World Religions, Wk 18 – Comparing Sikhism to Full gospel beliefs WELCOME! Coffee, donuts and snacks are available in the Lobby! India – Birthplace of Many Religions • Hinduism started in the Indus Valley, near modern day Pakistan Buddhism Sikhism TM, Hare Krishna 2300-1500 BC 7th 6th 5th ~1,500 AD Start ------------------------------------------BC AD-------------------------------------> Now Hinduism Jainism New Age Words Unique to Sihkism - I • Karma: The fundamental tenet of Jain doctrine is that all phenomena are linked in a universal chain of cause and effect. • Reincarnation: a cycle of birth, life, and re-birth. • Turban: Headwear based on cloth winding around the hear is worn as customary headwear by Sikhs • Five K’s: Kesh (uncut hair, Kara (a steel bracelet) Kanga (a wooden comb), Kaccha (cotton underwear), Kirpan (steel sword) • Kirpan: A Sikh steel sword, 6-9 inches long and curved (see pics on next slides) • Gurdwara: The place where Sikhs come together for congregational worship. India’s Punjab state bordering Pakistan, is the heart of India’s Sikh community. The state has 50,362 square kilometers, 1.53% of India's total geographical area. It is the 20th-largest Indian state by area with 28 million inhabitants in 2012 Gurdwaras (similar to our churches) • 23 in California; 7 in central valley. Closest ones in Livingston and Turlock • . The purpose of a Gurdwara • It's a place to learn spiritual wisdom • It's a place for religious ceremonies • It's a place where children learn the Sikh faith, ethics, customs, traditions and texts • A Gurdwara is also a community center, and offers food, shelter, and companionship to those who need it Unique Words about the Gurdwara • The Nishan Sahib is the holy flag at the entrance to the Gurdwara • The Diwan Hall is the hall in which the Guru Granth Sahib Ji (their bible) is present. • In the Langar Hall, the langar (the vegetarian meal) is prepared and shared by the volunteer sangat (workers). All the work involved in preparing, cooking and serving the langar meal is done by the volunteers. • The Sach Khand is the rest room for the Guru Granth Sahib Ji which is the 11th Guru of the Sikhs. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is treated as a living Guru and in the evening the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is wrapped in clean cloth and respectfully carried on someone’s head to the Sach Khand. • In the morning the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is brought back into the Diwan Hall where Nitnem (a collection of Sikh hymns to be read minimally 3 different times of the day) is recited What is Sikhism - I? • Sikhism is a monotheistic faith founded (~1520 AD), in the Punjab Region of India, by Guru Nanak who was born in 1469 to a Hindu family. • At the time the Hindus and Muslims were at odds, and Guru Nanak embarked on four epic journeys, during which time he came to the conclusion that religion should unite men, but rather set them against one another • About 27 million worldwide follow Sikhism; approximately 83 per cent live in India. About 500,000 Sikhs live in the United States, with much of that population settled in California and New York • Since the Sikh religion originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region, Punjabi is the predominant language spoken by Sikhs. What is Sikhism - II • Sikhism is a religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and 9 other gurus (teachers). • All these teachings are compiled in the Holy Book known as the Guru Granth Sahib which serves as the eternal guru for Sikhs. • It was decreed by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji that the holy book would serve as the eternal guru for the Sikhs as it contained the teachings from all the ten gurus, thus, making it the eleventh guru • When the Sikhs (followers of Sikhism) are baptized in a Gurudwara (Sikh temple) they are required to always wear the five K’s. The five K’s being Uncut Hair, Comb, Iron Bangle, Dagger and a special undergarment. Sikhism Beliefs - I • Sikhism regards God as ‘Nirankar’ meaning shapeless, timeless and sightless and the concept of ‘Ek Omkar’ signifying one universally present God. • Sikhism believes all human beings are created equal and does not discriminate based on caste, color or creed. • They should lead a disciplined lifestyle and attain a higher level of self awareness through meditation. • It teaches that salvation is achieved by maintaining a balance between Work, Worship and Charity. • Their Holy Scripture, Guru Granth