Is Western culture bringing about degeneration in Sikhism?

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Is Western culture bringing about degeneration in Sikhism?


Different cultures and way of life to affect one another but religion is more than mere culture. The strength or weakness of a person lies in his faith and convictions. Only those fall who have a wavering mind or faltering faith and there is no dearth of such people in any religion. A religion does not stand by numbers but by principles. The history of the Jews and that of the Sikhs bears witness to this fact. True Sikhism is as strong now as before. It is better to have only a few faithfuls than to have even one Judas iscariot instrumental in impaling a Christ or a faithless Gangu being the cause of bricking up the master's sons alive. A wavering mind and pretentiousness are dangerous for any person and any religion. I feel Sikhism has always been shaking off its undesirable paraphernalia and is even now putting faith to the test. Don't forget that only five could pass the great test set by Guru Gobind Singh to a gathering of 80,000 in the year 1699. I have heard of very few Sikhs who have renounced their faith and accepted any other religion and perhaps as many have accepted Sikhism by renouncing other religions. It is erroneous to think that those who cut off their hair are no more Sikhs. As long as they believe in the Gurus and the Gurubani and are ready to follow Sikh way of life they are as much the members of Sikh community as the baptised Sikhs but of course they are not true "Singhs." To be a true "Singh" they must follow the Guru's instructions in their entirety. The writer knows quite a number of shaven Sikhs who are very deeply devoted and pious have a very firm faith in the Gurus and their philosophy. What we can say about these brothers is that under some circumstances they have been compelled to take a retrogressive step and are not lost to Sikhism for ever. There is already a marked trend towards coming back to the fold like the prodigal son and the well-known forty disclaimers of Guru Gobind Singh. It is never too late to mend and never too late to get baptised. "To fall is neither dangerous nor disgraceful, but to remain prostate is both." (Konrad Adenauer)
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I am not in a position to comment upon the overall figures including non-indians who might have adopted this religion.

However, it can be safely stated that Indian Sikhs who migrate to USA cut off their hairs. This is for sure. Members may like to offer their comments.

Sikh80 ji

Some Sikhs who have migrated cut their hair. But it is hard to say whether most do. Just about all the Sikhs I know in the vicinity of where I live and work keep kesh. And converts to Sikhism also keep kesh for the most part. Even if they are not baptized. So there is a lot of individual variation.

When Sikhs first migrated to the US, they settled in California, Oregon, and Washington State -- a few other places. This was from about 1880 to about 1920. Many of them did cut their hair, but remained Sikhs. They build gurdwaras soon after they arrived in the states, but did not keep the 5 K's. Their children and their children's children remain Sikhs and retain their Sikh identity. Later arrivals to those areas from the Punjab and other parts of Asia settled alongside the earlier immigrants. They do keep kesh -- of course with exceptions. So the result is a very diverse group of Sikhs living and working together, proud of their heritage, and of their identity.
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Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960

Punjabi Heritage is a great online magazine that you can read if you are interested in the history of Sikh immigrants in North America.

aadji,
Thanks for quoting as above. However, we have to draw conclusion based on a larger sample size that would include overall sikh population including Canada,UK and US. But most imporatantly we have to consider the figures Of Indian sikhs as wel who would contribute about 90 percent or so of the sikhs.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960

It is there that one observes the fall in general level of Sikhi.
We find that in Punjab, the hub of sikhi, is not faring well so far as sikhism is concerned. Punjab is the state with skewed men:women ratio.It is about 1.2, this should be at the worst 1 i.e men=women.
like wise addiction is another problem.
There are other problems as well regarding identity of sikhs and lack of sikh icons. In India we have no one to identify with.We cannot identify ourself with our PM , Mr manmohan singh.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960
I have not crystallised my mind.Hope with few more replies we shall get focussed.

One of the bitter truth is that turbaned sikhs are and will face lot of problem in U.S.A and
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960
other western countries.The reason is that islamic terrorism is growing at fast pace and majority of world have no clue about sikhism.and whenever they will strike there is going to be a strong reaction and as a most visible persons turbaned sikhs will be worst.So future is not so bright for turbaned sikhs in west as well as in india.

sikhs are also not treated well. The French turban issue is the case.Kds ji what do you think can be a possible solution.?In Us we have the problem of hate crimes. The problems in INdia have already been highlighted.

There may be chances that the 'white sikhs' grow.With the growth of this phenomenon there are chances that some white sikh may become icon like Bill gates,Ln Mittal, Swaraj pal etc, so as to name a few. In that case there are chances that the sikhi may get some impetus as young sikhs will have some one to identify with.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960
however, it is my opinion.

The french turban law is not against sikhism or sikhs.It is mainly against islam.Let me show you something

News | Pakistan | Cleric’s chilling warning to UK | The Sun |HomePage|News

Rehamn, in a flowing grey beard and turban, explained Islamic, or Sharia Law as we sat surrounded by some of his 250 students.

He said: “Adulterers who are married should be buried in earth to the waist and stoned to death.

“Homosexuals must be killed – it’s the only way to stop them spreading. It should be by beheading or stoning, which the general public can do.

“Thieves should have their hands cut off. Women should remain indoors and films and pop music should be banned.”

So what does he think of Britain? The dad insisted: “The nonbelievers must be converted to Islam. Morals in your society, with women wearing revealing clothes, have gone wrong.”



Scary ... playground nuke

Phil Hannaford

The spot where enriched uranium is produced for Pakistan’s 80 to 120 nuclear warheads is behind razor wire less than five miles from where we spoke.

A dummy missile even sits in a children’s playground in Kahuta.

Only this month, doomed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto raised the spectre of al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militants seizing control of Pakistan’s nuclear warheads – and activity by radicals near Kahuta.

Despite the efforts of politicians such as her to champion democracy, the country has long been a hotbed of Islamic extremism and there is no shortage of potential martyrs.

At the Red Mosque in the heart of the capital Islamabad, Maulana Mohavya Irshad, 24, stared coldly at me. He said: “I’m ready to become a suicide bomber and lay down my life for Islam. Democracy is wrong. Earth belongs to God and God’s law must be implemented.

“I hope Britain and the rest of the world will have Sharia Law this century. We will continue to sacrifice our lives to achieve this.”

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Now If these mullah's give these types of speeches in turban and beard then hatred against beards and turbans is obvious.

Sunday 12th of June 2005



Panthic Weekly: French Sikh Turban Issue Raised at UNESCO Conference
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Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18960
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
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