Christianity (Grandchild Of Hinduism) Vs. Sikhism (The Universal Faith) Part 1

[Inqlabi]

Time has come to answer and expose this Jew cult called Christianity.

I request all of you to post more and more on Christianity so our people can answer them in the language they understand.

Responding to Reverend Zekveld’s “A Comparison between the Two Credos: Christian and Sikh”

Abstracts

Sikhism has been distorted in literature largely because of the influence of Vedantic philosophy to represent it as part of Hinduism. Now some Christian theologians are using this flawed literature to compare Christianity with Sikhism. In contrast to that we know that Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS) is the only authentic source to understand the Nanakian Philosophy (ਗੁਰਮਤਿ, Gurmat). According to AGGS, Guru Nanak rejected all the essentials of Hinduism: incarnation of God, caste system, transmigration, karma, hell, heaven, gods, goddesses, and idol worship. Guru Nanak also rejected the method or approach of attaining salvation preached by the Semitic and the Indian religions. Moreover, while the fundamentalist Christians oppose the teaching of evolution even in the twenty-first century, Guru Nanak discussed and imparted credence to the subject of evolution of life about five hundred years ago, roughly 350 years before Charles Darwin. Furthermore, while the custodians of Christianity were investing despots with “divine rights” and the Hindu elite was hailing them as Ishwro va Dillishwro va (the king of Delhi is as great as God); Guru Nanak denounced them and their allies in no uncertain terms. He called for the establishment of just rule¾Halemi Raj (the rule of humility and benevolence). Nanakian philosophy postulates that the ultimate source of spiritual as well as temporal power is Godhead.

Introduction

In September 2004 Colonel G.B. Singh, the author of Gandhi: Behind the Mask of Divinity came across a Web site, “Hope for Sikhs” operated by Reverend Tony Zekveld, Canada-based missionary. Expectedly his motives were to witness the Sikhs for the purposes of converting them to Christianity. G.B. Singh persuaded the Reverend to have an open debate on the Bible–God, soul, and heaven etc. on the pages of Sikh Spectrum, an online publication. At that time G.B. Singh asked me to add my comments on these topics from the perspective of Nanakian philosophy. This particular article is an updated version of my “A Comparison Between the Two Credos: Christian and Sikh: Rejoinder to Rev. Tony Zekveld.” This earlier version was published on Sikhspectrum.com in its November 2005 issue.

Discussion

Like G.B. Singh, I too would like to express my thanks to the Reverend for sharing his article with us. G.B. Singh has already written two letters explaining some problems in the article authored by Reverend Zekveld1. For the understanding and discussion of Nanakian philosophy, Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS)2 is the only authentic source; not what others have written about it, which is the case most often we encounter. In the last issue of the Sikh Spectrum, G.B. Singh has described the attributes of Biblical God straight from the Hebrew and Christian texts of the Bible3 whereas Reverend Tony Zekveld has used the interpretations of others (Hindus, Christians and others) to describe Guru Nanak’s God. That is why his article contains many erroneous statements and misinterpretations.4 It is beyond the scope of this article to respond to all of them, therefore, I am discussing only a few of them, which show very clearly Reverend’s misunderstanding or misinterpretation or ignorance of Gurmat. 1. The Granth Sahib states the simple fact that God created the universe. How and why He created no one knows. Furthermore, by the immanence of God, the Sikh means that the universe is “an emanation of God, who willed its existence,” like a spider, which emits its own web from itself. Sikhs, therefore, do not have any difficulty with the scientific theories of evolution….

I find this statement amusing. What is Reverend trying to say? Is he trying to scare ignorant and simple-minded people just because the Sikhs believe in the scientific validity of evolution? While the Biblical God is opposed to the idea of evolution of life, the Nanakian philosophy (Gurmat) supports it. While the fundamentalist Christians oppose the teaching of evolution even in the twenty-first century, Guru Nanak discussed and imparted credence to the subject of evolution of life about five hundred years ago, roughly 350 years before Charles Darwin, and come to think of it, finally, science is catching up with the Nanakian philosophy. Moreover, the Creator according to Guru Nanak is Itself evolving as in the very act of creation of the cosmos when the Transcendent became Immanent¾the Invisible became Visible¾the Unmanifest became Manifest.

Guru Nanak has expressed his views on the vastness the cosmos, the time of its creation and how it came into being. When was the cosmos created?

ਕਵਣੁ ਸੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤੁ ਕਵੁਣ ਕਵਣ ਥਿਤਿ ਕਵੁਣ ਵਾਰੁ॥ ਕਵਣਿ ਸਿ ਰੁਤੀ ਮਾਹੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਹੋਆ ਆਕਾਰ॥ ਵੇਲ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਪੰਡਤੀ ਜਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਲੇਖੁ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ॥ ਵਖੁਤ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਕਾਦੀਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਨਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ॥ ਥਿਤਿ ਵਾਰੁ ਨਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੁਤਿ ਮਾਹੁ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਿਰਠੀ ਕਉ ਸਾਜੇ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ॥— What was the moment or time or date or day or season or month when the cosmos was created? Had the authors of Hindu scriptures or Quran known it, they would have mentioned it. Neither did the yogi know the date or day or month or season. It is only the Creator, Who knows when the cosmos was created. AGGS, Jap 21, p 4.