Sahib; is made up entirely of poetry it is rich in mysticism and can be interpreted differently by different people. It is more a hymnbook than a statement of faith. • Sikhs deny the reality of man's sinful nature. • They teach that people are essentially good; the divine spark within them needs only to be fanned into a flame of goodness Sikhism Beliefs - II • Grace is viewed as something which God bestows on those he chooses. • A man or woman receives salvation when it is in their destiny to do, so. But given, enough time and rebirths all will eventually reach that point. • So Sikhs believe that there is no such thing as eternal damnation; all will eventually achieve deliverance from the bondage of earthly life • There is no personal resurrection • Heaven and hell are not places where individuals live for eternity, but refer to different stages of a person 's earthly life • No concept of the Trinity, Jesus, nor of the Holy Spirit Sikhism Beliefs - III • Sikhs worship God and only God. Unlike members of many other religions they worship God in his true abstract form, and don't use images or statues to help them • Sikhs believe in reincarnation and karma concepts found in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. • However, in Sikhism both karma and liberation “are modified by the concept of God's grace" (nadar, mehar, kirpa, karam etc.). Guru Nanak states "The body takes birth because of karma, but salvation is attained through grace". • Intoxication: Consumption of drugs and tobacco, and other intoxicants is not allowed for Amritdhari Sikhs. Non-baptised Sikhs should refrain from alcohol as it is still a sin for Sikhs to consume intoxicants. Drugs and tobacco are forbidden for all. Sikhism Beliefs - IV • In Sikhism, Kesh (sometimes Kes) is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The practice is one of The Five Kakaars, the outward symbols ordered by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as a means to profess the Sikh faith • The kirpan is a small sword or a dagger, originating from the Indian subcontinent, carried by Sikhs. It is also part of a religious commandment given by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, in which he demanded that Sikhs must wear the five articles of faith (the five Ks) at all times, the kirpan being one of five Ks Sikhism Beliefs - V • Sikhism does not favor proselytizing or vigorous conversion campaigns, but allows people to follow the religion according to their own will. • Anyone interested in becoming a Sikh is free to do so irrespective of gender, race or ethnicity Biblical Evaluation (from “for an answer”) • Despite all the similarities between Christianity and Sikhism the latter cannot save anyone. • Its teaching falls short of God's revelation in the Bible; which makes it clear that only a personal faith in what Jesus did on the cross can qualify a person for salvation (John 1:12). • Sikhs deny that God ever came to earth in the flesh and died for men's sins. • They fall into the heresy of the Galatians, which was a mixture of grace, human merit and self-righteousness (Galatians 3). • Some of the terms that Sikhism uses are familiar to Christians: However their content and meaning is different, so they are not adequate for salvation. Biblical Evaluation (Boa) • The Sikh concept of God is monotheistic in form, but it is so mystical and abstract that ultimately is pantheistic. • Sikhism does not deal with sin • Teaches salvation by works and by grace (confusing) • It also teaches Karma and transmigration (reincarnation) • Teaches that all religions worship the same God under different names • But, Christianity teaches that the only way to have a relationship with God, is through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ What is The Truth About Reincarnation? • There ain’t NONE! •Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” But, we Christians have two better: The Resurrection, and the Rapture! •This it for today! •Have a great Sunday, week, and year! References: • Boa, Kenneth, Cults, World Religions, and the Occult (Pages 27-29) Victor Books, SP Publications, 1990 • The Gurdwara, 2009-10-27 retrieved 10-31-2019, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/gurdwa ra_1.shtml • Difference Between Sikhism And Christianity, retrieved 10-31-2019 from http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference- between-sikhism-and-christianity/#ixzz63yfF88nV • Sikhism Scripture, retrieved 10-31-2019, from http://www.forananswer.org/Top_WR/Gidoomal_Differences.pdf.