negative aspects of great religions

[curious_man]

there r many good aspects of great religions and that is wht keeps them going in the long run. people r satisfied by the rules laid down by the religion and take great pains to abide by them, and that is why religions like sikhism, hinduism, islam , christianity etc. have a large religious following.

but if everything was right about them, then y not all people follow one religion.

i mean to say that , for eg if u consider islam, a perfect religion then all the 6 billion should follow it, but the truth is , it isn't the perfect... therefore all people don't follow it.

sikhism being the most recent religion has a wide religious folowing.

but i would like to know 10 negative aspects of sikhism

AS IT IS SAID NOTHING IS PERFECT IN THIS WORLD!!

i dont mean to hurt anyone ......... its just a thought which came in mind!!!!

[Akaali]

curious man

define perfect

To my understanding there are no viewable faults within the Sikh religion, or the way of life to God..

Its the people that distort religion, Religion in general is suppose to provide a pathway to God..

I'm sure, since you couldn't find any faults in Sikhism you openly asked the question. No matter where you ask you will get the same answer.

My two cents!

[Guest mehtab]

http://www.sikhs.org/art4.htm

My Thirteen Reasons for Sikhism

by Jaswinder Singh 

In the paper "Why Sikhism"? I discussed my personal experiences in how I had dealt with issues in my life. I focused on myself as a child and as an adult, and the primary conflicts that Sikhs face during these periods of their life. Acceptance as a child and as an adult, but love playing a greater role in our lives as adults.

My focus was to highlight how Sikhs living in a western society have to deal with problematic issues, where certain western values don't blend with Sikh religious principles. I also brought up the point that I was "lucky" to know of the Sikh religion, which helped guide my decisions, but unfortunately many of today's young grow up ignorant to what Sikhism is. Below I have listed 13 points why I think Sikhism is the best religion in the world, and what it has to offer to Sikhs and to the World, and why Sikhs should not abandon their faith, but strive harder to understand it, learn about it, and they will realize once they do, that it is worth keeping, holding on to, prizing in our hearts and souls.

1. Sikhism does not look down upon people who follow other religions as "inferior, non-believer, etc". That is one reason why you don't see Sikh Missionaries actively pursuing conversions.

2. Sikhism i

s a religion of Equality. Equality between Men and Women and also stressing "universal equality" amongst all human beings. Which all other religions do not have.

3. Sikhism is a modern way of life, it doesn't subject people to valueless rituals. A few examples being the caste system, bathing in holy rivers, facing a certain direction for a prayer, slaughtering animals in the name of God, circumcision.

(NOTE: I'm talking of Sikhism, not cultural practices.. which at times are not up to date with the teachings of the religion, as can be seen in all religions))

4. Sikhism, is a religion of worship of One God. A God that has no 'chosen people', a God compassionate to all, God not bonded to a "single religion", God to be found and realized by all, God that is not pleased with ritualistic behavior, a God that is only pleased by "ANYONE" who with true devotion LOVES HIM, yes a God for all the UNIVERSE.. not of Jews, Sikh, Hindus, Muslims,etc.

God himself spoke to Guru Nanak Dev Ji the founder of Sikhism on the "Day of Revelation", when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was called to God' home and given his directives to preach to this world.

God spoke the following verse on this most blessed day to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the entire world. Known as the Mul Mantra. The very first verse written in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the Sikh scripture) and found at many other places before other hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Ik Onkar (God is One)

Sat Nam ( His name is True)

Kartaa Purakh (He is the Creator)

Nirbhau (He is without fear)

Nirvair (He is inimical to none)

Akal-murat (He never dies)

Ajooni (He is beyond births and deaths)

Saibhang ( He is self illuminated)

Gurprasaad (He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru)

Jap (Repeat His Name)

And in God's court Guru Nanak spoke the following, which God accepted and condoned, and comes write after "Jap".

Aad sach (He is True in

the beginning, (before the anything (universe) existed)

Jugaad sach (He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True)

Hai bhi sach (He is also True now)

Nanak hosi bhi sach. ((Satguru) Nanak (says that) he will be certainly True in the future.)

5. Sikhism believes in reincarnation. As the worldly science is improving and people are starting to realize this phenomenon is true (through hypnosis and near-death experiences) they will understand the "Greater Glory" in the Sikh scriptures to have realized this concept while others don't believe in it at all.

(Note: Only Hinduism and Bhudism share these values of reincarnation, and many Christians are starting to believe it, and though Muslims rejects this notion, I believe many believe of it as well.)

6. Sikhism stresses that God judges all people as to their actions in this world. It does not matter what religion he practices, or was born to. Hence the theory of Karma is also a part of Sikh religion.

