I was raised in the Christian religion but have spent the past decade or so as an agnostic (for lack of a better term). I don't know what brought me to this website; curiosity about the Jewish religion or just a personal search to feel a connection to G-d (I'm spelling it this way because I have seen it this way on the site. Like a parrot repeating words without understandin). I have been reading the posts on this site since late November and, although I understand very little, I find myself returning. Tonight, as I read, I had an epiphany of sorts - a brief understanding into what I find so fascinating about this site. I was taught in my upbringing, by the church and general custom, not to question. If you question you show a lack of faith and, for some reason, faith must be blind. This has always bothered me for how can I base my beliefs on something that cannot stand up to questioning? What I have found here is brilliant! You are encouraging people to study, think independently, and QUESTION! and in the course of doing so you do not damage the foundation of your beliefs, you reveal its permanence.

Thank you for this.

Welcome to the forum ,Mindy. A main part of Judaism is to know what and why to do. With that brings an appreciation of the laws which wouldn't exist without this knowledge. This is why learning Torah is very important to Orthodox Jews. This was one of the main reasons why American Jewery became more secular and less religious in the 1st half of last century. The education structure fell apart, thus young jews didn't know about the religion, so they had no appreciation of the intricit laws, so they just drifted away.

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or just a personal search to feel a connection to G-d (I'm spelling it this way because I have seen it this way on the site. Like a parrot repeating words without understandin)

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Mindy, first of all, congratulations on finding the Jewish "way". Jews have always encouraged, and (as you wrote), continue to encourage people to ask questions and learn more.
The reason that we write G-d without the "o" is because we are prohibited from writing Hashem's Name if it will be erased. Therefore, since many people are of the opinion that "G-o-d" is His Name just in the English form, they tend to leave out the "o".
Keep it up!
Shmuel

I thought it was because the Rebbe felt you couldn't reduce G-d to printed or typed letters on paper. It's more complex than that but overall this was the idea.. not to reduce G-d to anything, ever.

First of all, this can't be, since we do write out the name of Hashem in other places where ir's not being written casually, like in the Sefer Torah and Mezuzos or Chumashim or Sidurim. Also, this practice is done by others who don't follow the Rebbe.

I am heartened at both your openness, and the warmth of the other replies to your intitial comment. I find that writing and typing the word "G_d" not only helps me arouse my kavanah (motivation) when contemplating the Holy One, Baruch HaShem, but it also helps me focus my thoughts so as to fulfill the mitzvah enshrined in the Vehachfatah in the Shema, to 'love the L_rd with all ones mind and all ones body...'. This cannot be done if i am contemplating my shopping list when i am attempting to engage in the love of Torah, and love of HaShem.