Science and Sikhism
Sikhs do not disagree with science, as it does not conflict with Sikh Scriptures or beliefs. In fact scientists are just now discovering the concepts that were written in Sikh scriptures centuries ago. Sikh Gurus told Sikhs not to smoke, do drugs or drink alcohol centuries ago. Scientists confirm that drinking alcohol, smoking and consuming drugs have harmful effects on the body.
Sikhism beliefs have not been disproven by science. Scientific facts support the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Granth Sahib states that, “There are planets, solar systems and galaxies. If one speaks of them, there is no limit, no end. There are worlds upon worlds of His Creation. As He commands, so they exist. He watches over all, and contemplating the creation, He rejoices. Nanak says, to describe this is as hard as steel!” (Guru Granth Sahib, 8). Furthermore, it is stated that God created the whole universe including the earth. “You Yourself created the earth, and the two lamps of the sun and the moon” (Guru Granth Sahib, 83). And, “Many millions are the moons, suns and stars” (Guru Granth Sahib, 275).
Scientists have found that there are billions of galaxies, each galaxy containing billions of starts and millions of planets revolving around those stars with millions of moons revolving around those planets. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, has approximately 200 billions stars and millions of planets from which few are known. There are billions of galaxies like ours in the universe and this is just now being realized by modern science, where as Sikh Scripture mentioned it long before its discovery.
Scientists are slowly attempting to unravel the creation of God but the whole creation is beyond what humans can explore. Our Universe is so vast that it takes millions of years to travel to stars and planets beyond our solar system. For example, a star name 51 Pegasi in Pegasus constellation has three planets revolving around it (known so far). 51 Pegasi is 50 light years away from the Earth. A light year is a distance traveled by light in one year at the speed of 180,000 miles/sec. 51 Pegasi is approximately 300 trillion miles from the Earth. Light takes 50 years to reach the Earth from 51 Pegasi. Today’s fastest probe will take about half a million years to reach there. However 51 Pegasi is considered very close in relation to other stars. There are stars in our galaxy that are thousands of light years away from the Earth. In addition, the nearest galaxy, Andromeda is 2 million light years away. Traveling at 180,000 miles/sec lights will take two million years to reach Andromeda. If it takes half a million year to cover the distance of 50 light years with modern technology, one should imaging how long will it take to cover the distance of 2 million light years. Andromeda is the just the nearest galaxy, there are galaxies billions of billions light years away from ours.
Scientists study the creation of God and try to comprehend the mysteries of His creation. The more they learn, the more they are amazed. Some spend their entire life studying God’s creation and yet they are unable to find His limits. However, when one meditates on God, God Himself unfolds the mysteries and shows the galaxies, the stars, the deep ocean world and all of his creation.