The ultimate reward in Sikhism is to be freed from the PAINS of 'births and deaths' that Humans undergo. Reflect for a few minutes, and think of how much do we as people suffer in life? We suffer a tremendous amount! The older you are the more you will know of it.

Unlike other religions, which offer a heavenly paradise, where one is rewarded with Virgins (only for the males as one scripture has it) and rivers of wine (which ironically is not sanctioned for one to drink here on this earth). Sikhism rewards people with the concept of becoming "one with God". Where the soul is emersed back into the Godly soul, like a raindrop is emersed into the ocean and hence find ever lasting bliss. (Never to be reborn again)!

This is for both MALE and FEMALE. No sexism is in the scripture. I challenge all to have a look for themselves, and they will be happily surprised that a religion born 500 years ago, has accepted the equality of sexes as well as people, which not even today

39;s western society has, nor any other religion has. This is just one reason why I adore the Sikh religion. Men and Women are Equal in all respect.

7. In Sikhism, Men and Women are able to carry out prayer rights. There is no priest class, unlike other religions, which is controlled by men. Hence again women are equal partners in Sikhism. Sikhism is a very egalitarian religion.

8. "Sikhism is an intellectual way of life"! Sikhs are told very strongly, explicitly, to seek knowledge within the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Knowledge is the "key" to enlightenment. One must understand the Guru's written words in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in order to help themselves transcend this worldly ocean and reach the higher spiritual goals given to Humankind by God.

The challenge of being a Sikh is truly a hard one, the majority of the world of today have not the courage in them, nor the will power, nor are the willingness to spend time to pursue this "intellectual" and "spiritual" journey and achieve that ultimate state of ETERNAL BLISS.

People not wanting to face this challenge, since it is a difficult one, a long one, is why people are unaware of the greatness of their Sikh religion. They continue to play in this world (metaphorically speaking) in the pursuit of trying to find happiness, yet never achieve it. Happiness is only temporary. It is eternal bliss (Anand) that we want, which the Guru guides us on how to achieve, in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Happiness (Bliss) can not be bought with riches, etc. Happiness is a state of mind. Bliss is the state of being one with our mind, soul, and heart. One can only find it by being able to control (cleansing) the mind, which Sikhism stresses one to do, with God' Naam (Name. Then only will one achieve true lasting happiness (bliss) within ourselves.

I challenge the readers to spend some time, to read up on the lives of Sikh Gurus, read the Sikh scripture, along with the other religions ope

n mindedly, and Sikhism will pass as the most objective, logical, equal, humanitarian religion. A good place to start is Sandeep Singh's WWW home page.The Sikhism Home Page: http://www.sikhs.org/

9. Sikhism is a religion which builds character. It tells its followers to be "hard workers" to earn their daily bread. To share this with others, as well as to remember the Lord in their heart. Hence within Sikhism, there is a compassion towards all of humanity, a fact of social reform.

10. Sikhism is the only religion that allows all people, of any caste, colour, creed, religion to come to "ANY"! of their holy places, without restriction, and be given equal respect in all matters.

They are served in the Gurdwara (Sikhs holy temple), in the kitchen with the same dignity as if they were Sikhs. They are allowed to participate in Singing Hymns on stage even if they are not Sikhs. They are allowed to read the Guru Granth Sahib Ji (if they know how to read Gurmukhi Script) even if they are not Sikhs. They are allowed to discuss Sikhism in these places of worship even if they are not Sikhs.

"A very good example comes to mind is Bhai Chaman Lal even though he is a Hindu. He sings Gurbani hymns all over in Gurdwaras and tells wonderful stories of the Gurus. Sikhs respect and give him equal dignity, even though he is not a Sikh." I personally love his singing and his stories. He's more of a Sikh than I am.

Hence one does not have to even change religion, to follow Sikh practices and sing the Glories of God using Sikh scripture and that truly is the greatness of Sikhism.

11. Sikhism allows one to follow the path to enlightenment, at their own speed. This enlightenment comes with their own understanding and awareness of the message in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and how much effort they have given to incorporate it in their lives.

Sikhism allows people to interpret the Guru Granth S

ahib for themselves (unlike other religions) and with increasing awareness and understanding, the person will gain greater (deeper) understanding of the "divine" words of the Gurus, who were in direct communication with God and wrote what God told them in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

12. Sikhism is the only religion where the Scripture is written by the Prophet of the religion who was in divine communication with God, out of all the other worldly religions whose scriptures were written later by people.

