Sikhism

[Kyrec]

Hello NSG,

With the amount of talk religion generates on this forum, it's almost always Christianity or Islam.
This thread is for any questions you may have regarding Sikhism -- You may also put forth your views/issue's you have.

To the British: Knowing how the Sikhs were treated and the big "fuck you" they were given when you left India, Do you feel Sikhs have any animosity towards you in large?

What were the reactions in Britain when it was announced Sikhs would be guarding the queen? do you think this will cause political figures to tread lightly when dealing with the Sikhs out of fear?(read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gan ... assination)

Everyone else: With the long and bloody history between the Sikhs and Muslims that started when Sikhism was being formed to the partition of India and now to gang violence between the two groups, do you think many view Sikhism and Islam as natural enemies?

Any Jews on this forum? Do you agree with these similarities with the Sikhs?

Both are small in numbers
Both are an ethnoreligious group; Sikhs to a smaller extent
Both are very successful
Both have a history of persecution
Physical appearance (head covered and beard)
Nation-state(I don't think this applies to Sikhs anymore)

Do you feel out of any group you can relate to them the most?

[Anabaptist Sorcerers]

Ooh, I really don't know much about Sikhism. How was it founded?

[Darkaddia]

Ooh, I really don't know much about Sikhism. How was it founded?

One of the three big belief systems at one point in India, along with the Mughals and the Hindus. Now it's a major world religion. You can look it up on Wikipedia, or just put it through a search engine. It's not exactly obscure, they just don't advertise.

[Gauthier]

Is there anything bad about Sikhism that people like to rant about?

[DogDoo 7]

they carry knives in order to be nonviolent

[Anabaptist Sorcerers]

Are they related to Jains? Because I really love Jains. They are pretty awesome people and I think they got their metaphysics right. I want to tattoo the ahimsa on my shoulder some day.

[The Archiepelago]

they carry knives in order to be nonviolent

How does that work?

[Darkaddia]

they carry knives in order to be nonviolent

They carry knives in order to always be ready to fight tyranny wherever it manifests itself.

It's like a religion of superheroes. >.>

[Daistallia 2104]

Ooh, I really don't know much about Sikhism. How was it founded?

In 16th C. India, by Guru Nanak Dev. It's between Buddhism and Judaism in the number of adherents, but the vast majority live in the Punjab in India.

[Venetoland]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

[The Adrian Empire]

I like Sikhism, it is very peaceful, and yet anti-tyranny. They believe in self-defence but not offence, women's rights, and equality it's almost like the religion of libertarianism, if I were forced not to be in one of the Abrahamic Religions, I would be a Sikh.

[Daistallia 2104]

they carry knives in order to be nonviolent

How does that work?

It's pro-active non-violence.

The kirpan is both a defensive weapon and a symbol. Physically it is an instrument of "ahimsa" or non-violence. The principle of ahimsa is to actively prevent violence, not to simply stand by idly whilst violence is being done. To that end, the kirpan is a tool to be used to prevent violence from being done to a defenseless person when all other means to do so have failed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirpan

[Kyrec]

Is there anything bad about Sikhism that people like to rant about?

The carrying of a ceremonial dagger (Kirpan) is usually what people go on about. I'm sure you have heard, as it usually gets brought up quite a bit all over the world.
It is more of a symbol than a weapon. Although it can Only be used as a defensive weapon if need be.

Are they related to Jains? Because I really love Jains. They are pretty awesome people and I think they got their metaphysics right. I want to tattoo the ahimsa on my shoulder some day.

No they are not related to the Jains and are very different in that Sikhs aren't pacifists.

[The Narnian Prophet]

I like Sikhism, it is very peaceful, and yet anti-tyranny. They believe in self-defence but not offence, women's rights, and equality it's almost like the religion of libertarianism, if I were forced not to be in one of the Abrahamic Religions, I would be a Sikh.

Yeah, those religions which advocate peace are the best... and actually the vast majority in the world if you think about it. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and indigenous religions all have prominent and obvious peace traditions.

[Daistallia 2104]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Much like Christianity, there is no single answer to that. There are both anti- and friendly Sikhs and Buddhists.

[Cameroi]

pretty cool people.
of course its just another belief.
but nothing wrong with that either.
at least not any more so then those more dominant and familiar to the 'western' world.

[Kyrec]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Homosexuality isn't mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Book), but Sikhs in general have no problems with homosexuality as they are taught not to have hate regardless of race, caste, color, creed, gender, or sexuality.

[Daistallia 2104]

Are they related to Jains? Because I really love Jains. They are pretty awesome people and I think they got their metaphysics right. I want to tattoo the ahimsa on my shoulder some day.

No they are not related to the Jains and are very different in that Sikhs aren't pacifists.

I wouldn't say that they are unrelated. Sikhism is a part of the same Dharmic traditions that Jainism is. They both share concepts like karma, dharma, samsara, moksha and yogas, along with Hinduism and Buddhism.

[Uawc]

I like Sikhism, it is very peaceful, and yet anti-tyranny. They believe in self-defence but not offence, women's rights, and equality it's almost like the religion of libertarianism, if I were forced not to be in one of the Abrahamic Religions, I would be a Sikh.

Seconded.

Also, wait, aren't you a fascist?

[The Adrian Empire]

I like Sikhism, it is very peaceful, and yet anti-tyranny. They believe in self-defence but not offence, women's rights, and equality it's almost like the religion of libertarianism, if I were forced not to be in one of the Abrahamic Religions, I would be a Sikh.

Yeah, those religions which advocate peace are the best... and actually the vast majority in the world if you think about it. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and indigenous religions all have prominent and obvious peace traditions.

No, no... I meant the specific routes of peace that Sikhism advocates. It has the most valid method of preserving peace in my opinion. The kirpan demonstrates it. Whereas say Jainism is impractical with peace, Sikhism has a great balance.
Honestly if I believed in their God, I would like to become a Sikh.

[Kyrec]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Much like Christianity, there is no single answer to that. There are both anti- and friendly Sikhs and Buddhists.

Homosexuality has been condemned quite a few times when it has been mentioned in the Bible.

[South Lorenya]

Okay, here's a question that doesn't get asked much for any religion: what parts of sikhism do you NOT like?

[Daistallia 2104]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Homosexuality isn't mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Book), but Sikhs in general have no problems with homosexuality as they are taught not to have hate regardless of race, caste, color, creed, gender, or sexuality.

Didn't a Sikh leader in Vancouver get in trouble for making homophobic comments?

[Daistallia 2104]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Much like Christianity, there is no single answer to that. There are both anti- and friendly Sikhs and Buddhists.

Homosexuality has been condemned quite a few times when it has been mentioned in the Bible.

However, not all Christians abide by that.

[Kyrec]

Or is it a pretty gay friendly religion?Is this true in Eastern religion in general? Oddly, I had this ? about Buddhism in my head today.

Homosexuality isn't mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Holy Book), but Sikhs in general have no problems with homosexuality as they are taught not to have hate regardless of race, caste, color, creed, gender, or sexuality.

Didn't a Sikh leader in Vancouver get in trouble for making homophobic comments?

Link? And I'm sure his views on that matter were not shaped through Sikhism but rather his culture.