Sherdil

So how would you go about proving God's existence, or lack there of? So religion needs followers to exist? What if there was only one person who practiced the faith? Would it still exist? Tylenol should do the trick for your headache. One more thing: Sikhism's holy book "Guru Granth Sahib" contains writings of Hindus and Muslims. They can't be rotting in hell if they are in our holy book, right? Good night.

Well there are other ways. There is just disagreement on which way is right. Just like the various branches of democracy disagree on which is the right method of governance.

Like how the Aztec religion is a failed idea, right? I bet the natives are happy there are no more human sacrifices! Lol.

So there are different branches of democracy? Do they all stay true to the definition of democracy (rule by the people)? If not then they are not democracies.Is it like Judaism and Islam being derived from the sons of Abraham? Christianity coming from Judaism? Maybe like Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism having their roots in Hinduism? Which religion disputes the existence of another type of God?

Democracy would be hotly disputed by Communists. What's up with that?

You mean like the evolution of many different religions? So which religion is the America of the bunch? I think I know...haha.

How has the idea of democracy changed? Doesn't it mean rule by the people? I don't understand the question you are repeating. Are you saying that if something is old, it shouldn't be followed? Why are we speaking English then? It's so old. Why don't we come up with a new language? Which facts of Sikhism are they disputing?

So if something is old, then we cannot follow it? Democracy was invented by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago, but we still follow that.

Copernicus concluded that the earth revolves around the Sun over 500 years ago. Why do we still believe in that?

Geo: "So would you say that the followers of the Abrahamic religions are wrong given that there is only one god and therefor only one definition?" @Geo There is only one God, but there are more than one definition. Blind mice describing an elephant. They feel different parts and describe different things, but it is the same elephant.

A prophet is someone who serves as an intermediary between God and humanity, to deliver God's message. Moses talked to God (supposedly) Jesus was the son of God (aren't we all) Mohammed was told of God's will by the angel Gabriel (supposedly) Guru Nanak meditated on the bank of a river, in the wilderness, for some time before proclaiming there is one God and there is no Muslim or Hindu. His inspiration came from meditation and deep reflective thought. Your questions are inherently biased and flawed. All religions don't want to reach the same place and are not after the same goal. The definition of God is different in Abrahamic and Dharmic faiths.

God is not telling us to believe what we believe. Our Gurus have come up with a philosophy for living a life that will allow us to realize the truth about our existence and the illusion of the material world. We don't practice Sikhism to please God. We practice it as a way of life, for our personal betterment. To make us better people and get the most meaning out this life we have. Other "faiths" have different beliefs. I don't agree with them. Some claim that their faiths have been dictated by God. Sikhism doesn't believe in this. However, everyone is free to practice whatever "faith" they want.

If you require shades then that is not directly looking at it. You will burn your eyes. Religion is a Western word used for a philosophy revolving around a guy in the sky. Sorry there isn't an English word to describe Sikhism. It is a philosophy on life and a way to live life. It is a dharam. Most scientists have traditionally come from Abrahamic backgrounds. How many of them understand Dharma? Not many.

If you find logical thinking shocking, then we can't see eye to eye. You just disregarded a whole branch of science, lol. That's like someone disregarding astronomy, when arguing that the earth is the center of the universe. The traditional laws of physics break down at the subatomic level. Quantum Physics is relevant and necessary. Do a google search yourself for reputable scientists that support this claim. Look through textbooks yourself. Are you giving me homework? Making me hunt for the magical goose egg that will show you the light? Why should I bother? This should suffice Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Siree Raag on Pannaa 20 jis thae oupajai this thae binasai ghatt ghatt sach bharapoor || We shall merge into the One from whom we came. The True One is pervading in each and every heart. Can you see God? Can you touch him, taste him, hear him, smell him? Are you arguing for the sake of arguing? Like a child arguing over whether the sky is blue. DO NOT REPLY BACK

