Thanks SO much for this explanation! I've only stopped taking the Lord's name in vain probably in the last year. I take it seriously very seriously now and was wondering about the G-d thing.
I can see the Jewish perspective. It's very reverent. Plays into mysticism too. The Power of G-d and the Power of Words and Meaning.
On the other hand, I'm a Christian, and trying to better understand the Christian viewpoint. Do some Christians also omit the "o"?
Personally, I'm currently of the belief that intentionally mentioning His name, in a celebratory way (for instance "I am saved by God!" Etc) shows glory to His name. As if you realize He is The Light over everything you do. I guess I'd best describe writing it this way almost as "singing a song to Him" in appreciation, an outwardly declaring your allegiance to Him.
However, I write this knowing I have a lot of guilt for deliberately and selfishly turningy back on Him for a very long time. That obviously influences my perspective.?
I'm pretty sure writing the name with a dash is a Jewish custom, not a Christian.
Part of the reason for not writing out the full name of G-d is you don't know what's going to happen to that piece of paper after you're done with it. Suppose you write out the full name on the document. A hundred years after you die, some jerk breaks into your house, finds the document with G-d's name on it, snorts with disdain, and uses it to wash his hands, fudging out the name of G-d you wrote all those years ago by cleaning the dirt off his grimy fingers.
That would be a desecration of the written name of G-d. And there's no way you could foresee this guy's action a hundred years after your death.
So to prevent that from happening, you write the name with a dash. That way, it's not the full name of G-d. It's just a G dash D. So if the guy wipes his hands on the document, it won't matter any more than if it was a paper towel.
Don't feel guilty about turning your back. I mean, if you think it helps, go ahead and feel a little guilty. Maybe it keeps you on the good path. I'm not Christian but there are a couple wonderful stories that Jesus told in the gospel, even to me. And among the best is the Prodigal Son. You can always be welcomed back to G-d.
Not super guilty, more like aware that I made a bad decision and stuck with it if ignorantly for many years. Always a little bit of bummer to realize you were your own worst enemy. ?
Thanks SO much for this explanation! I've only stopped taking the Lord's name in vain probably in the last year. I take it seriously very seriously now and was wondering about the G-d thing.
I can see the Jewish perspective. It's very reverent. Plays into mysticism too. The Power of G-d and the Power of Words and Meaning.
On the other hand, I'm a Christian, and trying to better understand the Christian viewpoint. Do some Christians also omit the "o"?
Personally, I'm currently of the belief that intentionally mentioning His name, in a celebratory way (for instance "I am saved by God!" Etc) shows glory to His name. As if you realize He is The Light over everything you do. I guess I'd best describe writing it this way almost as "singing a song to Him" in appreciation, an outwardly declaring your allegiance to Him.
However, I write this knowing I have a lot of guilt for deliberately and selfishly turningy back on Him for a very long time. That obviously influences my perspective.?
Thanks all, WWG1WGA
Hey there, glad to be helpful.
I'm pretty sure writing the name with a dash is a Jewish custom, not a Christian.
Part of the reason for not writing out the full name of G-d is you don't know what's going to happen to that piece of paper after you're done with it. Suppose you write out the full name on the document. A hundred years after you die, some jerk breaks into your house, finds the document with G-d's name on it, snorts with disdain, and uses it to wash his hands, fudging out the name of G-d you wrote all those years ago by cleaning the dirt off his grimy fingers.
That would be a desecration of the written name of G-d. And there's no way you could foresee this guy's action a hundred years after your death.
So to prevent that from happening, you write the name with a dash. That way, it's not the full name of G-d. It's just a G dash D. So if the guy wipes his hands on the document, it won't matter any more than if it was a paper towel.
Don't feel guilty about turning your back. I mean, if you think it helps, go ahead and feel a little guilty. Maybe it keeps you on the good path. I'm not Christian but there are a couple wonderful stories that Jesus told in the gospel, even to me. And among the best is the Prodigal Son. You can always be welcomed back to G-d.
Thanks again. The explanation was great.
Not super guilty, more like aware that I made a bad decision and stuck with it if ignorantly for many years. Always a little bit of bummer to realize you were your own worst enemy. ?
Again, thanks. It was a pleasure.
Hey, we all have our sins and our shortcomings.
The challenge is fixing them, not avoiding to have them in the first place. (I mean, you can pull that off with some, but not everything)