Sikhism religion comparisons

Christianity Sikhism
Christianity
Place of worship Church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, home bible study, personal dwellings. Gurdwara for congregational worship. Anyone may enter a Gurdwara, however-no matter their faith, caste, or skin color. Personal worship can be done in any place at any time. God resides in everything and everyone.
Place of origin Roman province of Judea. Punjab, in an area which was partitioned into modern-day Pakistan. Sikhs are now predominant in Indian-Punjab.
Practices Prayer, sacraments (some branches), worship in church, reading of the Bible, acts of charity, communion. Daily prayers. The three pillars of Sikhism are: a) To remember God at all times which includes being thankful to God for what you have been given, b) To live your life honestly/with integrity and c) Sharing what you have with those less fortunate.
Use of statues and pictures In Catholic & Orthodox Churches. Not allowed as considered Idolatry. Pictures of the Sikh Gurus are considered Idolatry and are not accepted from a religious perspective. Gurus maybe praised because they are equivalent to God.
Life after death Eternity in Heaven or Hell, in some cases temporal Purgatory. A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached. Sikhs believe that there are 8,400,000 forms of life and that many souls have to travel though a number of these before they can reach Waheguru. The goal is to merge with God.
Clergy Priests, bishops, ministers, monks, and nuns. The Granthi is appointed as one take care of Guru Granth Sahib besides No clergy. Raagi who sings the Granth Sahib Baani in Respective Raagas.
Founder The Lord Jesus Christ. Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Means of Salvation Through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Worship God, do Good Deeds in the name of God, performing service for community. Fight 5 evils (5 sins) – Greed, Ego, Attachment, Anger, and Lust. Meditate, pray, and improve your relationship with God and God will forgive, cleanse, and save you.
Belief of God One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity. Monotheism
Human Nature Man has inherited “original sin” from Adam. Mankind then is inherently evil and is in need of forgiveness of sin. By knowing right and wrong Christians choose their actions. Humans are a fallen, broken race in need of salvation and repair by God. People are essentially good; the divine spark within them needs only to be fanned into a flame of goodness. Sinning is following the veil of illusion “Maya”. Karma is unavoidably paid f you sin.
Goal of religion To love God and obey his commandments while creating a relationship with Jesus Christ and spreading the Gospel so that others may also be saved. To merge with and have the greatest relationship with God possible. To love and obey God unconditionally. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stressed that we should not be afraid of God’s wrath, but instead be afraid of not receiving the full benefits of God’s love.
Literal Meaning Follower Of Christ. Sikh means “Student” in Persian-Punjabi. It Means To Learn.Sikh means a person who learn all his life from others.
Followers Christian (followers of Christ) Sikhs
About Christianity broadly consists of individuals who believe in the deity Jesus Christ. Its followers, called Christians, often believe Christ is “the Son” of the Holy Trinity and walked the earth as the incarnate form of God (“the Father”). A Religion spread by 10 Gurus to preach to worship one creator
Holy days/Official Holidays The Lord’s Day; Advent, Christmas; New Year, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, every day is dedicated to a Saint. No one day is deemed holier then another. However dates that have historical significance such as Vasaikhi and Gurpurabs are celebrated with Prayers in Gurdwaras.
Marriage A Holy Sacrament. Marriage can be arranged or it can be a love marriage. Monogamistic, against premarital sex. Marriage is the merging of two souls as one.
Original Language(s) Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. Punjabi was the original language in Sikhism and Persian also but Sikhs can learn as many languages as they want to learn.
View of the Buddha N/A. There is an important person in Sikhism who is called Buddha.
Day of worship Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Every day Sikhs worship the one God at their homes, even with or without a Gurdwara service.
View of other Dharmic religions N/A Sikhs respect other Dharmic religions.
Ressurection of Jesus Affirmed. N/A
Status of Muhammad N/A. Saint, a guru of time. He is mentioned in Sikhism- but is used to name the guru incarnate of god.(irrelevant to some)
Second coming of Jesus Affirmed. Irrelevant
Rites Seven sacraments: Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, matrimony (Catholic and Orthodox). Anglicans: Baptismand Eucharist. Other denominations: Baptism and communion. Amrit Sanchar (Being Initiated into the Khalsa. Equivalent to baptism).
Symbols Cross, ichthys (“Jesus fish”), Mary and baby Jesus. The Khanda ☬
Population Over two billion adherents worldwide. 30 million
Identity of Jesus The Son Of God. Jesus is looked as a “saint”. Sikhs do not believe that Jesus is God because Sikhism teaches that God is neither born, nor dead. Jesus was born and lived a human life, therefore, he cannot be God. However, Sikhs still show respect to all beliefs.
Religion which atheists may still be adherents of No. A person must believe in God to be a Sikh
Legislation Varies through denomination. Panj Pyare, (Akal Takht is meeting place)
Authority of Dalai Lama N/A. N/A.
Original Languages Aramaic, Common (Koine) Greek, Hebrew. Punjabi
Position of Mary Mother Of Jesus. Revered in all denominations. Degree of reverence varies from denomination. N/A
Praying to Saints, Mary, and Angel Encouraged in the Catholic & Orthodox Churches; most Protestants only pray directly to God. forbidden Worship is to be for One God only, gurus may be Praised because they are manifestations of God in the flesh.
God’s role in salvation Humans cannot save themselves or ascend on their own to a higher level. Only God is good and therefore only God is able to save a person. Jesus came down from Heaven to save mankind. God is generous and loving. mankind will reincarnate until he becomes a Sikh and achieves paradise.