13. Sikhism is the only religion that has in its Scripture, Hymns of Divine saints who had attained that state of perfection and communion with God in life. Be them Muslim or Hindu (from every caste). Hence Sikhism is truly a religion that has broken down barriers between religions, to show the world that, "anyone" can reach God by immersing themselves in His love. That is why Hindu and Muslim saints divine hymns from God are also recorded in Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Sikh Gurus are not only honoring the achievement of these Saints throughout time, but are sending a message to the world. Sikhism is not the property of those who are born in Punjab or to Sikh families. It is a religion for all of humanity, men and women, be them of any caste, creed or colour and be them born to any religion in the world. Sikhism is for all of humanity, let us not forget the entire universe.

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion....C9?OpenDocument

about SGGS :

1-: It is written using very deeply profound words obtained from over 16 languages. (I would say that it's words are

more profound then that of any other Book on the planet, but that would not get anywhere, I would be simply dismissed as being biased)

2-: The words from over 16 incompatible languages are incorporated in a way that they make perfect sense.

3-: The alphabet the Granth Shaib uses was invented by the Supreme Beings that wrote it. The Alphabet is called Gumuki, it is impossible to make a spelling mistake using this alphabet because it has logical grammar rules. Every word or sound can only be written one way. Not like english where the k in knife is silent. This is the easiest alphabet to master. I bet the world would be using computers a long time ago to write things using speech recognition programs if Gurmuki was the business language of the world.

4-: Every sentence is written in poetry of the highest order. (William Shakespeare would have been envious.)

5-: At the same time every sentence rhymes.

6-: At the same time everything is in music verse form, so that all sorts of musical instruments can be played while it is sung.

In praise of women.

"We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, we are engaged and married to woman. We make friendship with woman and the lineage continued because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. We grow up stronger and wiser having drunk milk from the <admin-profanity filter activated> of woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to kings? The woman is born from woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without woman" (Guru Nanak Dev, // Asa, pg.

473)

Marriage is an equal partnership of love and sharing between husband and wife.

"They are

not husband and wife, who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one spirit in two bodies." (Guru Amar Das, Pauri, pg. 788)

Women have an equal right to participate in the congregation.

"Come my sisters and dear comrades! Clasp me in thine embrace. Meeting together, let us tell the tales of our Omnipotent Spouse (God). In the True Lord are all merits, in us all demerits." (Guru Nanak Dev, Sri Rag, pg. 17)

God is the husband and we are all his brides.

"The spouse is but One and all others are His brides. The false bride assumes many religious garbs. When the Lord stops her going into another's home, then is she summoned into her Lord's mansion without any let and hindrance. She is adorned with the Name and is dear to her True Lord. She alone is the true bride and the Lord lends her His support." (Guru Nanak Dev, Ramkali, pg. 933) (note: Lord is one of the names of God)

God is our Mother as well as our Father.

"Thou O Lord, art my Father and Thou my Mother. Thou art the Giver of peace to my soul and very life." (Guru Arjan Dev, Bhairo, pg. 1144)

The rape and brutalities committed against women by the Mughal invader Babar

condemned.

"Modesty and righteousness both have vanished and falsehood moves about as the leader, O Lalo. The function of the Qazis and the Brahmins is over and the Satan now reads the marriage rites (rape). The Muslim women read the Quran and in suffering call upon God, O Lalo. The Hindu women of high cast and others of low caste, may also be put in the same account, O Lalo." (Guru Nanak Dev, Tilang, pg. 722)

The practice of women burning themselves on their husband's funeral pyre (sati) condemned.

"They cannot be called satis, who burn themselves with their dead husbands. They can only be called satis, if they bear the shock of separation. They may also be known as satis, who live with character and contentment a

nd always show veneration to their husbands by remembering them." (Guru Amar Das, // Suhi, pg. 787)

The ritual of dowry so prevalent in many societies condemned.

"Any other dowry, which the perverse place for show, that is false pride and worthless gilding. O' my Father! give me the Name of Lord God as a gift and dowry." (Guru Ram Das, Sri Rag, pg. 79)

First Supreme Being Guru Nanak laid the foundation of Sikhism which believes in a casteless, egalitarian society which guarantees equal rights to Women. Each of the Supreme Being Gurus under authority of God gave women equal status. They gained social and religious freedom at a time when the existing religions and society considered women to be property. The false notion that they were inherently evil and unclean was removed. A woman was regarded as temptation-incarnate. The Gurus exposed the folly of such notions. [Judaism, Islam,Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, they all directly say Women are

Unclean and Inferior.].

Sixth Supreme Being Guru Hargobind called Woman "the conscience of man". In

religious gatherings, men and women sang and preached without any distinction. The wearing of purdah (women wearing veils to hide the face) was rejected as demeaning to women. Guru Hargobind refused to have dinner with any Queen who wore a veil.