How vast is the cosmos? ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ ॥ ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥ ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਿਨ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕਕ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੁ ॥ After an immense and tiring search the authors of Vedas concluded that there are hundreds of thousands netherworlds under nether worlds and skies above skies. The Semitic texts say there are eighteen thousand worlds, but their Creator is One. However, the cosmos is so vast that it is beyond the scope of counting/measurement (i.e. beyond human comprehension)¾one would run out of numbers if one were to undertake the counting. Nanak salutes the Great One, as It alone knows the vastness Its creation. AGGS, Jap 22, p 3.

How did the cosmos come into being? Guru Nanak postulates that there was darkness for immeasurable length of time and the Creator with inherent Hukam (Cosmic Law or Universal Law) was in transcendent mode filling the void like fog fills space. And then at some moment according to the Cosmic Law, the cosmos was brought into being with infusion of Cosmic-consciousness (also referred to as Spirit, Light and God-consciousness).

ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ॥ ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ॥ ਨਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਨ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਇਦਾ ॥ … ਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਬਾਝੁ ਕਲਾ ਆਡਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਇਅੲ ॥ For immeasurable length of time there was darkness. Neither there was Earth or sky nor day or night nor moon or sun, except the Creator and Its Hukam. The Creator was in a transcendent mode filling the void like fog fills space. The cosmos was brought into being according to the Hukam without any visible support upholding the vast expanse. AGGS, M 1, p 1035.

The cosmos sprang from a single command of the Hukam.

ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥ The cosmos sprang from a single act of Hukam generating innumerable currents of creation. M 1, Jap 16, p 3.

In total content the Creator remains the same (constant), neither It increases nor decreases, which is consistent with what modern physics says about the relationship between energy and matter expressed by Einstein’s formula, E=MC2¾the sum total of energy and mass remains constant.

ਵਡਾ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਘਾਟਿ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ The Creator neither increases nor decreases in totality. AGGS, M 1, p 9.

According to Guru Nanak, this event¾the creation of the cosmos which is a mystery and a matter of wonder, is a support for the Creator as it is pleasing to It to express Itself in the creation.

ਆਪੀਨੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥ First, the Creator created Itself and gave Itself an Identity (nau, )cosmos. Second, It created nature and seated therein (transcendently), It takes delight watching it. AGGS, M 1, p 463.

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਸਚੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ The Creator creates and recreates and then watches it with delight. O Nanak, true is the work of the True One. AGGS, Jap 31, p 7.

The Creator is continuously evolving in Its immanent form (cosmos) and so are our planet Earth and the life on it.

Commenting on the dispute over eating of flesh Guru Nanak declared:

ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਉਣ ਸਾਗੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ਕਿਸੁ ਮਹਿ ਪਾਪ ਸਮਾਣੇ॥ … ਪਾਂਡੇ ਤੂੰ ਜਾਣੈ ਹੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਥਹੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਉਪੰਨਾ ॥ ਤੋਇਅਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਕਮਾਦੁ ਕਪਾਹਾਂ ਤੋਇਅਹੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਗੰਨਾ ॥ Only fools quarrel over the partaking of flesh, as they do not have knowledge and understanding of the subject–what is flesh and what is vegetable? Why the eating of one is sin, not the eating of the other as both are obtained from living things? O Pandit, you do not know where did flesh originate! It is water where life originated and it is water that sustains all life. It is water that produces grains, sugarcane, cotton and all forms of life. AGGS, M 1, p 1289.

Elaborating further on this subject, Guru Nanak says:

ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥ The True One created the air, air produced water and water created the world of life with God-consciousness (Cosmic-consciousness). AGGS, M 1, p 19.

When it comes to the evolution of life, Guru Arjun (fifth Nanak) couldn’t have spoken more clearly than these words about 250 years before Charles Darwin:

Homo sapiens evolved through countless forms of life like other species – ants, worms, moths, fish, elephants, dears, snakes and domestic animals like horses and bullocks- starting from inanimate matter, the basic elements. Moreover, he goes on to say that basic elements were recycled as inanimate matter like rock and mountains before the creation of “building blocks” for evolution of a living cell.

ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਭਏ ਕੀਟ ਪਤੰਗਾ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਜ ਮੀਨ ਕੁਰੰਗਾ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਪੰਖੀ ਸਰਪ ਹੋਇਓ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਹੈਵਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਖ ਜੋਇਓ ॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਮਿਲਨ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ ਸੰਜਰੀਆ ॥ ਰਹਾਓ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਸੈਲ ਗਿਰਿ ਕਰਿਆ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਰਭ ਹਿਰਿ ਖਰਿਆ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਸਾਖ ਕਰਿ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਲਖ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਜੋਨਿ ਭ੍ਰਮਾਇਆ ॥ Many births (different evolutionary stages of life) created worm and insect. Many births created elephant, fish and deer. Many births created bird and snake. Many births created ox and horse, which are yoked. O human being, now is your time to meet the Lord of the universe¾the Creator, since it took a very log time for the human body to evolve through many evolutionary stages of life. Pause. The matter constituting the human body was recycled many times as rocks and mountains. Many births resulted in abortion (defective mutations resulting in death of the species). Many births produced plant life. It took innumerable births to produced human body. AGGS, M 5, p 176.

Guru Nanak also postulated that in the cosmos there are other planets with life.

ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਿਨੈ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਕਹਿਣ ਨ ਵਡਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਏਕੁ ਤੂ ਹੋਰਿ ਜੀਆ ਕੇਤੇ ਲੋੳ ॥ God’s worth (greatness) is beyond measure, nor it can be overestimated. You alone are the True Lord of mine and of other beings of countless worlds. AGGS, M 1, p 15.

ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਜੀਅ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਲੋਆ ਆਕਾਰਾ ਆਕਾਰ॥ ਓਇ ਜਿ ਆਖਹਿ ਸੁ ਤੂੰ ਹੈ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਾਰ ॥ There are living beings in water, on land and in the cosmos. O Creator, You know their needs as You take care of them. AGGS, M 1, p 466.

2. “Because Sikhism is a reform movement within Hinduism, this statement from the Mool Mantra must also be understood from the Hindu context. Hindus teach the doctrine of the avatars, the descent of the gods to earth in human form.”

Guru Nanak rejected all the essentials of Hinduism: incarnation of God, transmigration, karma, caste system, hell, heaven, idol worship, miracles, demons and gods/ goddesses.5-12 On the other hand, Reverend’s own faith, Christianity shares several common features with Hinduism like incarnation of God, hell, heaven, miracles, demons, angels and other kinds of ghosts. Guru Nanak also rejected the concept of salvation preached by the Semitic and the Indian religions. I hope my Christian friends would pardon me for saying that Christianity is the grandchild of Hinduism! On the other hand Guru Nanak rejected all earlier religious traditions when he declared: God is beyond the scope of Hindu and Semitic texts.

ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬੀ ਭੇਦੁ ਨਾ ਜਾਤਾ ॥ Neither the Vedas (four Hindu texts) nor the four Kateba [semitic texts: the Torah, the Zabur (Psalms), the Injil (Gospel), and the Quran] know the mystery of the Creator of the cosmos (AGGS, M 1, p. 1021).

ਕਥਾ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਬੇਦੀ ਆਣੀ ਪਾਪੁ ਪੁੰਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ਦੇ ਦੇ ਲੇਣਾ ਲੈ ਲ਼ੈ ਦੇਣਾ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਉਤਮ ਮਧਿਮ ਜਾਤੀ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਭਰਿਮ ਭਵੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥ It is the teachings of Vedas, which has created the concepts of sin and virtue, hell and heaven, and karma and transmigration. One reaps the reward in the next life for the deeds performed in this life¾goes to hell or heaven according to the deeds. The Vedas have also created the fallacy of inequality of caste and gender for the world. AGGS, M 2, p 1243.

ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨ ਮਉਲਾ ਤੂਹੀ ਏਕੁ ॥ ਪੀਰ ਪੈਕਾਂਬਰ ਸੇਖ ॥ ਦਿਲੁ ਕਾ ਮਾਲਕੁ ਕਰੇ ਹਾਕੁ ॥ ਕੁਰਾਨ ਕਤੇਬ ਤੇ ਪਾਕੁ ॥ The Merciful One is the only Emancipator (Maula), not the holy men (pir and sheikh), or Prophet. The Master of every heart, Who delivers justice, is beyond the description of the Quran and other Semitic texts. AGGS, M 5, p. 897.

3. Reverend has quoted a stanza from “Dasam Granth”, which he ascribes to Guru Gobind Singh whom he erroneously calls “Padshahi 20.” He is also in error when he claims that this stanza is from “Granth Sahib.”

Dasam Granth is not the work of Guru Gobind Singh; rather it was the British East India Company, which hired the Mahants (priests/monks) of Takhat Patna to write Dasam Granth. Dasam Granth has been the favorite tool of Christian missionaries and Hindu writers for the misinterpretation and distortion of Sikhism. That is why Reverend Zekveld has attributed this passage from Dasam Granth to Guru Gobind Singh, though he is not sure what he is talking about. The British authorities and missionaries played a major role in the subversion of Nanakian philosophy. After the annexation of Punjab Kingdom, the British authorities kidnapped Maharaja Dalip Singh, merely a ten-year-old boy from his mother, placed him in the custody of missionaries, and then converted him to Christianity. The British took control of gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and made Hindu priests and caretakers their in-charge whereas not a single Hindu temple or a mosque was touched in the entire British Indian Empire.

There is no evidence that Dasam Granth was found in Punjab or Delhi in the eighteenth century. There is also no evidence that in the eighteenth century Aad Guru Granth Sahib was not given exclusive preference over the bani (composition) of Guru Gobind Singh. Prior to John Malcolm’s mention of Dasam Granth in his Sketch of the Sikhs published in 1810, there is no reference to it either in Sikh or non-Sikh sources (Muslim and European). However, by 1890 there were 32 Dasam Granths circulating in the Amritsar area. The presently published Dasam Granth (1902) was created by the Sodhak Committee made-up of British cronies (1895-1897) to bring it into closer conformity with the “Granth” floated by the British in the late eighteenth century prepared by Nirmalas/Mahants (Nawal Singh, Dayal Singh and Sukha Singh) at Takhat Patna.13 The “Patna Granth” was implanted in the East India Company Library by Colebrook and Charles Wilkins and used by John Malcolm to write his Sketch of the Sikhs in 1810.13 Devanagari version of this “Granth” was written in February 1847 after the Sikhs lost the first Anglo-Sikh War (Second treaty with Lahore, December 16, 1846 at Bhairowal when the British became virtual masters of Punjab). Treacherous Sardar Tej Singh (a Brahman) was the chief of the regency council when this Devanagari Dasam Granth was created. In recognition of his services, the title of Raja was conferred on him on August 7, 1847.13

Takhat Patna came under the control of East India Company near the end of eighteenth century. The revenue records of Patna treasury show that Nirmalas/Mahants of Takaht Patna were provided with pension and opium from 1814 onwards by the East India Company.13

Why did the Christian missionaries convert Maharaja Dalip Singh to Christianity? How much of the brainwashing tactic was applied? Were these missionaries trying to duplicate the lessons learnt from their past successes of first going after converting the King and then expecting the rest of the masses to follow suit? The case in point is the example of conversion of Emperor Constantine and thereafter imposing Christian faith on the subjects through threats and force. Little did the missionaries realize that in Nanakian philosophy the real sovereign is God, and not an earthly monarch! A Sikh owes his/her allegiance to God and Guru. And that is why the abominable act of converting Maharaja Dalip Singh failed to follow through the en-masse conversion of Sikhs, except for a few solitary examples.

