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OT - nothing to do with food - religious explanations
In article <A50bc.160106$po.953250@attbi_s52>,
says...
> Donna Rose wrote:
>
> > Now I'm really confused. Are you saying that merely writing the word
> > "God" is considered taking the name in vain?
>
>
> It could be. If you believe that God is holy and His name is holy, then
> you don't go throwing around His name in situations where it could
> easily be wiped out, erased, debased. You save God's real name for
> prayer and use a euphemism the rest of the time, even when speaking
> about God in a polite fashion.
>
>
> In speech you might use any number of euphemisms in Hebrew. You might
> say "the Name" in English or Hebrew so the listener understands you're
> referring to God's name. You might say "God" which isn't related to the
> holy name in Hebrew but is a related concept in another tradition and
> another language. When writing, you don't spell out the whole thing.
>
>
> There's a trouble with this, however, and that's that any time you use a
> euphemism, people figure out what you're talking about in no time until
> quickly the euphemism is so close to the real thing that it doesn't
> matter.
>
>
> (Look at the way the word for "bathroom" has changed. Everyone knows
> what it is and what you're doing when you excuse yourself to go there,
> but the word keeps changing in an effort to be more polite. I once kept
> searching for one in a shopping mall and walked by the sign that said
> "public facilities" several times. I didn't know what they were talking
> about.)
>
>
> My question has to do with polite actions on the part of people who
> don't share the religious belief. Is it more considerate for me to
> spell it G-d too, or is that affected, acting as though that's important
> to me when it isn't. I finally decided to spell the word God unless
> specifically asked not to by people I love and respect.
>
>
> --Lia
>
>
Ahhhh....<lightbulb moment> Ok, now I understand. Thanks so much for
the explanation.
For the record, I agree with you on how to handle it as someone who
doesn't share the religious belief. I would willingly comply if someone
I cared about asked me not to do it, but would feel it was really
affected of me to do so otherwise.
--
Donna
A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist hopes they are.
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