World Religion Report on Sikhism

World Religion Report on Sikhism

Lisa Sims

World Religions HUM/130

October 6, 2013

Denis Ford

World Religion Report on Sikhism

In this day and age with roughly 4,200 different religions worldwide, many are overwhelmed by the different dogmas, rituals and practices presented by the different religions. One religion alone could take a lifetime of learning to realize the full significance of the faith. For the 30 million Sikhs their religious faith is simple, truthful living, service to humanity, civil rights to all humanity and devotion to God. Sikhism has a deep respect for all religions. Fisher (2014) stated,“ Some Sikhs, for instance, understand their religion as actively promoting interfaith appreciation and thus propose that their holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, could serve as a roadmap to harmony among people of all religions, without denying the right of each religion to exist as a respected tradition” (p. 507). An interview at the Sikh Gurdwara and a strong comparison with the Bahia religion has helped to clarify the ideologies and aspirations of Sikhs from around the world.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded over 500 years ago in Punjab, India. There are 30 million people worldwide that identify themselves as students of the Sikh faith, making it the fifth largest religion in the world. The Sikh faith was founded by Guru Nanak in 1469 and was followed by a succession of ten Sikh gurus. The last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), did not appoint a human successor. Instead, he transferred his authority jointly to two institutions: the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh scripture) and the Guru Khalsa Panth (the community of Sikh believers). He believed that the wisdom of God was all-inclusive in the Holy Scriptures (Guru Granth Sahib).

The followers of Sikhism are known as Sikhs which, means student or disciples. Sikhs gather in a temple called a Gurdwara, which means “gateway to the Guru”. The shrine in the Gurudwara is considered the House of God and the House of the Guru where the Guru dwells. In the main area of worship the Holy living Scripture of God called the Guru Granth Sahib, is draped with a fine raiment and flowers and a canopy covers the entire alter. On the alter, there is a Sanskrit symbol that is the symbol for one God. From its inception of the faith, Guru Nanak established the Langar, a free community kitchen that is opened to all people from all walks of life and is located in the Gurdwara. The purpose of the kitchen was to eliminate the social barriers between the classes of people and promote equality among all people.

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Sikhism religion