4. The Reverend stated: “This begs the question, of course, “If God is without fear and enmity,” then why is it that the Sikh fears doing bad? How do they account for their own deep spiritual unrest? Moreover, how does one account for what we read in their own writings that God cuts the head of the devil? Note these lines from the Padshahi in the Granth Sahib.”

I have already dealt with the last part of this statement about Guru Gobind Singh and Dasam Granth. The Reverend asks, “Why the Sikhs fear doing bad things if their God is without fear and enmity?” The answer to this question is on the opening page of AGGS in the first stanza of Guru Nanak’s composition Jap. The primary purpose of human life is to be one with God by becoming a gurmukh (a God-centered being), which requires living in harmony with God’s Hukam (Universal Law). Moreover, civilized society demands of its members to be law-abiding and upright citizens. Sikhs, who have been misled about Gurmat, are the ones who suffer from spiritual unrest, not the ones who understand and practice Gurmat. Moreover, if the Reverend would look around, he will find that spiritual unrest is everywhere, especially among the Christians!

ਕਿਵ ਸਚਿਆਰਾ ਹੋਈਐ ਕਿਵ ਕੂੜੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਪਾਲ॥ ਹੁਕਮ ਰਜਾਈ ਚਲਣਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾਲਿ॥ How could one become a sachiara (Godlike), a God-centered being (gurmukh) and how could one get rid of ignorance and falsehood? “By living in harmony with Hukam (Universal Law),” says Nanak. AGGS, Jap 1, p 1.

5. According to the Reverend: The concept of “grace” here must also be understood in the context of Hinduism. Because Sikhism is a particular kind of “guru cult,” an adequate concept for their term of grace is “darshan” or “the guru’s glance”. Here the Reverend has given a literal interpretation of “grace”. Grace in Nanakian philosophy (Gurmat) means the benevolence of the Creator towards the creation. The very act of creation is grace. Being born as a human being is grace. The Creator has endowed mankind with superior intellect, critical thinking/discerning intelligence and conscience; this is what grace means in Gurmat.

ਅਵਰ ਜੋਨਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਨਿਹਾਰੀ ॥ ਇਸੁ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਹਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀ ॥ O human being, other living beings are at your service and you are their commander on this Earth. AGGS, M 5, p 374.

ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ ਮਨ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਗੁਰਮਤੀ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣੁ “O my mind, the Universal Light (God-consciousness) is within you, recognize your roots¾the source of your origin¾the Primordial Energy. God is with you, enjoy yourself by reflecting on Guru’s teachings” so says Nanak. AGGS, M, 3, p 441.

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਿਨਿ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਈ ॥ The Creator created mankind and let it free to do as it wills. But how it was accomplished, only the Creator knows. AGGS, M 1, p 932.

ਮਾਟੀ ਕਾ ਲੇ ਦੇਹੁਰਾ ਕਰਿਆ ॥ ਉਕਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਲੈ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਪਰੀਖਿਆ ॥ The Creator fashioned human body from the earthly elements and by some method endowed it with life, wisdom and discerning intellect. AGGS, M 5, p 913.

6. Talking about his own faith, Reverend Zekveld has made the following claim about Biblical God and Jesus Christ:

“The Bible says that if we do not begin with Biblical God, neither will we end up with Him. There may be a way that seems right to you, but its end is the way of death. The Biblical God – He is true and living God. The Bible says that all things were created through Jesus Christ, Who is God, who is called Word. The only way we can know the Biblical God, the true living God is by believing in Jesus. God has revealed Himself in Jesus. He (Jesus) has made Him known.”

Nanakian philosophy (the teachings of Aad Guru Granth Sahib-Gurmat) categorically rejects the incarnation of God in human or any living form and the concept of virgin birth, resurrection, demons (Satan) and angels (Holy Ghost) and the Biblical concept of soul and sin. The Commencing Verse of AGGS describes God as Ajuni meaning God does not come into anthropomorphic form- beyond death and birth. Guru Arjan echoed and amplified this view of Guru Nanak about God.

ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਕਾ ਕਰਿ ਰੂਪੁ ਨ ਜਾਨੁ ॥ Satguru (God) is Niranjan ¾ beyond Maya (without material content). Do not believe that It is in the form of man. AGGS, M 5, p 895.

ਸੋ ਮੁਖੁ ਜਲਉ ਜਿਤੁ ਕਹਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਜੋਨੀ ॥ May that mouth burn, which says that God incarnates. AGGS, M 5, p 1136.

Contrary to the Christian belief that human beings are born sinners, Gurmat makes it abundantly clear that the Creator blesses human beings with God-consciousness. It is only when one loses touch with God-consciousness and becomes alienated–then that one commits a sin.

ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਨ ਤੂੰ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਪਛਾਣੁ ॥ “O my mind, the Universal light (God-consciousness) is within you, recognize your roots¾the source of your origin,” so says Nanak. AGGS, M 3, p 441.

People do not become virtuous or sinners by calling them so. It is their deeds that determine whether they are virtuous or sinners. It is their deeds that determine their union or separation from God. One reaps what one sows.

ਜੈਸਾ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਤੈਸਾ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਬੀਜਿ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਖਾਵੈ ॥ One gets reward according to what one does, and what one sows, so shall one reap. AGGS, M 1, p 662.

ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਅਪਨਾ ਕੀਆ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਕਿਸੁ ਦੋਸ ਨ ਦੀਜੈ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਭਵਾਈ ॥ We earn what we do day and night. Why blame others, it is our own doings that lead us astray. AGGS, M 5, p 745.

ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਬੁਰਿਆਈਆ ਵਾਚੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਹਦੂਰਿ ॥ ਕਰਮੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਕੇ ਦੂਰਿ ॥ Good and bad deeds determine the relationship with God. According to their deeds some are drawn closer to God, whereas others move away. AGGS, M 1, p 8.

ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਿਜੋਗੁ ਦੁਇ ਕਾਰ ਚਲਾਵਹਿ ਲੇਖੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਭਾਗ ॥ There are two types of human activities, the ones that bring about union with God and others that cause separation from God. AGGS, Jap 29, p. 6.

ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ All are subject to Hukam (Cosmic Law); nothing is exempt from it. AGGS, Jap 2, p 1.

ਮਾ ਕੀ ਰਕਤੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਬਿਦੁ ਧਾਰਾ ॥ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਆਪਾਰਾ ॥ The Infinite Creator has fashioned human body with beautiful features from father’s semen and mother’s blood (eggs). AGGS, M 1, p 1022.

ਮਿਲਿ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਕਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਤਿਨਿ ਕਰਤੈ ਲੇਖੁ ਲਿਖਾਇਆ ॥ Mother and father create a child through sexual union according to the Hukam (Universal Law)¾biology of reproduction of life. AGGS, M 1, p 989.

ਜੈਸੇ ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਬਿਨੁ ਬਾਲੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਬਿੰਬ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਕਪਰੇ ਧੋਈ ॥, A child can’t be produced without the sexual union of mother and father, as clothes can’t be washed without water AGGS, Kabir, p 872

ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ॥ It is Hukam (cosmic Law), which causes birth and death¾ birth and death occur according to Hukam (biology of death and birth). AGGS, M 1, p 472.

ਕਬੀਰ ਮਾਨਸ ਜਨਮੁ ਦੁਲੰਭੁ ਹੈ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਬਾਰੈ ਬਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਬਨ ਫਲ ਪਾਕੇ ਭੁਇ ਗਿਰਹਿ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਨ ਲਾਗਹਿ ਡਾਰ ॥ O Kabir, human birth is difficult to attain because a dead person is not born again like a ripe fruit fallen on the ground does not get attached to the branch again. AGGS, Kabir, p 1366.

7. Guru Nanak rejected the type of God described in the Bible, as this God is nothing more than a tribal god, an exclusive God. For Guru Nanak the Creator is “One and Only” and Its creation, mankind is also one whereas belief in Biblical God leads to the balkanization or disintegration of mankind. The thoughts of many sages of diverse background that are compatible with the Gurmat are incorporated in the AGGS, however, there are no quotes from the texts of Semitic and Hindu religions, as these religions are based on the concept of an “exclusive God”. In addition to the millions of gods, Hindus also believe in a God who communicates only through the Brahmans and then there is a God for the chosen people, the Jews. Christian God is approachable only through his only son Jesus Christ. For the Muslim, Mohammed is the last and final in a long line of Prophets of Allah (God) and they claim that theirs is the only true prophetic religion.

The God described in AGGS is easily understandable to all seekers of “Truth” irrespective of their creed, caste, gender, color, ethnicity and geographical considerations. Guru Nanak did not assign any specific name or gender to God. He used the prevalent names of God in usage by both the Hindus and the Muslims without any distinction along with addressing new names of his own. Most often in the AGGS, God is described by Its attributes like Creator, Formless, Transcendent, Omnipotent, Infinite and Ineffable or simply as True One, One or You or Oh meaning that or he/she.

ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ਭਾਈ ਏਕੋ ਹੈ ॥ My Master is One, hey brother, It is One and Only. AGGS, M 1, p 350.

ਏਕ ਮਹਿ ਸਰਬ ਸਰਬ ਮਹਿ ਏਕਾ ਏਹ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥ The true Guru (God) has made me see that the One is in every thing and every thing is in One. AGGS, M 1, p 907.

ਅੰਦਰੁ ਵਿਧਾ ਸਚਿ ਨਾਇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਡਿਠੋਮਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਵਿਆ ਹਭ ਥਾਇ ਵਣਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਣਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣਿ ਰੋਮਿ ॥ When I realised the True One within, then I saw It without. Nanak, the Almighty pervades everywhere and in every pore of the creation. AGGS, M 5, p 966.

ਏਕੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਾਈ ॥ Hey, fellow seeker there is one Father and we all are His progeny. AGGS, M 5, p 611.

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਐਸਾ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜੋ ਸਭਸੈ ਲਏ ਮਿਲਾਇ ਜੀਉ ॥ Nanak says, “A True Guru (God) brings all together.” AGGS, M 1, p 72.

