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Here is something from Aish.com on why Some of us choose to write G-d when rendering Ha Shem in English


We do not write G-d's name in a place where it may be discarded or erased. Treating G-d's name with reverence is a way to give respect to G-d. So even though on a computer the name is not really being erased (and perhaps is not really there in the first place), and "G-d" is only an English term used to translate G-d's holy name, it is in keeping with this respect that I write "G-d" in my emails.

This causes problems. No matter how many times I write "G-d", the spell-check on the computer has no idea what I mean. "G-d" is not in its dictionary, and it won't accept it as an addition to the dictionary. So the computer comes up with all types of suggested corrections: Go, Do, G'day. And often half the name ends up on a new line: G-d.

I guess I shouldn't expect any better. No matter how smart a computer is, certain things are beyond it. How would you program a computer to have respect for G-d's name? It is unreasonable to ask a computer to relate to G-d, because G-d is not a logical concept - He created intellect, and He cannot be captured by His own creation. A computer is limited to logic, so it can't handle spiritual concepts. Just as a metal-detector will beep when a gun is passed through it, but it cannot pick up a person's thoughts or intentions, intellect can grasp logic and rationale, but it cannot detect the Divine.

But a human is not a computer. Intellect is not where we begin and end. We have a soul that is beyond intellect, and our soul detects G-d because our soul sees G-d.

Jewish faith is about getting in touch with the soul that knows G-d already, without needing any proof. This is not negating intellect - it is transcending it.

How do you get in touch with your soul? Ask G-d. He'll tell you!"

well i'm here because i've always been drawn to the jewish religion, I would never want the guild. redface please don't ever think that about me, if i ever give any of you that idea please tell me right away so i could correct myself.

Ok, let me just say that no one here is to defeat any other religion. This is a learning experience for us to exchange ideas. To prevent the fear and loathing that is caused by isolationism which leads to anti-semitism.

In his defense Cindy, it could have been quite possible that some of the people who joined this guild who were of a different belief could have just been trying to "defeat" Judaism. It's not really a stereotype, it's just a paranoia thing, and I don't think by any means he was trying to insult any of them, just question their reasons to join.

If you aren't here for demeaning reasons or any other such reason, you shouldn't take offense. smile

I'm here to learn about how Jewish people think because I've never known any Jews personally. I'm what you call a "goy" and a Messianic, and I try to keep the mitvot in the Torah. I'm sorry for all the offenses some of you have received at the hands of my fellow believers in YM, and I understand the frustration - I've been proselytized (?) by Mormons & JWitnesses, and why do they always come when you have to leave or just got out of the shower rolleyes ? I've come to the conclusion that anyone who converts to another religion does so because they see something they like in the lifestyle a person lives, not the words they say. I just want to understand you and value those that G-d values so much.

You have the right to be offended, Perks, if someone suggests that you are definitely engaging in this type of activity when you're actually not. However, the statement was not that YOU came here for that purpose (since the statement was made quite some time ago, before you arrived in the guild), but that SOME Christians behave this way, which is certainly the truth; and that SOME Christians have come to our guild, and that the poster has had experiences that lead him to wonder why.

The fact is that there have been Christians (that is, those who profess to follow the teachings of Christianity -- it's not our place to judge if they're successful at it, i.e. "real" Christians, since we're in no position to do so) in all of our lives who have treated us this way. Those of us who were born Jewish have usually gotten it all our lives from well-meaning schoolmates and their parents, not just out on the street, but right in our schools, unless we were fortunate enough to go to a Jewish day school. Those of us who are converts to Judaism often get it from not just outsiders, but from our own family members, who can't understand why we've abandoned the beliefs and ways that will keep us out of hell. People do come to our doors and try to convert us away from our 3800-year-old tradition, the path Hashem asked us to walk, and we accepted as a people. We're wary, and I think understandably so: in many different times and places and circumstances, we have either been converted by seduction, assimilation, or force.

From Wikipedia:

The most familiar version of the Great Commission is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 28:16-20:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."(NIV)
Other versions of the Great Commission are found in Mark 16:14-18, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:4-8, and John 20:19-23. All these passages record words of Christ spoken after his resurrection. ... Commentators often contrast the Great Commission with the earlier Limited Commission of Matthew 10:5-42, in which they were to restrict their mission to their fellow Jews, to whom Jesus referred as "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24).

As you can see if you'll look up the relevant text, not only does canonical Christian scripture require its adherents to convert non-Christians, but indeed, there is specific reference made to converting Jews. Conversion techniques may vary, but not the necessity of converting non-Christians, according to Christian scripture. While you yourself may not feel the need to do this, and while your denomination may not stress this, it is a part of your scriptures; therefore, if you live by your scriptures, this is indeed what you should have come here to do.

I believe that you're an honest person; and I always try my best to judge a person kindly and according to what he says, unless I've been given reason not to do so. Therefore, when you say your aim is not to convert us, I take you at your word. Now my question is: Why not? What is it about Judaism, or about us in particular, or about the Great Commission, or... something else?... that makes you reticent? Is it just because you can tell we've already heard it and aren't interested, or is it for something else? Please understand, I'm not trying to challenge you or confront you -- my intention is only to understand someone who has come trustingly among us as a visitor, and whose thoughtful questions have turned you from stranger to guest.

Sorry for the second posting, but I just re-read the final two paragraphs of Divash's post, and wanted to shed some light (if I may). Yes, early Christians were to try and "return the lost sheep of Israel". This, however, was referring to (and this is from the information that I was able to acquire in my readings) that the "sheep" these passages were referring to were early Christians that, after the death of Jesus, had left Christanity in fear of persecution or disbelief. I understand that many many people took this the wrong way, and the Church as acted wrongly no it's behalf. This, however, was the real meaning of the passage as I am able to have it interpreted. Even the Greek text notes that there was a different word for the Jewish-Christian convert of the time, not a traditional Jew. Note, though, that this is not meant to undermine your previous statements, just to maybe help understanding. Taken at face value (as most Christians take the Bible), this is how that is viewed. However, that does not excuse anyone trying to convert another person to a religion for the sake of saying another religion is wrong.

Ah Shem. I miss him, though I hardly post in his other guild.