carolineislands
SPNer
Hello,
I am new to this forum and I have so many questions... I don't really know where to start.
The forum is kind of confusing to me so I'm trying to figure things out. At the same time I am trying to learn about Sikhism.
I have been seeking a spiritual path that does not attempt to put God in a box all my life long. I practice Christianity but have investigated many religions -- Paganism, all sorts of Christian paths, Buddism, and most recently Islam. Paganism didn't feel right to me, Buddism was nice but lacked something as well, and Islam was far too legalistic and static. It seems like everyone is trying to define God while I am seeking the opposite. If that makes any sense. I never have come across a religion in which I could speak freely about what I really believed. One is always criticizing the other and trying to prove why they are right and the others are wrong. At the same time I believed they were all right and all wrong at the same time.
When I started reading a little about Sikhism I thought -- Wow! This looks like it might be the religion for me! So now I am trying to learn all I can and I have many questions, and yet I'm new to the forum and not sure where to put them. So I hope it's okay for me to just post a few questions here in the new-to-Sikhism thread.
Questions:
1. Can a Sikh continue to follow the message of Jesus Christ, as in Gnostic Christianity?
2. Do Sikhs believe that the Gurus are actually God or just that God speaks through them as his representatives?
3. Do Sikhs worship the Gurus or are they just teachers?
4. What should someone like me read first? I'm confused about all the different writings and am wonder what is the most important sacred text of Sikhism. What would you recommend as the "Bible" of Sikhism for someone to get started with? Does anybody know where I might purchase one at the best price?
5. Can a Sikh actually participate in activities through other religions? I am a singer -- could I still sing in Christian Churches?
6. How important is it to speak/read Punjabi? Can a Sikh not be a Punjabi speaker or is it like Islam where you can't go to heaven or pray unless you speak Arabic?
I apologize if my post is in the wrong thread. I am trying to get acquainted with the forum. And I thank you in advance for your help.
I am new to this forum and I have so many questions... I don't really know where to start.
The forum is kind of confusing to me so I'm trying to figure things out. At the same time I am trying to learn about Sikhism.
I have been seeking a spiritual path that does not attempt to put God in a box all my life long. I practice Christianity but have investigated many religions -- Paganism, all sorts of Christian paths, Buddism, and most recently Islam. Paganism didn't feel right to me, Buddism was nice but lacked something as well, and Islam was far too legalistic and static. It seems like everyone is trying to define God while I am seeking the opposite. If that makes any sense. I never have come across a religion in which I could speak freely about what I really believed. One is always criticizing the other and trying to prove why they are right and the others are wrong. At the same time I believed they were all right and all wrong at the same time.
When I started reading a little about Sikhism I thought -- Wow! This looks like it might be the religion for me! So now I am trying to learn all I can and I have many questions, and yet I'm new to the forum and not sure where to put them. So I hope it's okay for me to just post a few questions here in the new-to-Sikhism thread.
Questions:
1. Can a Sikh continue to follow the message of Jesus Christ, as in Gnostic Christianity?
2. Do Sikhs believe that the Gurus are actually God or just that God speaks through them as his representatives?
3. Do Sikhs worship the Gurus or are they just teachers?
4. What should someone like me read first? I'm confused about all the different writings and am wonder what is the most important sacred text of Sikhism. What would you recommend as the "Bible" of Sikhism for someone to get started with? Does anybody know where I might purchase one at the best price?
5. Can a Sikh actually participate in activities through other religions? I am a singer -- could I still sing in Christian Churches?
6. How important is it to speak/read Punjabi? Can a Sikh not be a Punjabi speaker or is it like Islam where you can't go to heaven or pray unless you speak Arabic?
I apologize if my post is in the wrong thread. I am trying to get acquainted with the forum. And I thank you in advance for your help.