Sikhism and Christianity: A Comparative Study
There are common principles ideas in all religions of the world and this is also true for Sikhism and Christianity
A Christian is someone who lives according to the teachings of Jesus. The word ‘Sikh’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Shishya’ meaning disciple or student of dharma (spirituality) and is someone who follows the teachings of the 10 Sikh Masters,which are all embodied in the 11th and final master, which is the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGS), the word.
Similarities
God’s attributes
Sikhs and Christians describe God as being one and omnipresent, however, both of these attributes have important differences as well (for differences read below). The Sikh God shares other important attributes with the Christian God, especially with the first person of the trinity, called “Father”: eternal, uncreated, truthful, omnipresent, loving, universal, self-existent, creator, light, almighty, Father, transcendent, immanent, inmutable, omnipotent, merciful, Lord, giver, without sin.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit, which is considered divine by most of them, can enter inside a human. Sikhs believe in the presence of the divine soul within.
Humility
When Jesus was about to die, he gave his disciples a humility lesson by washing their feet. The Sikh scripture is full of examples of the importance of humility and gentle sweetness. The SGGSJ says, "…Architect of Destiny: please fulfil this yearning of my mind. Says Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness: let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints."
Abstinence
The human body is described as the temple of God in The Bible, which says: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?...For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are." The Sikh way of life shares this view. In order to respect the body, illicit drugs are forbidden in both Sikhism and Christianity and there are strong tendencies towards vegetarianism or abstaining from meat and alcohol in both.
Prayer/Meditation
Christians believe that God created humans to have a relationship with him. This is why God created a universe fit for human life, and why God laid down guidelines for how to live our lives. Sikhism expands on the concept of a relationship with God by saying that the goal of human life is to merge soul (Atma) with God (Paramatma) through love, devotion and service. This latter Sikh view is shared somehow by some eastern orthodox Christians through the concept of Theosis.
Sikhs believe that meditation on the Granth draws them closer to God; it cleanses a person from sin and instills godly qualities in him. They see it as a means of salvation. Christians value meditation as a way of drawing closer to God, hearing his voice and discerning his will.
Charity
Giving to the poor and needy has historically been an important part of Christian charity. Sikhism also stresses the importance of giving, both at a personal and at a community level. At a personal level, a Sikh is required to give ten percent (Dasvandh) of their income and time to noble causes. At a community level, Sikhism encourages the running of free community services such as the Langar, or free kitchen, which serves meals to everyone.
Differences
Gender roles
The Bible and Christianity in general have been interpreted as prescribing separate gender roles, with women being commanded to submit to male’s authority and excluded from Church leadership. Sikhism promotes complete gender equality. There is no position reserved solely for a male and no prescription of separate gender roles.
Scripture
There are several translations, authors and versions of the Bible. The Sikh scripture has only ever had two versions and both of these were compiled, reviewed and installed by the fifth and tenth Masters, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji respectively. The message is presented in poetry format with a unique poem-author numbering system, which makes it difficult to modify, add or subtract content. The Sikh scripture is the only one of its kind to be authored by the founders of the faith.
As the Guru Granth Sahib is made up entirely of poetry it is rich in mysticism and can be interpreted differently by different people. It is more a hymnbook than a statement of faith. The Bible does have some mystical passages but there is also a great deal of straightforward moral and ethical teaching, and statements about God's character and his activity in the world.
Nature of God
Guru Nanak emphasized the oneness of God and his role as the supreme creator. He presented him as supremely a God of love. Nanak had no place for God's wrath. Men and women, he said, should not fear God's anger but be afraid of not receiving all the benefits of his love. In contrast to Sikhism the Bible declares that when God holy standards are violated he displays his wrath. Yet his wrath is not incompatible with his mercy and love. It is meant for the ultimate good of mankind.
