Deadend

I, for one, know very little about Sikhism, the little I do know I learned after reading about Guru Arjan (my namesake).
As far as I know only one person on this board has had any real contact with Sikhism, 99Percent, (there could be others) you might want to read <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=43&t=000053" target="_blank">his introduction</a>, perhaps you could get some good feedback from him.
It’s good to know that not all religions are as close-minded as the some of the conservative Christian or other theistic denominations. It is good to know that "Sikhism coincides with evolution", and that "in Sikhism, and in life, men are equal to women," but that hardly makes a religion true, though it does make it a more relevant religion as compared to other monotheistic religions. Still, a major stumbling block remains the existence of God, no matter how many times it has been debated, it remains a relevant point.

emotional

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At least Sikhism doesn't damn one to eternal punishment for not seeking God. As a Manmukh, I'm supposed to reincarnate over and over again until finally I become a Gurmukh.

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No religion claims it's anti-science. They all claim to be either compatible with science, or that they teach the true science. However, science is not compatible with religion. It is said that "science is not against religion, it's against superstition", but what is belief in a personal God if not superstition?

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All religions claim that too. They either say they treat women equally, or that the inequality between men and women was God's intention (and God knows best, so don't you dare argue).

Even more poignant than the issue of God, there is the issue of authority: why should I take the word of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Guru Adi Granth Sahib (the last is their holy book, not a person)? Leaving off the debate about God, I agree 100% with Rudyard Kipling's verses:

Words are written by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Scripture and speech are human product. The experience of the divine is found in Nature: studying chemistry, biology and physics, gazing at the stars, [moderately] enjoying good food and lovely sexual relations with the opposite sex, and all those things which make life worth living. One life to live, so why waste it on God?

Nature is enough for me,
I desire no more!

(edited to fix a few mistakes, because I'm not infallible)

[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: devnet ]</p>

Boro Nut

It's based on a lie. We had a sikh at our school and he wore his turban everyday. On his birthday we held him down and unwound it as he kicked and screamed, only to find his head was not injured at all.

Boro Nut

Eudaimonist

In my view, spiritual development refers most deeply and broadly to the development of that which pertains to one's consciousness -- one's "inner development". A spiritual person doesn't necessarily believe in a personal god or the supernatural. For example, an atheistic Buddhist could be spiritual, since Buddhism focuses on a path of inner development. So in my view "spiritual development" and "personal enlightenment" are nearly identical.

[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: Eudaimonia ]</p>

emotional

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My attempt to become a Gurmukh (though not through Sikhism, but through Orthodox Judaism) failed. I now hold that the natural universe which is revealed to our senses or by instruments is infinitely richer than the hidden, supernatural things. The supernatural, even if it exists, is irrelevant to me. If it exists, then it is hiding itself from me, therefore I do not want a bit of it. I spurn God. Cursed he be!

Sikh, a question about the Japji. Look here:

<a href="http://www.sikhs.org/japji/jp8.htm" target="_blank">www.sikhs.org/japji/jp8.htm</a>

The second verse says, "Reality of earth and mythical bull supporting it and of heaven becomes known by hearing the Name of God".

Is the word "mythical" really in the original Gurmukhi text? If not, then why is it added in the translation? Why should there be any talk about a bull (mythical or not) supporting the earth at all? Surely the God-inspired Guru Nanak knew of the fact of the earth being a sphere in space?

Eudaimonist

<a href="http://www.religioustolerance.com/sikhism.htm" target="_blank">http://www.religioustolerance.com/sikhism.htm</a>

How accurate is the description of Sikhism in the webpage above?

99Percent

Fairly accurate.

Ron Singh

This is an interesting question, and sikhism has an answer. Sikhism does not beleive in the blind following of any guru. A sikh means "disciple" and "learner", and a true sikh has doubted all, including his gurus at one time or another.
A sikh finds his own light, with help of a guru, but blindly following any other man is just mental slavery. Yes you are correct, the last guru is a holy book of scriptures.

Correct! The Guru Granth Sahib is a complation of teachings of all the gurus, and is one-hundred percent man made. It is not God, and is merely a bunch of paper, until one witnesses the wisdom it contains. Evidently, sikhism is in accordance with me.

First of all, this ignorance stupifies me. This sikh probably kicked and screamed, because you tried to deface him. What was the point of embaressing and insulting this sikh? This is shameful.

Unfortunately I do not know how to read Gurmukkhi, however this website usually if not always has accurate translations. Devnet, in that time and age, many people beleived that the world was supported by a "now mythical" bull. Nanak said to learn of such mysteries as this, one may learn from God. Also, there are statements in the holy scriptures that speak of a round Earth, however I am not sure where in the scriptures this is found, but I'm pretty confident that it's there.

It seems okay. There a LOT more than 200 gurudwaras in India however.

Ron Singh

Just to clerify, the last guru is never and will never be considered God. I meant to say:

It is not God. It is merely a bunch of paper, until one witnesses the wisdom it contains

brahma

Sikh -
What is your take on Khalistan? Do you think that Sikhs should have their own state, seperate from India? What do you think of the Khalistan Commando Force?