Expert: Ovadiah ben Avraham - 4/7/2007

Question
On a previous thread there was constant use of G-d instead of just typing God which is so much easier. What was the reason? The link follows:  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Orthodox-Judaism-952/Judaism-stance-Lucifer.htm

Answer
David,
I didn't see where you ever picked up the answer to your question. Here's a repeat just in case. Shalom!

David,
I didn't check out the discussion, but here's the reason Jews write 'G-d':

Many outside the Jewish faith wonder why we don’t write out G-d’s Names or even some of the English nouns used to refer to Him.

Here are the Biblical references:
1) Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the L-rd thy G-d in vain; for the L-rd will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

Vanity, here is "useless", "nothingness", or "without purpose", similar to its use in Proverbs 13:11:

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase.)

Thus, we do not use the Name without a heavenly purpose in mind (i.e. prayer). Since everyone knows of Whom we speak when we say G-d or L-rd, it is not necessary to further elaborate and use the Name without purpose.

2) Leviticus 22:32 Neither shall ye profane My Holy Name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the L-rd, which hallows you

We have no control over what people do with printed-out materials. Some may spit on it or trample upon it. We also refrain from using it in speech so as to avoid profaning the Name or allowing His Name to be cursed or mis-used.

3) Deuteronomy 12:2-4 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the L-rd your G-d.
Thus we do not erase the Name of G-d. When no longer of use, such as in an old Torah Scroll or worn out mezuzah parchment, It is actually buried, usually with the remains of a devout Jew.

As the keepers of G-d’s Name and His Torah, we must be diligent in not only refraining from prohibited activity ourselves, but likewise in preventing others from doing so, as much as humanly possible. Truly “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”