Christianity has the concept of the Trinity, consisting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, three persons of a single deity. Sikhism teaches that God is both within the Creation and separate from it at the same time. The SGGSJ says, "You have thousands of eyes, and yet You have no eyes. You have thousands of forms, and yet You do not have even one. You have thousands of Lotus Feet, and yet You do not have even one foot. You have no nose, but you have thousands of noses. This Play of Yours entrances me. Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light. By this Illumination, that Light is radiant within all." Some statements seem to mean he is personal, others state that human souls eventually merge back into God, who is an impersonal essence. God is said to be both the creator and the created, the fisherman and the fish, the water and the net. The trinitarian and christological concepts which are completely foreign to Sikhs, do not seem to have a clear foundation in the christian Bible, and could be confusing and illogical for most people.
Nature of man
Sikhs deny the reality of man's sinful nature. They teach that people are essentially good; the divine spark within them needs only to be fanned into a flame of goodness. On the other hand, the Bible teaches that men inherit a sinful nature from Adam; a person's guilt must be atoned for. Guru Nanak taught that a man's sins are moral lapses caused by his environment. They may be cleansed through meditation and prayer.
Uniqueness of Christ
This is the area of greatest disagreement between Sikhs and Christians. Sikhs reject the uniqueness of Christ as the only way to God. They say he is one with Moses, Mohammed, Buddha and the Gurus and that all paths to God are equally valid. The concept of faith in a Person and the saving action of his death and resurrection are totally absent from Sikhism.
Salvation
The Gurus taught that if deliverance is sought in the proper manner all will eventually receive it. The concept of “salvation” is not commonly used in Sikhism. Grace is viewed as something, which God bestows on those he chooses. But given enough time and rebirths all will eventually reach that point. So Sikhs believe that there is no such thing as eternal damnation; all will eventually achieve deliverance from the bondage of earthly life. Therefore, at the end, no one is lost but is re-united with the divine absolute. There is no personal resurrection. The human soul is of the same essence as God, comes from God and will eventually be merged back into him. Heaven and hell are not places where individuals live for eternity but refer to different stages of a person's earthly life. In contrast Christians believe that those who receive Jesus as their Savior and are baptized are adopted into God's family. After their earthly life is over and after undergoing judgment, they may have eternal fellowship with him in heaven. They will not lose their unique personal identity. Similarly, hell is a reality where those who have rejected Jesus will spend eternity. Christianity makes impossible demands on a man or woman but at the same time provides different ways/explanations for “salvation”, depending on the denomination.
Sikhi believes that you can get salvation no matter which path or prophet you choose to follow, however if you are following one particular path over another, then make sure that you are still true to the One God who is the Creator of all, for your everyday life. The tenants of Sikhi are to pray in God's name, work hard in your life and share your gifts from God with those who are less fortunate. That is the only way to salvation. In addition, Sikhi believes in fighting for the rights of those who cannot fight for themselves, Sikhi teaches you to try and attain salvation by taking the path of a Saint Soldier- a saint who prays on God's name and a soldier who fights against injustices towards the less fortunate. Sikhi believes that the Creator is within the Creation, so no one has to worry about heaven or hell. A human being's actions and beliefs are the only things that can bring you closer to God. Salvation for a Sikh is becoming one with the Creator and getting released from the cycle of life and death.
Good and evil
Sikhs believe that both good and evil come from God. Though some think evil spirits exist there is no sense of an evil being who opposes God. Sikhs are never told to resist the devil, like most Christians do, because they do not believe in him. Evil, is the result of a person making wrong choices.
Hair
Christianity has a long history of going against long hair in men because of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:14: “Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him…?”. Since then, there have been several decrees and regulations issued in christian institutions that order men to wear their hair at a short length. Long hair today is used only by a very small percentage of christian men, usually orthodox monks, and are regarded as exceptions to the rule. In the post nicene period, the church also received a lot of influence from the Romans, including the custom of shaved beards, something that was inherited in all western Christianity up until today. Sikhism, on the other hand, considers growing every hair of the body as one of their tenets, since it is a way to honor God’s creation. Most Sikhs consider cutting one’s hair as forbidden, and this goes for both men and women.
Reference
- Lions, Princesses and Gurus-Chapter 13, Ram Gidoomal & Margaret Wardell).
- Hair (in christian antiquity). https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07113a.htm