Ik OnKar: means"One Creator"

The circle is a chuchrum representing the Universe, the double edged soward representsthe positive and negative side of the Force, the 2 sowards on the outside of the sphere represent thehands of the One Creator protecting and beholding all that exists and beyound.

[Singhstah]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

The worst 10:

10. N/A

9.N/A

8.N/A

7.N/A

6.N/A

5.N/A

4.N/A

3.N/A

2.N/A

1.N/A

[V]

Good post Rochak Bhaji B)

I can't think of any 120 "unperfect" things Guru Ji's blessed us with : B)

One questin tho:

7. In Sikhism, Men and Women are able to carry out prayer rights. There is no priest class, unlike other religions, which is controlled by men. Hence again women are equal partners in Sikhism. Sikhism is a very egalitarian religion.

In Chrristianity the Christians go to confess, and get forgiven

when Sikhs do a Kurehit..

isn't that confessing, when u do 'pesh'?

even tho ur really forgiven when u get the 'punishment' to do some Seva and extra paath or something..

but why is it necessary to go to the Panj

can someone PLEASE enlighten me on this ?

isn't it jsut enough to do ardaas to forgive, and do extra seva, and exta paath

or is Going to Panj only for getting suggestions :T:

Please can someone enlighten me on this subejct

bhull chukk maaf!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

[Gupt_Singh]

considering how great sikhi is, it probably has the worst followers. if everyone took advantage of sikhi fully like other religions do, we would all be gurmukhs :T:

[learning_sikhi]

God himself spoke to Guru Nanak Dev Ji the founder of Sikhism on the "Day of Revelation", when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was called to God' home and given his directives to preach to this world.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

just a doubt....

God came to Moses.... God came to Prophet MUhammed....i dont know but maybe God came to Jesus tooo..... and God came to Guru Nanak Dev Ji...

IF GOD IS ONE..... WHY DIDN'T HE GIVE THE SAME MESSAGE

THEN THRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY ONE RELIGION...... Y DID HE COME TIME AND AND AGAIN AND KEEP CHANGING THE MESSAGES.

bhullan chukkan maaf

[Guest mehtab]

The message given to all was based on their time in human history and the kind of conditions that existed, also the countries they were at (I THINK SO)...but SIKHI is a universal message for all (I AM SURE)

[Pheena]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

just a doubt....

God came to Moses.... God came to Prophet MUhammed....i dont know but maybe God came to Jesus tooo..... and God came to Guru Nanak Dev Ji...

IF GOD IS ONE..... WHY DIDN'T HE GIVE THE SAME MESSAGE

THEN THRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY ONE RELIGION...... Y DID HE COME TIME AND AND AGAIN AND KEEP CHANGING THE MESSAGES.

bhullan chukkan maaf

Is the world/Soceity running on those same Laws and Regulations that were issued in the 7th Century??? NO obviously not. The people have change and so must the rules accordingly.

The message has always been the Same.

Love, Compassion, Patience.

If you don't understand something one way, then i must try to say the same message in a different Manner. God is not something that has a definition which can be defined by one set of rules.

If 5 people are watching the SAme movie, do you think that all 5 will perceive the movie in the same way. Perception here has allot to do with how religion is born. What Jesus saw god as he spoke thru his perception as did Muhammed as did Guru Nanak dev ji. It is how they Perceived his Message, how they saw him and that is how they presented it to the people. Buddha spoke of him in his way. God is Undefined he cannot be Defined. Guru Nanak Dev ji S

ang his whole life. Budha never Sang. Why didn't he sing, because he saw god as energy flowing everywhere and he expressed it thru Silence and Meditation. Guru Nanak Dev ji Expressed that Same Energy thru Singing, Simran, Jap.

Changing the Word Water to Paanee does not change the Chemical foundation of the Water. Putting water in a Steel cup as oppose to a Glass cup does not mean it will not quench your thirst. Water remains water.

hope this helps, its very hard to find words to explain ur question, Sorry if i confused you even further.

Waheguru

[moorakh mugadh]

IF GOD IS ONE..... WHY DIDN'T HE GIVE THE SAME MESSAGE

THEN THRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY ONE RELIGION...... Y DID HE COME TIME AND AND AGAIN AND KEEP CHANGING THE MESSAGES.

bhullan chukkan maaf

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

YES GOD IS ONE (: but we should thank god that there are many religion because of this we all either he is sikh,muslm,hindu anyone have much faith in their religion and are gurmukhs all think mine is beter and they try to protect their religion AND TRY TO BE AS MUCH AS GOOD THEY CAN (: so its good to have many religion BUT GOD IS ONE.