G-d?

[Montalban]

What's wrong with spelling God with an 'o'?

 

[AlexBP]

In ancient Judaism, according to Rabbinic tradition, it was forbidden to speak the name of God. In some lines this tradition was maintained and included not writing out "God", and a few still keep doing so today.

 

[durangodawood]

I guess you could say its a symbolic gesture.
.

 

[AskTheFamily]

It absolutely makes no sense, because whatever you write for God becomes symbolic for God. If you write 'G-d' for God, it's no less symbolic of God then spelling 'God'.

 

[Delphiki]

I've wondered the same thing. "God" with a capital 'G' is a title, like Colonel or Captain, and not a name, as far as I know. It's used as a titular name, like the crew calling Picard "Captain" on Star Trek, but that's about it. Actual names of gods (note, lowercase, used as an improper noun, not a title or name) include YHWH, Yahweh, Allah, Jehova, Vishnu, Shiva, Jord, Gaia, Zeus, Jupiter, Odin, Ra...

I asked raze this, since he does it the most and in as many words told me I wouldn't understand, in a condescending manner of course.

 

[Delphiki]

It absolutely makes no sense, because whatever you write for God becomes symbolic for God. If you write 'G-d' for God, it's no less symbolic of God then spelling 'God'.

I apply the same reasoning for profanity... Isn't saying "crap" the same as "the S-word?" It means the same thing, after all, but for some reason, many 10-year-olds are allowed to say "crap".

And then tehre's the ever-versatile "F-word", which has multiple meanings that rely solely on context. It's a very useful word, who's origins seem to point to meaning "to strike (with a stick)"

Not to mention, I fail to see the actual harm in profanity. Words are somehow arbitrarily deemed profane because people deem them so. In actuality, they're only noises humans people make to communicate just as much as the words we use to substitute them.

Even if you say something that's blatantly offensive so another adult -- so what? Who's actually guaranteed the right to never be offended?

 

[durangodawood]

It absolutely makes no sense, because whatever you write for God becomes symbolic for God. If you write 'G-d' for God, it's no less symbolic of God then spelling 'God'.

I'm pretty sure the goal isnt to achieve a non-spelling of God, which is impossible.
.
The goal is just to show some respect for the tradition of not spelling out the name, I think. But what do I know?
.

 

[Lord Emsworth]

In ancient Judaism, according to Rabbinic tradition, it was forbidden to speak the name of God. In some lines this tradition was maintained and included not writing out "God", and a few still keep doing so today.

Are you sure it is not just a fad? I mean, in Christianity.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

What's wrong with spelling God with an 'o'?

It's a feeble attempt at reproducing the Hebrew taboo on pronouncing YHVH, even though it doesn't work in English, as "god", being neither a proper name nor taboo, is not really a sufficient replacement for the Tetragrammaton.

Besides, English translations of the Bible *have* basically kept the taboo by replacing "YHVH" with "God" or "The LORD" every time it occurs.

Further encrypting the replacement names strikes me as a rather silly idea:

Why not write "The L-rd J-s-s", while you're at it?

 

[awitch]

Besides, English translations of the Bible *have* basically kept the taboo by replacing "YHVH" with "God" or "The LORD" every time it occurs.

Further encrypting the replacement names strikes me as a rather silly idea:

With all the praise and worship he seems to crave, you'd think he would insist that it be spelled out in all caps, underlined, bolded, and in a size of +1.

 

[dazed]

With all the praise and worship he seems to crave, you'd think he would insist that it be spelled out in all caps, underlined, bolded, and in a size of +1.

and blinking Red, in the glory of Jesus's blood.

 

[Montalban]

It absolutely makes no sense, because whatever you write for God becomes symbolic for God. If you write 'G-d' for God, it's no less symbolic of God then spelling 'God'.

That's the way I see it. Even if one were to continually say "(He who cannot be named) created the word", or "(He who cannot be named) spoke to Moses" it's still God

 

[Montalban]

I've wondered the same thing. "God" with a capital 'G' is a title, like Colonel or Captain, and not a name, as far as I know. It's used as a titular name, like the crew calling Picard "Captain" on Star Trek, but that's about it. Actual names of gods (note, lowercase, used as an improper noun, not a title or name) include YHWH, Yahweh, Allah, Jehova, Vishnu, Shiva, Jord, Gaia, Zeus, Jupiter, Odin, Ra...

I asked raze this, since he does it the most and in as many words told me I wouldn't understand, in a condescending manner of course.

That's why I talk of God with a capital 'g', but for other faiths I write 'god'.

 

[Montalban]

Why not write "The L-rd J-s-s", while you're at it?

I agree. As Jesus is God, why not do that too

-M-NT-L-B-N

 

[awitch]

-M-NT-L-B-N

I almost expect the WBC to have signs that say, "God hates vowels"...

 

[Montalban]

I almost expect the WBC to have signs that say, "God hates vowels"...

If you don't say it, does it make it a vowel of silence?

 

[Fuzzy]

If you don't say it, does it make it a vowel of silence?

I see what you did there.


I've heard two explanations for the "G-d" convention.

1. A taboo on destroying the written name of God, and since things might or might not ever disappear from the Internet, "G-d" dodges the destruction aspect, since it's "G-d," not "God"

2. "G-d" doesn't break the 3rd Commandment.


Pop culture silly silly -
President: Oh, God.
General Zod: Zod.

 

[Montalban]

I see what you did there.

I don't think so. It was a pun

 

[Fuzzy]

Oh, I think sew. It may seam to you like I didn't, but I did. I hope that doesn't needle you. Have we gone off the thread?

 

[Lord Emsworth]

-M-NT-L-B-N

Bl-sph-m-