Once again, never refuted:
"Later Jewish tradition" became the seedbed for a great deal of mischief. I avoid the whole game of "telephone," whether talking with a Jew or a Roman Catholic, by going back to the source. In the Hebrew OT the Name "Yahweh" is used about 6,823 times, all the consonants spelled out as with every other title or name of God.
Not only is it positively not "reverent" to refuse to spell the word "God," it is rather a violation of the many urgings in the Bible to call on His name, swear by His name, take refuge in His name, and the like. There isn't the echo of the shadow of the hint of an example in the pages of God's Word itself for this practice. No prophet is depicted as saying, "Thus says yod-wink-wink-he" (or, to Anglicise it, "Thus says the L-wink-R-D"). Quite the opposite.
Further, being a manmade rule, it devolces quickly into silliness. I note it is not practices with names with theophoric elements. Otherwise, I'd have to be called "Dani-l," or we'd have to speak of the book of "Isai-h."
Like all "improvements" on the Word of God, it isn't. In fact, refusing to obey God's calling on believers to use His name leads the wrong way, and calls attention only to the pecularity of the writer, not the majesty and holiness of God.
Dan
Dan.... you are just wrong here. Of course the word "Yahweh" is used in the Old Testament and other holy books. Those works that will be handled with care and respect. The custom is to not write the name on lesser works that will only be thrown away as garbage. If you write the name, that page now should be treated with reverence and kept.In a sense it is similar to the way we treat American flags different than other pieces of cloth. Once that cloth is a flag, it shouldn't be thrown in the trash.
Whether you want to follow this custom or not really isn't important, the initial point simply being that it was not put to you as a ~curse~ word, but a term of intended respect that contrasts with other abbreviations of Christ to "X" that you found objectionable. Writing G-d in casual writing and Free Republic flame wars in no way interferes with anyone's exclamations of faith, but rather draws attention to the writer's humble obedience. That it angers you is what is peculiar.
I take back my apology. You enjoy being sanctimonious. You apparently take absolute pride in it. Not only do you not concede that Jews avoid casual use of the Name out of respect, and not for your alleged self-glorification or blasphemy, but have the gall to lecture them on the correctness of their beliefs.</p>
I pray that you are content and warm with the feeling that such self-righteousness gives you, and bid you good day.