Sikhi and science both deal with uncovering truths about the universe, but from different angles. If science doesn't match up with Sikhi, then it is due to a fundamental misunderstanding of one of the two. IS THERE GOD??? Debate has gone on long enough. Dharmic faiths don't believe in a guy in the sky who is God. We believe in a universal energy and consciousness. This is the Supreme Brahman. We are all a part of this consciousness. There is no "I" as we are a part of the universe. Scientific Backing The measurement problem in quantum physics states that an atom appears as a wave when not being observed, and a particle when it is observed. Conclusion: The universe manifests itself as it is being observed. We are all observing the same thing, therefore we are all part of the same conscious. Creativity therefore derives from an infinitely abstract pool of consciousness that is waiting to be tapped into.THIS IS GOD. CONQUER YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL REACH GOD (the state of Sach Khand) RENCARNATION Death is the death of your consciousness. Medically speaking, someone is legally dead when they don't have any brain function. When you die your conscious returns to this infinite pool of creativity, where new things are manifested. TRYING TO OBSERVE GOD DIRECTLY Cannot be done. We don't have the equipment (our senses). Some people will only be satisfied if they can see and touch God. It cannot be done. You cannot look directly at a solar eclipse. But you can deduce that it is there, through indirect means. PEOPLE COMING ON HERE TO GIVE US A LECTURE ON WHY SCIENCE IS BETTER THAN RELIGION, NEITHER UNDERSTAND SCIENCE NOR SIKHISM.

Sikhism says that God cannot be realized by reading the Hindu scriptures or the books of the Abrahamic religions (Bible, Koran, Torah). It's a difference of opinion. Why do birds fly and fish swim? That's what they do. People believe different things. There are different schools of thought. People don't agree on everything. What's your point?

Science and Sikhism are not mutually exclusive.

Most people used to think the world was flat. What's your point? Sikhism is only a few hundred years old. So what if you have more followers? Big wup. Sikhism says that a Muslim should be a good Muslim and a Hindu should be a good Hindu, as all religions teach us to treat each other with respect at their core. We respect all people of all religions to worship as they please, unlike some religions who believe their prophet is the only one that should be followed. As Sikhs we believe that the path laid out by our Gurus is the best way to realize God in this life. That's why we are Sikhs.

Tuhi Tuhi said that worshipping stone idols is okay. I was replying to him. Talk about knee j e r k reactions. Who said anything about shaheeds or animated movies? We are talking about people praying in front of portraits of the Gurus. This is clearly wrong, because the portrait is not our Guru. Unlike Guru Granth Sahib, a portrait cannot give you guidance. You want a representation of Guru Nanak? Then go read Guru Granth Sahib. His teachings are represented there. Give me a better solution to stop people from praying to these portraits. How will you educate them?

The first step is not murti pooja. It is living in the world and doing good deeds and righteous actions/ Guru ji explains that by doing this, one reaches the first khand (out of five), which is called Dharam Khand. Guru Nanak dev ji, Jap ji Sahib, Pannaa 7 raathee ruthee thhithee vaar || Nights, days, weeks and seasons; pavan paanee aganee paathaal || wind, water, fire and the nether regions this vich dhharathee thhaap rakhee dhharam saal || in the midst of these, He established the earth as a home for Dharma. this vich jeea jugath kae ra(n)g || Upon it, He placed the various species of beings. thin kae naam anaek ana(n)th || Their names are uncounted and endless. karamee karamee hoe veechaar || By their deeds and their actions, they shall be judged.

The whole idea of the pathar being God was a lie, as the Brahman was eating the offerings himself. God ate Dhanna's offering to spare his innocence, so that Dhanna wouldn't be exposed to the deceitful ways of this world.