ਸਭੇ ਸਾਝੀਵਾਲ ਸਦਾਇਨਿ ਤੂੰ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਜੀਉ ॥ All are partners in Your commonwealth; You do not look at anyone as a stranger. AGGS, M 5, p 97.

ਸਭਿ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੋਇ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਕੈ ਚਾਨਣਿ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ Within all there is light and it is Your light which is in all. AGGS, M 1, p 663.

ਅਲਹੁ ਗੈਬੁ ਸਗਲ ਘਟ ਭਤਿਰਿ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਲੇਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਦੁਹੂੰ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੈ ਕਹੈ ਕਬੀਰ ਪੁਕਾਰੀ ॥ “Think it over dispassionately that Allah resides within all,” Kabir proclaims loudly, “The same God is within both Hindus and Muslims.” AGGS, Kabir, p 483.

ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਤਾ ਤੂੰ ਹੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਾਤਾ ॥ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੰਧਪੁ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਾ ॥ You are my father, You are my mother, You are my relative and You are my brother. AGGS, M 5, p 103.

In a hymn addressed to Muslims Guru Nanak says, “The mere fact of subscribing to the faith of Prophet Muhammad ensures nothing, neither paradise nor salvation because Allah is inscrutable.”

ਬਾਬਾ ਅਲਹੁ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥ … ਤੇਰਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਪੀ ਕੇਤੜਾ ਲਿਖਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ … ਪੁਛਿ ਨ ਸਾਜੇ ਪੁਛਿ ਨ ਢਾਹੇ ਪੁਛਿ ਦੇਵੈ ਲੇਇ ॥ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਣੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥ Dear baba (Sir), Allah (God) is Unreachable and Infinite¾ beyond human comprehension in totality. No one can even describe the power of Its Hukam. Allah does not consult any one when It makes or unmakes, or when It gives or takes away. Allah alone knows Its qudrat (nature, cosmos), It alone is the doer. AGGS, M 1, p 53.

ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰੁ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਰਣ ਪਾਹਿ ਹਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ਹਲਾਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਗਲੀ ਕੂੜੀਈ ਕੂੜੋ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥ To violate or usurp someone’s right is like eating pork for a Muslim and cow for a Hindu. The Guru/Prophet would support only if the follower does not make unlawful living. Mere talk does not lead to paradise; salvation lies in right conduct. If you add spice to unlawfully earned food, it does not become lawful (Halal). Nanak, falsehood begets only falsehood. AGGS, M 1, p 141.

ਸਚਹੁ ਓਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਉਪਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥ Truth is higher than every thing but higher still is truthful living. AGGS, M 1, p 62.

In the AGGS, God has been described as infinite and ineffable again and again. In totality, God is beyond human reach and comprehension. A finite entity can’t define an Infinite Entity. To emphasize this point Guru Nanak says:

ਕੇਤੇ ਆਖਹਿ ਆਖਣਿ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ ਕੇਤੇ ਕਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਉਠਿ ਉਠਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਏਤੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਹੋਰਿ ਕਰੇਹਿ ॥ ਤਾ ਆਖਿ ਨ ਸਕਹਿ ਕੇਈ ਕੇਇ ॥ How many people are attempting to describe the greatness of God and how many have passed away doing the same? If God were to create as many more as already created, even then they would not be able to describe the greatness of God. AGGS, Jap 26, p 6.

However, Guru Nanak has described many of the attributes of God, which human beings can comprehend and he wants people to practice these attributes in their life so that they could become God-like (gurmukh). Guru Nanak’s composition on creation makes it abundantly clear that gods and goddesses, karma and transmigration, hell and heaven, reincarnation and religious ceremonies and rituals are the inventions of man, not the creation of God.

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਮਛੁ ਪਇਆਲਾ ॥ ਦੋਜਕੁ ਭਿਸਤੁ ਨਹੀ ਖੈ ਕਾਲਾ ॥ ਨਰਕੁ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਨਹੀ ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਇਦਾ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹੇਸੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਅਵਰ ਨ ਦੀਸੈ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ॥ … ਜਾਤਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ਆਖੀ ॥ Before the creation of the cosmos there was neither heaven nor Earth nor the under-world. There was neither hell nor heaven nor the destroyer¾time. There was neither hell nor heaven nor birth or death nor anyone being born or dying. There was neither Brahma, nor Vishnu nor Shiva. There was no one else except the One and only. …There was neither caste nor caste based birth. AGGS, M 1, p. 1035.

Moreover, there are other verses in AGGS, which amplify and reinforce Guru Nanak’s above-mentioned views.

ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਮਿਲਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਕੀਨੀ ਤਤੁ ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਕੀਨੁ ਰੇ॥ ਕਰਮ ਬਧ ਤੁਮ ਜੀਉ ਕਹਿਤ ਹੌ ਕਰਮਹਿ ਕਿਨਿ ਜੀਉ ਦੀਨ ਰੇ॥ You say that the body is made of five elements, but wherefrom were the elements created? You say that the law of karma determines man’s fate, but who created the law of karma? AGGS, Kabir, p 870.

