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Religions of the world

Sikhism

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The Khanda -- a Sikh symbol

Quotation:

The famous American writer and novelist, Miss Pearl S. Buck, after reading the the Sikh holy book "Guru Granth Sahib," said:

"I have studied the scriptures of the great religions, but I did not find anywhere else the same power or appeal to the heart and mind, as I find in these volumes. There is something strangely modern about these scriptures and this puzzled me until I learned that they are in fact comparatively modern, compiled as late as the 16th century... They speak to a person of any religion, or of none. They speak to the human heart and the searching mind."

Overview:

Sikhism was founded by Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538). At Sultanpur, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He taught beliefs in a strict monotheism, and the brotherhood of humanity. He rejected idol worship, and the oppressive Hindu concept of caste.

The name of the religion means learner. According to the Spokesman-Review web site, It is often mispronounced 'seek.' The proper pronounciation is 'sick', with the plural form Sikhs pronounced 'Six.'

Topics covered in this section:

	Origins, history, holy texts, numbers, and perhaps a hoax
	Beliefs, practices, symbol & names
	Conflict over seating arrangements
	Conflict over wearing a ceremonial dagger in schools
	Books and links to Sikh web sites