Try prayer, meditation, and worship, to see if you feel the presence of god or hear the voice of god. This suggests that god does not require the support of anything other than god and has no origin. God has been described in numerous ways, but there are seven significant aspects which need particular mention in order to explain the concept of god in sikhism. Sikhism doesnt ask people to turn away from ordinary life to get closer to god. There is no authenticated evidence to suggest that god does exist. Unlike any other revelation of god, sikhism is the clearest, most moral and equal philosophy. The fundamental belief of sikhism is that god exists, indescribable yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who surrenders his egoism and loves the almighty. Hans kung is the author of many books including eternal life. According to sikh tradition, sikhism was established by guru nanak 14691539 and subsequently led by a succession of nine other gurus. The mool mantra key beliefs in sikhism bbc bitesize. Explain that sikhs believe that god doesnt exist just in the sky or heaven but is. Sikhism clearly states that god does not take birth as a human. Lewis went on to write a book titled, surprised by joy as a result of knowing god. However, god shows people through holy books, and by the examples.
The shri guru granth sahib ji, the sikh holy scripture says, suffering is the medicine, and pleasure the disease, because where there is pleasure. The existence of god is a subject of debate in the philosophy of religion and popular culture a wide variety of arguments for and against the existence of god can be categorized as metaphysical, logical, empirical, or subjective. The hymns included range from the omnipresence of nature and basic day to day lessons. Explain the role of the gurdwara in the sikh community, perhaps by reading the relevant section of a text book on sikhism. Sikhism in light of the bible faithful word baptist church. When god judges that the soul is ready, he allows it to merge with him after death. God is called satguru true guru and waheguru wonderful guru.
As per sikh beliefs, everything that happens in ones life is as per the will hukam of god. The bible says believers names are written in the book of life. While christianity is about 2,000 years old, sikhism is a relatively newer religion that originated in the indian subcontinent in the fifteenth century. God in himself, god in relation to creation, and god in relation to man. This article looks at sikh beliefs about god, karma, death and rebirth. Sikhism is the fifth largest religion practiced in the world today. The reality of gods existence is the most important question, since it has eternal consequences. It is also akaal purkh beyond time and space and nirankar without form. Sikhism is a relatively young religion, with guru granth sahib as its key. In addition to world prophets and true saints countless people have had god s vision, and innumerable people have had an encounter with him in their mystical and religious experiences. Sikhism believes that god is oneness that permeates the entirety of creation and beyond.
Yet over the following several months, i became amazed by his love for me. The concept of god is the fundamental which forms the entire structure and worldview of a religious system. I believe the illusion maya is not so much this world itself as we are cocreators of it. The sikh gurus have described god in numerous ways in their hymns. Sikhs worship one universal god, and practice disciplined meditation in the name of god. Sikhism, on the other hand, fails to address the infinite consequence of sin, the roles of gods goodness and justice, and mans total depravity. Can sikhism continue to exist without the guru granth sahib. In fact it demands that they use ordinary life as a way to get closer to god. The mool mantar, the first hymn composed by guru nanak, is recited daily by many sikhs. This means that there remains no difference between god and that individual, such as a drop of water merges in the ocean. The problems that always arises in conversations like this are. Chair of theology, mundelein seminary, about the five proofs of the existence of. This book is titled a very short introduction to sikhism yet manages to cover all of the main points about sikhism in an interesting and readable manner.
The statement there is no solid proof god does or does not exist is a statement of fact. Evidence of god wahegurunet wahegurunet sikhism info. Sikhs do not think of their faith as yet another sectarian religion. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion and hence, believes that god is one, and prevails in everything, as symbolized by the symbol ik onkar one all pervading spirit. This is a selfdefeating option, since something that doesnt exist cannot create itself. The fact that the sikh establishment, customs and activities such as prayer exist mean that as a sikh you must believe there is a god, if there was any doubt, if you thought you were taking a gamble on believing in god you wouldnt do any of it, its just too much time and money.
According to sikhism, suffering is created by the consequences of our own actions karma, and is the mechanism by which we get back to godconsciousness. This is a type of heaven, but sikhs dont think of it as a physical place in which the souls of humans exist as separate entities from god, as christians do. There is only oankar, and it is called the truth, it exists in all creation, and it has no fear, it does not hate, and it is timeless. One of the most important names for god in sikhism is waheguru wonderful god. The goal of every sikh is to build a close, loving relationship with god. A great strength is its contemporary feel, and its uptodate references ensure that it becomes more than just another book about religion. Sikhism and the belief of god and worship 1575 words. In philosophical terms, the question of the existence of god involves the disciplines of epistemology the nature and scope of knowledge and.
Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of god at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Christianity vs sikhism difference and comparison diffen. For them, he is too real, and something obvious does not require any logical proof. Sikh basic beliefs are summed up in the words of the mool mantar, the first hymn written by guru nanak and part of japji sahib, the first bani that appears in the sri guru granth sahib. In the first hymn called the mool mantra by guru nanak dev ji, the first sikh master says, god is selfcreated and selfexistent. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting gods existence. This may be surprising since sikhism does not actively seek new converts. From the mool mantra, we can see that god is self existent and beyond birth and death meaning that god was not created, nor will ever cease to exist, and exists through no outside force selfexistent. Both religions are monotheistic but their rituals and practices are very different. The fundamental belief of sikhism is that god exists, not merely as an idea or concept, but as a real entity, indescribable yet knowable and perceiveable to anyone who is prepare to dedicate the time and energy to become perceptive to his persona. It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. The main teachings of the guru granth sahib is the love of humanity.
In judaism today, it plays a role in the feast known as yom kippur, or day of atonement. Sikhism does provide a good foundation for who god might be through what is revealed in the guru granth sahib, when it comes to the formless, infinite, outerrealm inhabiting, creator god. God, the creator and the sustainer of the universe, according to sikhi needs no proof of his existence. I think the elephant metaphor derived from jainism. If it did, religion wouldnt be a matter of faith, would it. Oh, nanak, there is no difference between the 2, oh siblings of destiny. The teachings of all the 10 gurus are included in this book, along with those.
The gurus never spoke about proofs of the existence of god. The evidence for gods existence comes primarily from the design of the universe. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims. When sikhs speak of the guru they are referring to god, the great teacher. Service to the final guru the holy book and the sikh community. In conclusion, we may say that sikhism has historical and theological traces of both hinduism and islam but cannot be properly understood as a mere hybrid of these two. It abides within every bit of the creation as symbolized by the symbol ik onkar. Sikhs are taught by becoming the image of the lord. Furthermore, sikhism does not recognize any other gods, goddesses and deities except the one supreme being. Sikhism does break down, however, in its attempts to allow for finite with beginning humanity to merge with an infinite god. Only evil, selfish men would concoct a book like that.
The god of the old testament commanded the israelites to commit genocide. Try praying to god, to see if god answers your prayers. Only by serving the guru is god obtained and the true gate of liberation found. Can sikhism continue to exist without the guru granth. The classic question is given a very simple answer in the shri guru granth sahib ji, the sikh holy scripture. Sikhism does not believe in holding fasts for body is gods present to human being and. The one is indescribable yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who surrenders their egoism and meditates upon that oneness. You think christianity is true because you live in the west and were brought up in the christian faith.
Point out that the gurdwara is a focal point for the sikh community and that it is open to all. It is virtually impossible that all the physical laws would just happen to be tightly constrained by chance in order for stars and galaxies to exist. Guru nanak, the founder of sikhism, has stated in his hymns raga maru page 10355 and guru arjan confirmed that it was one word of god ho ja6 raga maru page 1003 that made the explosion to take place and the universe came into being. Differences similarities christianity versus sikhism comparison chart. The guru granth sahib is the active living guru of the sikhs. Jewish tradition tells how god opens the book of life and studies the words, actions. From islam it adopted the belief in the existence of one invisible god. Sikhism, religion and philosophy founded in the punjab region of the indian subcontinent in the late 15th century. Sikhs do refer to eternity in a court ruled by god, but they use this imagery in a metaphorical sense. In other cases, it may cause a person to have more faith in god. I agree that sikhism is a good source of knowledge and should not be dismissed simply because ones faith does not always mention its concepts. The concept of suffering causes some people to lose their faith in the existence of god. Whereas, there is more than enough evidence to support darwins theory.
Hitchens was his usual charming and witty self i, frank, really like him and said as much, but he did not answer any of the eight arguments that were presented. Sikhs living in a western society have to deal with problematic issues, where certain western values dont blend with sikh religious principles. Sikhism chapter overview sikhism is a vibrant religion and one that is becoming a global faith with large communities in britain, canada, the united states, malaysia, and singapore. Sikhs believe in a single, formless god, with many names, who can be known through meditation. This spirit has no gender in sikhism, though translations may present it as masculine. According to sikh tradition, sikhism was established by guru nanak 14691539 and subsequently led by. In daytoday human experience we are faced with various types of suffering and evil.
The ten days between rosh hashanah and yom kippur are days of repentance, when jews express remorse for their sins through prayer and fasting. On offer is a wellwritten book that is immensely informative. God in sikhism is thus depicted in three distinct aspects, viz. Although grace is gods to give out as he pleases, its believed that enough. Monotheists believe that there is only one god, and may also believe this god is worshipped in different religions under different names. God by himself is the one ultimate, transcendent reality, nirguna without attributes, timeless, boundless, formless, everexistent, immutable, ineffable, allby himself and even unknowable in his entirety. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 gurus enshrined in the sikh holy book and living guru, sri guru granth sahib. Author admin posted on may 7, 2016 may 8, 2016 categories does god exist. Not only that, but you will find all kinds of passages in their holy book, such as the guru is god and god is the guru. There is no solid proof god does or does not exist.