Your Reaction To Interfaith Marriage

[Van80crimsfu]

I have been searching the net and I am come accross some subjects on the issue of marriage between Sikhs and non-Sikhs. I wanted to ask an abstract question. If you were a devout bapitized Sikh and your daughter who is currently visiting you during school break comes home with a young non-Sikh man who you assume to be her friend suddenly announces during dinner that she is love with him and wants to get married after she graduates, what would your reaction be?????????????

[BiggChan]

Is this really an abstract / hypothetical question or are you seeking some personal advice? The key factor is not what the devout father thinks, but more so that if the daughter is not devout herself, then the whole question is irrelevant. However, as honouring ones parents is important in the Sikh faith and Punjabi culture, if it is against her parents wishes, in my view it can not be acceptable. This type of 'hypothetical' action is bound to cause grief to the parents and pain to the girl herself. As love is tightly linked with sacrifice, if the non sikh boy really loves the girl, he would end the relationship to stop the pain it would cause the parties involved.

These are my views. Sorry if anyone is offended.

[catsagdn]

I personally believe we can marry anyone we want even if our parents oppose it

[Starsingh]

The world is changing and we gotts change with it.

If two people are in love, then they should be allowed to marry.

The gurus and GOD are all about LOVE.

However its better to take yoru parents opinion into accoutn adn try ot make them happy/understand.

NON Sikhs should not make sikhs convert though.

Non Sikhs should be allowed to marry sikhs in the gurdwara, as long as they show respect, Every Sikh has a right to marry in hte gurdwara

[Mehtab Singh]

Life is a path on which we run after our priorities till our last breath. A "Sikh" girl "falling" in "love" with a non-Sikh has already shown her priority in life. People in today's free world are free to choose whatever they want to, however when it comes to our maryada, there is no compromise. Some Gurdwaras allow non-Sikh and Sikh weddings, some don't. But I think the maryada states clearly that this isn't the done deal. If all they want is a piece of paper proclaiming them husband and wife, they can go for court marriage. As for the girl's Amritdhari parents, I won't say that they did a bad job in educating her about Sikhi from childhood, rather, its her own preordained destiny. All we mere mortals can do is Ardas, and Ardas in the sense that you beg Gurujee to keep her on the right track and hold her hand firmly. The rest is upto Him. He can work out wonders if He wills, and can make mere mortals do the same. Therefore do Ardas, and leave it in His hands. Whatever He wills is best for us, and yes that is easier said/heard/typed/read than done

[Khaalis]

"I personally believe we can marry anyone we want even if our parents oppose it"

You are 100% right. A person has and should have complete power of their lives and choices.

Its through this freedom of choice that the selfless are seperated from the selfish.

The roop of Parmatma says 'Pavan Guru - Pani Pita - Maata Daret Mahat'

What does this tells us? It tells us through demonstrating the high importance of parents - akin to Earth and Water, how important Guru is. It is this sharda for parents that all our Gurus had, as well as Sikhs in general up until 30 or so years ago.

In Sikh rivaaj, parents blessings are of utmost importance, after Guru, parents hukum is the next most important in our lives.

All purtan Sikh Rehits give completely clear advice on Sikh marriage be it for Amritdhari or Sehajdhari. People who do not class themselves as a Sikh, are free to marry and dissappoint who they wish. Those that are true followers of Guru Nanak (at any level) should nake an effort to learn Sikh codes of conduct, mannerisms, social behaviour, culture and religious duty.

It is those that live according to dharma that are blessed with Gur-prasad, those that don't, those that think their own inexperienced manmati opinions are more valid than those of Guru's and the original Khalsa, will ultimately only betray themselves, it won't make an iota of difference to those that are educated and living in dharam.

[vikramjitsingh]

Fateh Ji,

A Sikh marriage is the unison of two souls or one belief though there are two bodies.

One must remember that kids of interfaith marriages usually are puzzled when it comes to Faith.

If one is a Sikh I'm sure then one would want one's kids to be Sikhs. Its akin to one finding an elixir ... who would you give the elixir first? Of course the kid/s.

Guru Rakha

[Koi]

I personally believe we can marry anyone we want even if our parents oppose it

no offence but....WHAT KIND OF BAKWAAS IS THIS??? :jamdoot

[soorma18]

Dont really agree with it because there would be relegion,culture and other clashes. If the couple go on to have kids,then the kids will be confused about what they are etc. Better to marry within your own relegion to be honest

[Tera]

I have been searching the net and I am come accross some subjects on the issue of marriage between Sikhs and non-Sikhs. I wanted to ask an abstract question. If you were a devout bapitized Sikh and your daughter who is currently visiting you during school break comes home with a young non-Sikh man who you assume to be her friend suddenly announces during dinner that she is love with him and wants to get married after she graduates, what would your reaction be?????????????

First and foremost it would be :hit and :kick

Seriously though... I'm not a parent or even married for that matter, but I would like to think that if your children are bought up being taught the values, history, essence of Sikhi - I do not think this matter would ever arise.

Maybe I am wrong - but I think that if someone who had pyaar for Sikhi, would not risk their future children Sikhi and their future childrens childrens Sikhi by getting into a mixed marriage where Sikhi would not the most important thing.