G!d

[Postmaster]

I noticed afew members use G!d instead of God, been trying to figure out why for a while. May someone fill me in please?

[Snoopy]

Dyslexic Spanish?

[ardenz]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

I noticed afew members use G!d instead of God, been trying to figure out why for a while. May someone fill me in please?

It may be to do with not using the holy name. It seems to be used more by our Judaism forum users.

[Postmaster]

Originally Posted by ardenz

It may be to do with not using the holy name. It seems to be used more by our Judaism forum users.

I see thanks. Reversely it can be a seen as a mockery of the word and name.

I'm sure I’ve seen the Buddhist moderator use it too. Maybe its users will enlighten us?

[LeoSalinas22]

Originally Posted by ardenz

It may be to do with not using the holy name. It seems to be used more by our Judaism forum users.

yeah but isn't God a title? isnt the tetragrammaton His actual Name?

[Postmaster]

I assumed it was an agnostic term or because God is undefinable and incomprehensible.

[InLove]

Hi Postmaster--

I think that according to Jewish tradition, the Names of G!D are not spoken out loud. Each sound or letter has a specific meaning and inherent power. I think that by substituting in writing a character which cannot be mistakenly associated with certain meanings, it keeps others from pronouncing something out loud which has an important aspect of which they may not be aware. Something like that, I think. ( I might not have this just right, and I am sure there is more to it, but I think there are some old threads around here somewhere which explain it better than I can. Have you tried looking it up on the Judaism board?)

I sometimes forget, but I try to remember this when posting in certain conversations, out of respect for the beliefs and sensibilities of our more traditional Jewish contributors.

InPeace,
InLove

[Tao_Equus]

If some might consider this irreverent what am I to do? I always use God, Him, Faith using a capital to show my respect for others beliefs as to me its of no relevance. Is anyone outrightly offended by this?

TE

[InLove]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

If some might consider this irreverent what am I to do? I always use God, Him, Faith using a capital to show my respect for others beliefs as to me its of no relevance. Is anyone outrightly offended by this?

Honestly, I don't know for sure, TE. No one has ever said anything to me to indicate they were offended in any way. I think most posters here are mature enough to acknowledge that we all have different understandings, and most people are doing the best we know to respect each other. Of course, I can't speak from a Jewish perspective, but I am sure someone will be along soon to help sort this out.

Along the same lines, I have some questions for my Muslim friends here about how I use certain terms and Names when speaking with them. I won't go into it all here as it could derail things. But I am going to bring it up in an appropriate place soon.

Hopefully, though, it is the tone of our posts that show whether or not we are attempting to be respectful, and not so much the differences in our use of language.

Hope this helps some, until someone with more insight on the matter can chime in.

InPeace,
InLove

[Prober]

2c

I use "G-d" as a courtesy to others. Other than that, it doesn't bother me. I use capitals for Him, otherwise, lc.

[Postmaster]

Originally Posted by InLove

Honestly, I don't know for sure, TE. No one has ever said anything to me to indicate they were offended in any way. I think most posters here are mature enough to acknowledge that we all have different understandings, and most people are doing the best we know to respect each other. Of course, I can't speak from a Jewish perspective, but I am sure someone will be along soon to help sort this out.

Along the same lines, I have some questions for my Muslim friends here about how I use certain terms and Names when speaking with them. I won't go into it all here as it could derail things. But I am going to bring it up in an appropriate place soon.

Hopefully, though, it is the tone of our posts that show whether or not we are attempting to be respectful, and not so much the differences in our use of language.

Hope this helps some, until someone with more insight on the matter can chime in.

InPeace,
InLove

I'm not a custom to writing G-d so I will give it a pass with no disrespect, I have my own preference. I'm certain it would not bother other members and if it did then they why can’t my preference be mirrored? Tolerance is the key. One Muslims use is PBUH for prophets (peace be upon him).

[dauer]

I've been working on some proposals to get a project financed and when writing it up I wrote God then changed it to G!d because it felt more heimish (yiddish for homey (not as in a good buddy.)) Then I asked myself, if it feels more heimish, why don't I always do that?

Traditionally there's a custom to write God as G-d or G!d that derives from the significance and level of respect Judaism gives to names, lanaguage, and names of G!d imparticular. The idea of an exclamation instead of a dash is something I first came across in some Renewal writing a number of years ago. The exclamation tends to point more to a sense of radical amazement or awe at G!d. It's not just oh, uh, yeah, God.. It's G!d. That majesty is sandwiched in the mundane.

Dauer

[dauer]

Just wanted to comment on this:

I think that according to Jewish tradition, the Names of G!D are not spoken out loud.

The only thing not spoken is the tetragrammaton. Orthodox Jews and some others will use substitutes for certain names outside of prayer, for example instead of Adonai (a substitute for the tetragrammaton) they might say Hashem, Adoshem (a portmanteau of Hashem and Adonai) or Havayah which is a rearrangement of the letters of the tetragrammaton.

Dauer

[InLove]

Originally Posted by dauer

Traditionally there's a custom to write God as G-d or G!d that derives from the significance and level of respect Judaism gives to names, lanaguage, and names of G!d imparticular. The idea of an exclamation instead of a dash is something I first came across in some Renewal writing a number of years ago. The exclamation tends to point more to a sense of radical amazement or awe at G!d. It's not just oh, uh, yeah, God.. It's G!d. That majesty is sandwiched in the mundane.

Cool. This actually answers a question that was on my mind. Thanks!

InPeace,
InLove

[Thomas]

Just reading the thread, and Dauer has covered more comprehensively the ground I was going to cover.

On my Catholic theology course, the Director, a Scripture Scholar who sits on multi-faith committees to discuss such matters, still holds out that in cases other than Scripture itself, the Tetragrammaton should be translated as Adonai — and that even in Scripture the Tetragrammaton should be read as Adonai — know it, but don't say it.

The power of invocation is something largely ignored these days, but there is much writing in Christian Tradition on saying the Sacred Name.

St Thomas Aquinas argued that often, when someone is thought to be 'taking the Lord's name in vain', he or she might actually be uttering an ejaculatory prayer, but then the Angelic Doctor was always the optimist! He's the one who insisted that no man wills evil, but rather wills a lesser (subjective) good.

Thomas