ਬਾਮ੍ਹਣੁ ਪੂਜੈ ਦੇਵਤੇ ਧੰਨਾ ਗਊ ਚਰਾਵਣਿ ਆਵੈ । baamhanu poojai dayvatay dhannaa gaoo charaavani aavai| A brahman would worship gods (in the form of stone idols) where Dhanna used to graze his cow. ਧੰਨੈ ਡਿਠਾ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਏਹੁ ਪੂਛੈ ਬਾਮ੍ਹਣੁ ਆਖਿ ਸੁਣਾਵੈ । dhannai ditdaa chalitu ayhu poochhai baamhanu aakhi sunaavai| On seeing his worship, Dhanna asked the brahman what he was doing. ਠਾਕੁਰ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰੇ ਜੋ ਇਛੈ ਸੋਈ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵੈ । tdaakur dee sayvaa karay jo ichhai soee dhalu paavai| “Service to the Thakur (God) gives the desired fruit,” replied the brahman. ਧੰਨਾ ਕਰਦਾ ਜੋਦੜੀ ਮੈ ਭਿ ਦੇਹ ਇਕ ਜੇ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ । dhannaa karadaa jodarhee mai bhi dayh ik jay tudhu bhaavai| Dhanna requested, “O brahman, if you agree kindly give one to me.” ਪਥਰੁ ਇਕੁ ਲਪੇਟਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇ ਧੰਨੈ ਨੋ ਗੈਲ ਛੁਡਾਵੈ । padaru iku|apayti kari day dhannai no gail chhudaavai| The brahman rolled a stone, gave it to Dhanna and thus got rid of him. ਠਾਕੁਰ ਨੋ ਨ੍ਹਾਵਾਲਿ ਕੈ ਛਾਹਿ ਰੋਟੀ ਲੈ ਭੋਗੁ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਵੈ । tdaakur no nhaavaali kai chhaahi rotee|ai bhogu charhhaavai| Dhanna bathed the Thakur and offered him bread and buttermilk. ਹਥਿ ਜੋੜਿ ਮਿਨਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਪੈਰੀ ਪੈ ਪੈ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਮਨਾਵੈ । hadi jorhi minati karai pairee pai pai bahutu manaavai| With folded hands and falling at the feet of the stone he begged for his service to be accepted. ਹਉ ਭੀ ਮੁਹੁ ਨ ਜੁਠਾਲਸਾਂ ਤੂ ਰੁਠਾ ਮੈ ਕਿਹੁ ਨ ਸੁਖਾਵੈ । hau bhee muhu n jutdaalasaan too rutdaa mai kihu n sukhaavai| Dhanna said, “I will also not eat because how can I be happy if you are annoyed.” ਗੋਸਾਈ ਪਰਤਖਿ ਹੋਇ ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਹਿ ਛਾਹਿ ਮੁਹਿ ਲਾਵੈ । gosaaee paratakhi hoi rotee khaahi chhaahi muhi|aavai| (Seeing his true and loving devotion) God was forced to appear and eat his bread and buttermilk. ਭੋਲਾ ਭਾਉ ਗੋਬਿੰਦੁ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ॥੧੩॥ bholaa bhaau gobindu milaavai ॥13॥ In fact, innocence like that of Dhanna makes the sight of the Lord available. The Brahman that gave Dhanna the statue was eating the offerings himself. Dhanna was innocent and pure of heart, so when the statue didn't eat the food Dhanna offered it, then Dhanna decided not to eat either. The Lord was pleased by Dhanna's innocence, and ate the food. Thus, Dhanna's innocence was spared. We do the same thing with children. Instead of telling them that someone has died, we tell them that they have gone on a long vacation. It is to spare their innocence. Eventually though, the children grow up and learn the truth. Dhanna also matured and learned the truth. Guru Nanak dev ji, Raag Bihaagraa, Pannaa 556 hi(n)dhoo moolae bhoolae akhuttee jaa(n)hee || The Hindus have forgotten the Primal Lord; they are going the wrong way. naaradh kehiaa s pooj karaa(n)hee || a(n)dhhae gu(n)gae a(n)dhh a(n)dhhaar || As Naarad instructed them, they are worshipping idols. They are blind and mute, the blindest of the blind. paathhar lae poojehi mugadhh gavaar || The ignorant fools pick up stones and worship them. ouhi jaa aap ddubae thum kehaa tharanehaar ||2|| But when those stones themselves sink, who will carry you across? ||2||

Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth, 79 kee moorrh paathr poojaa kara(n)th || kee sdhh saadhh sooraj siva(n)th || Many stupid fools worship idols with the basil leaves. Many ascetics and practitioners deify the Sun. Guru Gobind Singh, Dasam Granth, 110 paae paro paramaesar kae jarr paahan mai(n) paramaesar naahee || 99|| O stupid! fall at the feet of the Supreme Spirit as there is no Supreme Lord in these stone ­idols.(99)

To honor the deceased person's memory and allow the family to have closure. The deceased aren't waiting for your prayers on the other side.

Guru Nanak dev ji came across people in a river, splashing water towards their dead ancestors, that were supposedly living on the Sun. Guru ji started to splash water in the opposite direction. The confused people asked him what he was doing. He replied, "I am watering my fields" The people asked, "How can you water your fields from so far away." Guru ji replied "If you can send water to your ancestors on the Sun, then why can't I send water to my fields?"