ਅਮਲੁ ਕਰਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਬੀਜੁ ਸਬਦੋ ਕਰਿ ਸਚਿ ਕੀ ਆਬ ਨਿਤ ਦੇਹਿ ਪਾਣੀ॥ ਹੋਇ ਕਿਰਸਾਣੁ ਈਮਾਨੁ ਜੰਮਾਇ ਲੈ ਭਿਸਤੁ ਦੋਜਕੁ ਮੂੜੇ ਏਵ ਜਾਣੀ॥ Let your daily actions be the field, sow the seed of Sabad (Word, Truth, and Divine knowledge) and water it daily with truth. Work hard like a farmer and grow a crop of firm belief. O ignorant one, then you would understand the meaning of hell and heaven. AGGS, M1, p 24.

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ॥ ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ॥ As long as one longs for heaven, there is no communion with God. AGGS, Kabir, p 325.

ਜਿਥੈ ਰਖਹਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ ਤਿਥਾਈ ਤੂੰ ਸਭਨਾ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲਾ ਜੀਉ॥ O the Sustainer of all, wherever You keep me is heaven. AGGS, M 5, p 106.

ਤਹਾ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ ਜਹ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂੰ ਆਪੇ ਸਰਧਾ ਲਾਇਹਿ॥ Wherever Your praises are sung is heaven and it is You who kindle devotion in the seeker. AGGS, M 5, p 749.

ਕਉਤਕ ਕੋਡ ਤਮਾਸਿਆ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਸੁ ਨਾਉ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੋੜੀ ਨਰਕ ਬਰਾਬਰੇ ਉਜੜੁ ਸੋਈ ਥਾਉ॥ “Where people are engrossed in worldly pleasures and forget the Almighty is a desolate place like hell,” says Nanak. AGGS, M 5, p 707.

ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਰਵਿਆ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਮਹਿ ਆਨ ਨ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟੀ ਆਵੈ॥ ਨਰਕ ਰੋਗ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਵਤ ਜਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਸੁ ਲੜਿ ਲਾਵੈ॥ Nanak says, “Who are blessed with the company saints are not afflicted with suffering (hell, nurk). Their minds and bodies are completely infused with the Omnipresent and they don’t see any thing without It.” AGGS, M 5, p 531.

ਮੇਰੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਧਾਰਿ ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬੰਧਿਆ॥ ਨਰਕਿ ਸੁਰਗਿ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਮਾਇਆ ਧੰਧਿਆ॥ The pursuit of maya (material comforts) shackles one to the worldly attachments. It is the business of maya, which causes one pain (hell, nurk) or pleasure (heaven, surg). AGGS, M 5, p 761.

ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਪਿੰਜਰ ਮਹਿ ਦੂਖ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥ ਨਰਕਿ ਪਚਹਿ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰੇ॥ The evil person suffers much pain. He suffers spiritual death (hell, nurk) in the darkness of ignorance. AGGS, M 1, p 1029.

ਕਵਨੁ ਨਰਕੁ ਕਿਆ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ਸੰਤਨ ਦੋਊ ਰਾਦੇ॥ ਹਮ ਕਾਹੂ ਕੀ ਕਾਣਿ ਨ ਕਢਤੇ ਅਪਨੇ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੇ॥ What is hell and what is that silly heaven, the saints reject both. We are not dependent on anybody due to the grace of our Guru (God). AGGS, Kabir, p 969.

Moreover, the concept of salvation in Nanakian philosophy is also different from Semitic and Hindu religions.

ਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮਨ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲਾਰੇ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਮਹੇਸ ਸਿਧਿ ਮੁਨਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਮੋਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਹੀ ਦਰਸਾਰੇ॥ I don’t crave for a worldly kingdom or salvation (going to heaven); I crave for the comfort of God’s beautiful lotus feet.* Whereas others search for Brahma, Shiv, Sidhs, Munis and Indra (Hindu deities), I yearn for the glimpse of the Lord. AGGS, M 5, p 534. *I crave for the comfort of meditating on God’s attributes.

ਸੁਰਗ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਸਭਿ ਬਾਂਛਹਿ ਨਿਤਿ ਆਸਾ ਆਸ ਕਰੀਜੈ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੇ ਜਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਮਾਂਗਹਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਧੀਜੈ॥ All want the luxury of heaven through salvation and continuously hope for it. But the devotees who long for a glimpse of God, do not want that salvation, they are satisfied to have a glimpse of Him. AGGS, M 4, p 1324.

ਕਬੀਰ ਸੁਰਗ ਨਰਕ ਤੇ ਮੈ ਰਹਿਓ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ॥ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਕੀ ਮਉਜ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਉ ਅੰਤਿ ਅਰੁ ਆਦਿ॥ Kabir says, “The merciful true Guru (God) has saved me from the temptations of heaven and the fear of hell. I am enjoying the pleasure of being at His lotus feet continuously.” AGGS, Kabir, p 1370.

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਆਤਮ ਹਿਤਾਵੈ॥ ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸੋਊ ਕਹਾਵੈ॥ He, who abides by God’s Will, is a liberated person¾one who obtains salvation (jiwan mukta). AGGS, M 5, p 275.

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾਗਿ ਰਹੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ॥ ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਗਤਿ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਪਾਈ॥ He, who remembers God all the time, becomes a jiwan mukta by seeking within. AGGS, M 1, p 904.

ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਸੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਮਰਿ ਜੀਵੈ ਮਰੀਐ॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਗੁ ਦੁਤਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ॥ Nanak says, “One crosses the ocean of worldly temptations when the true Guru unites one with God. Such a one who obtains freedom from the influence of haumain (self-centeredness) is called jiwan mukta.” AGGS, M 4, p 449.

ਵਿਚਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਈਐ ॥ ਤਾ ਦਰਗਹ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਪਾਈਐ॥ It is service to others that earns seat in God’s court. AGGS, M 1, p 26.

Another major difference between Nanakian philosophy and other religions is the concept of soul. In Nanakian philosophy soul is God, the Transcendent One that permeates the entire cosmos and it is called as jyoti (light), atma or jio (spirit), sabad-surat (God-consciousness) and moral principles that guide life (conscience). Guru Nanak rejected the idea that soul is something separate from God and that it leaves the body after death to receive punishment or reward depending upon the person whose body it inhabits.

[SevadaarEKhalsa]

Its a good article but the author is anti Dasam Granth. I think you should edit out that paragraph.

[Wales85]

Fundamentalist Christians and Muslims like waste vast amounts of their life memorizing their religious text and creating all kinds of arguments about them because they believe that they are the literal word of God. So when they argue they like to do so assuming that sikhs view their holy book in the same way. If you try to argue with them about it at that level you are already changing the tenets of your religion to match the type of argument they are trying to make. Guru Granth, IMHO, is not some literal word of God like the muslims say the quran is. It is a compilation of many authors who found and loved God and wrote poetry/guidance about him. Its not a science book, history book, but a teacher to help us find God. How can you really argue against it?

Have you seen those answering islam, answering christianty websites? They are filled with people who literally waste their lives arguing details of ancient manuscripts. I am not saying the research given in this article is not valuable, but its like arguing with the street preachers who visit college campuses. You got bigger things to accomplish, and if you debate them all you are doing is wasting your time. Best way to spread the sikh faith is to talk kindly to people about it, and more importantly to live morally and achieve success in life.

Just my two cents.

[Bundha]

This does not seem to be born out when one reads gurbani. Gurbani says "Dhur ki bani", that is the word straight from "Dhur" or from God. Guru Arjun Dev Ji says "Joe balavo, Nanak Das boley" - what ever you want me to say, says Nanak, that is what I speak. Meaning that this is the word of God. The Bhagats were in touch with God so their bani is also Dhur-ki. When rain falls it falls on many places, but it is the same rain, in the same way when banni came down from God it fell on the Bhagats and they recited it as such and the Gurus were already one with God so their bani comes straight from the top. This is not just some poetry.

I think we as Sikhs are a little complacent. There are swathes of villages in the punjab that are being targeted by Christians, whole villages are converting over and we sit back and do nothing. What good is success in life if the Sikhs have converted to other faiths who are we going to pass that success on to?

Another thread asked a question posed by Christians that we supposedly cannot answer, of the 100 or so viewings there was one half hearted attempt to answer it. That is how complacent we are.

[Singh559]

I agree arguing for the sake of argument and putting the other person is wrong, but in defense to establish the truth about yourself and your beliefs (without attacking the other person), it should be alright to correct misconceptions when someone deliberately writes something incorrect.

[Singh559]

I agree arguing for the sake of argument and putting the other person is wrong, but in defense to establish the truth about yourself and your beliefs (without attacking the other person), it should be alright to correct misconceptions when someone deliberately writes something incorrect.

[Kaljug Singh]

Meh. Why waste time arguing with people who sincerely believe that the world is 4000 years old, that dinosaur bones were placed in the earth by God to test people's faith, and whose religion is a mishmash of various myths with a dying solar god motif which they plagiarised from their much more intelligent pagan predecessors.

No one with some education in the Western world has taken christianity since the Enlightenment. It's why they are so desperately seeking converts among Indians who may not have been exposed to the centuries of criticism of christianity in the West which has revealed it for the sham that it is. I mean, seriously, they believe God manifested in the form of a bird, impregnated a virgin, possessed the resulting foetus, died, then came back as a zombie to "save our souls".

K.

[Kaljug Singh]

Another thread asked a question posed by Christians that we supposedly cannot answer, of the 100 or so viewings there was one half hearted attempt to answer it. That is how complacent we are.

Most likely no one bothered because they recognised that they are not real questions from someone genuinely curious about learning about Sikhi - they are bait with which to trap you in their conversion tactics. Such verbal tricks are all that is left to followers of a religion which is spiritually hollow to entice you to accept their creed. Well, that and simply paying poor people to convert as they do now in India

K.

[Bundha]

I agree it is a waste of time to argue with these people but on the other hand we surely cannot let them have free reign, they need to be opposed if just to show our people that a quick fix is not the way to God. To accept Christ basically absolves you from any guilt and is a quick fix to salvation but the real salvation lies through a leap of faith in your Guru and to follow his teachings and be man enough to accept ones own shortcomings and to stand by ones mistakes.

I think we as Sikhs sit back too much, we need to be proactive and oppose these people even if it looks like a waste of time, infact it is not a waste of time if we can preserve our next generation from falling into these kinds of traps.

You know the Jews have groups set up to scan the papers/tv/net infact all media and they cause such a fuss over the smallest of thing, they normally shout Anti-Semitism at a drop of a hat and so many journalists and writers etc have been caught by this that they are too scared to write anything that may be misconstrued as anti-semitism. I do not propose we go that far, we could never go that far as we are normally too busy fighting amongst ourselves, but we need to be vigilant.

[Inqlabi]

I dont know what others think but from now on i will post more and more on Christianity i hope there are people who will support me .

One thing more why this site has stopped sticking articles ?

Admin Note - Can we have Comparative Relegion section too or Exposing Anti Sikh section where we can post all this .