Names of God God, Gud, Gott, Deo, Dios. Jehovah, YHWH, Eli Elohim, Allah, (depending on language Christians are of every language and culture around the world) Waheguru, Ik Onkaar, Sat Nam, Akhal Purakh.
Use of Statues Varies by denomination. Not used in Protestant denominations; icons are used in Catholic & Orthodox denominations. Forbidden
Confessing sins Protestants confess straight to God, Catholic confess mortal sins to a Priest, and venial sins straight to God (Orthodox have similar practice) Anglicans confess to Priests but considered optional. God always forgives sins in Jesus. As the Divine light is in all of us, God already knows of our “sins”. We are to pray to God for God to forgive us and cleanse us. Only through God and doing Good Deeds in God’s name in a way that God is pleased can we obtain salvation-escape from sin
Direction of Prayer Catholics and Orthodox usually face the Tabernacle in their prayers but it is not considered necessary, but recommended. God is present everywhere recent reforms have prompted many Christians to not face anywhere in their prayers. Sikh’s reject the notion of fixed direction of Prayer as God is everywhere.
Branches Roman Catholics, independent Catholics, Protestants (Anglicans, Lutherans etc.), Orthodox (Greek orthodox, Russian orthodox), Mormons. Udasis – An order of ascetics & holy men who follow Guru Nanak’s son Baba Sri Chand. Sahajdharis – who are clean shaven but have chosen the path of Sikhism & eventual baptism. The Khalsa, who are baptized and follow the traditional practices of S
imams identified as N/A. N/A.
Use of statues, images some denominations regard It as forbidden and Idolatry. Anglicans and Lutherans allow pictures but forbid venerating them. Catholics encourage pictures and statues and venerate them. Orthodox encourage pictures and venerate them. Forbidden.
Religious Law Varies among denominations. Has existed among Catholics in the form of canon law. No necessary laws but a sikh may follow the 3 rules of their life such as 1)Naam Japna (remember/meditate on God) 2)Vand K Shakhna (give to those who need it) 3)Kirat Karna (earn by honest means).
Marriage and Divorce Explained by Jesus in Mathew 19:3-9 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Therefore what God has put together let man not seperate.’ One can marry peacefully and take Laavan (wedding prayer) in Gurudwara but if personal differences occur they can take divorce. Conservative Sikhs believe marriage is a holy bond that cannot be broken.
View of other Abrahamic religions Judaism is regarded as a True religion but incomplete (without Gospel, and Messiah) Islam is regarded as a false religion, Christianity does not accept the Qur’an as true. All faiths will get what they work towards. Sikhism does not condemn others to Hell or say if you are not Sikh you are eternally damned. Sikhs prays for “Sarbat Da Bhala”, meaning the good and prosperity of all Humanity regardless of differences.
Saints Catholics and Orthodox venerate very Holy people as Saints. Most Protestants do not do this, however they do look at them as inspirational figures. The Sikh notion of a saint or prophet is called a guru, meaning one who can offer salvation, and deliver a soul from darkness into light (Sanskrit: gu = darkness, ru = light).
Revered People Varies by sect/denomination. Saints, the Pope, cardinals, bishops, nuns, church pastors, or deacons. Gurus, bhagats, sants, gursikhs.
On Food/Drink Though the Old Testament of the Bible says certain meats should not be consumed, Christians usually feel this information does not apply to them (in the New Testament) and so eat what they want to eat. Do not drink intoxicating drinks, vegetarianism encouraged, eating animals killed ritualistically is forbidden. Only “jhatka” meat allowed, i.e. animal must be slaughtered in 1 stroke. Therefore, fish is not allowed.
View of Animistic religions Paganism is Heathenism. Witchcraft is communication and interaction with demons, fallen evil angelic beings. These have no real interest ultimately, in helping their worshipers. Demonic possession is common. Sikhism respects animistic religions.
On Race All races generally viewed equal in Christianity. However, Bible passages on slavery were used to support the practice in the past in the U.S. The “curse of Ham” was sometimes thought to be black skin; modern interpretations reject this. All are equal.
View of Jesus God in human form, “Son of God, ” savior. Death by crucifixion. Most, though not all, of Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead, was taken up into heaven, and will return during an apocalypse. A very holy messenger of God.
On Clothing Conservative Christians dress modestly; women may cover their heads, wear long skirts or dresses; men may wear dress clothes that do not show the chest, legs, and arms. More moderate or liberal Christians generally reject such clothing restrictions. Wear the 5 Ks (kangha, kara, kachera, kirpan, kesh)
Prophet Moses, Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Elisha, etc., as well as both Johns in the New Testament too. No prophets in Sikhism only direct relation with God with no mediator. No Prophets but Gurus existed.
Important Tenets The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes. Rehat Maryada, 52 Hukams of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Belief of deities One God three forms: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is one God whom is without form.
Sacred Texts Christian Bible (includes Old and New Testaments). What is considered canon may vary slightly by sect/denomination. Adi Granth. Nihang Sikhs regard Dasam Granth and Sarbloh Granth also as sacred, but orthodox Sikhs consider them true but lesser. Janamsakhis provide stories of the gurus’ lives.
Views about other religions No other religion leads to God. Judaism being a unique exception, Jews viewed as ignorant of the Messiah. All religions are equal, 15 of the legendary saints in sikhism (Bhagats), in the Sikh Guru, have came from different religions and reflect its universality.
Number of Adherents An estimated 2.1 billion, largest religion in the world. A estimated 30 million, fifth largest religion in the world.
On Women Equal to men. In some denominations, they may become nuns. Equal to men.