God...not G-d

[hellinahandcart]

A little judgemental, are you?

Oh, I guess you don't like that.

Who'da thunk it?

[RockyMtnMan]

OFFICIAL: I'm warning you. If you say 'Jehovah' once more--

[MRS. A. stones OFFICIAL]

Right. Who threw that?

MATTHIAS: [laughing]

[silence]

OFFICIAL: Come on. Who threw that?

CROWD: She did! It was her! He! He. Him. Him. Him. Him. Him. Him.

OFFICIAL: Was it you?

MRS. A.: Yes.

OFFICIAL: Right!

MRS. A.: Well, you did say 'Jehovah'.

CROWD: Ah! Ooooh!...

[CROWD stones MRS. A.]

OFFICIAL: Stop! Stop, will you?! Stop that! Stop it! Now, look! No one is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle! Do you understand?! Even,and I want to make this absolutely clear, even if they do say 'Jehovah'.

CROWD: Ooooooh!...

[CROWD stones OFFICIAL]

WOMAN #1: Good shot!

[HairOfTheDog]

[sigh] You are attacking two opposite ends of the spectrum and calling them the same thing. It is not about being ashamed or afraid to say his name.

They believe writing it that way is one little way to show their devotion to God in their daily lives. You can continue to intentionally misunderstand it, you can find the tradition silly or unimportant to you, but you are wrong to tell them that because you don't get it, they must not either. They are the ones talking about G-d whether they spell it or not... You are only talking about them.

[SJackson]

Precisely when did the Jews adopt the practice of not writing out the name of God? Can you provide a Hebrew or Greek example? When is the first occurance of an example in another language? The above passage is old, do we have some examples as old?

As I noted before, I don’t have a lot of interest in arguing the validity of the position here, details of it’s history, or even the concept that some would tell you it doesn’t apply in foreign (English) languages for that matter. I provided the references in response to the concept, advanced by several, that this is a recent practice, which it isn’t. Ramban and Maimonides would get you back to about 1200, Shevuot 35a-b to before 700, not particularly recent in my mind.

[wideminded]

Dr. Spock's son committed suicide

This is false. Dr. Spock did have a grandson who committed suicide. I guess we can disregard the rest of the article since the author doesn't really care about facts.

reference

[William Terrell]

Symbols are never the substance. What punishment do you think God visits on one who violates a symbol?

[talleyman]

Who started that B.C.E & C.E. crap, anyway?

[HairOfTheDog]

None at all. Sometimes our traditions just make us feel better and bring us closer to other people.

[SJackson]

Heavy sigh)...Until you can identify where it was that I deemed Orthodox Jews worthy of criticism for anything I've posted or that I deemed any variation of the spelling of God as destructive, then I will consider your response completely misunderstanding.

It’s largely an Orthodox practice. You posted the article, which dealt with suppression of public discussion of God, not spelling. Your introductory comment

Many times lately I've seen the word God (on Free Republic) where some have forgotten how to spell it, like some aversion to it, as if they would be skewered by the Devil's pitchfork for spelling it out....

focused not on the article, but introduced a new topic, a practice largely of Orthodox Jews, as though there’s an aversion to the word, which is factually incorrect. If phrases like Skewering by the Devil's pitchfork or aversion to [God’s name] aren’t critical, I completely misunderstood.

What I meant to point out was the irony of criticism (maybe not meant by you, but in evidence on the thread) of an Orthodox practice, essentially in favor of the more liberal Reform viewpoint, in the interest of raising public consciousness of religious values. It’s backwards.

[William Terrell]

But it is a tradition, and because of our traditions, everyone of us knows who he is, and what G-d expects him to do." ~Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof.

I know that I am a child and servant of God, a unigue human being infinitely valuable in the eyes of God and Christ, a thinking being charged with free will with an immortal soul, a soul not because I was taught that but by distinguishing between my awareness, consciousness and mind.

No tradition tells me this, no church, no book, no religion. I came upon it through inner searches of my heart, observation of people and the vast interactive system of the world and acknowledging what makes me joyful and depressed, what gives me satisfaction and what gives me strength in times of trial. The only thing tradition tells me is that I am an American living in a culture that sprang from the history of my ancestors.

Whoever wrote "Fiddler on the Roof" is full of fresh fecal matter. Because a novel is entertaining and thoughtful does not means the philosophy therein is correct.

[HairOfTheDog]

Philosophy is buyer's market, it either rings a bell with you or not.... I happen to like traditions that reconnect us with our history or each other, share a moment of fellowship or for a moment make us feel closer to God and others who I share something in common.

Traditions and rituals are just that. Things in common that connect us to something larger than ourselves... Many enjoy and find comfort and strength and affirmation in them.

There is a big difference between that and claiming that failing to uphold them will condemn you to hell, or that failing to uphold them means you must show disdain for them. I find the small rituals of societies to be interesting and valuable for seeing into the hearts of a people.

All I know about you is that you don't seem to find very many of the ideas I find interesting valuable, and that you have a tradition of posting little blue apples. Others might find your apples silly, I think it is interesting.

[varon]

(Here goes my first post - I hope I don't make any enemies!)

You done real good and nothing got blowed up either ;-)

[grumple]

Response to 169:

1. Yes, I now stand educated as I have indicated throughout the thread. I have also indicated my own distaste for what seems to be an "aversion to God" much like the article presents, although not completely factual. The misspelling, until today, had seemed intentional, as a sign of disrespct, however, I am glad to now know better and have apologized for ignorantly and unnecessarily offending some. However, the article still focuses on the removal of God and it seems that more emphasis should be put on the Word of God rather than the spelling. Even though the tradition has apparently been around for years, the Word seems to be getting lost....

[Pietro]

"Self-respect is justified self-esteem"

Perhaps, but character and self-respect are not the same thing either.

The quality of character between the WWII generation and the Cold war generations is debatable but the cold war ended nearly 20 years ago and the rot continues apace.

Even as we speak elements of the left are questioning our motives in Iraq and Afganistan. I'm sure they enjoy high levels of self-respect but in my opinion they have precious little character.

[WaterDragon]

The title of your post is out of left field and hasn't much to do with the article. 'G-d' is a way many Jews show their respect and awe for God. You would actually mock such an attitude?

[conservababeJen]

It's neither a spelling error or an adversion to "God." It's a sign of respect.

This was always my understanding of it too.

[Dustbunny]

I actually find it offensive to see G-d and not God.

It makes me think they are using the word G-d because they don't really believe in God.

Just my opinion and how I feel when I see the dash mark where an o should be.

[Junior]

First it was Catholic-bashing over the weekend, and today we've seen two anti-semitic posts. FR's going to get a bad reputation from all this.

[Junior]

All ways to avoid taking the Lord's name in vain.

Amen. It's the one proscription I have on my language.

[hellinahandcart]

Being of impure language myself ;D, I was not recommending the words. I just found it interesting that many Christians didn't seem to know that Gee and Gosh are...alterations of "Jesus" and "God", which came into the vernacular as a way of saying those names without actually saying them.

In other words, the very thing they are criticizing Orthodox Jews for doing in written form.

It's the "glass house" principle.