See that's kind of where I have the problem, when you say "just focus on the message that Sikhi gives". Honestly, I've been watching videos on YouTube (Jagraj Singh - basics of sikhi - and though I dont agree a lot of what he says - R.I.P), I've been reading forums of what the Sikhi world is posting, Facebook comments. And its crazy how the "word" of Sikhi is defined. Don't care what anyone says, Sikhi is a religion. It's organized, peaceful, has a place of worship. So being a religion it should have a purpose, a message on how to live or how be a human being. Now for one minute if we can agree that the main message is "be good, and do good'. Please, I dont want definitions of whats good. Its common sense. The reason behind my post is that, if the main message behind every religion is the same, then there is no need for religion. But every religion even Sikhism, says the message was delivered from God, not just the good points, but every word uttered in SGGS is from God. But the idea of God spread through out the world, and before it did it had an origin. If you go back to the beginning of Christianity, as far back as Egypt times. Look at what was going on in India. There were no Hindus, Muslims, or Sikhs. You had these tribes, who later also would become organized and start religion.
Christianity has sooo many flaws, and a lot the facts to base its origin is flat out ridiculous. A woman gets pregnant without sex, and its the son of God. Meaning God put his seed in her without her knowing (Rape much). And if I keep using Christianity's example, God created the first two human beings (Adam and Eve), so why does he need to impregnate a woman. The thought of Jesus was much after mankind was "civilized". Jesus wasn't the first human on Earth, you had people living and breathing before him. Who were organized, had a language, some sense of fashion, entertainment, etc. So then has humans became spoiled and sinful, God sends Jesus to Earth to fix all, and not to forget the big Flood to. Utter nonsense. If today some girl gets pregnant and claims she didnt have sex, what would we call her. Easy - a liar.
So again if the idea of religion started somewhere in Africa, and spread through out the world, because you know Christians love to spread the word of "God", then every religion created after it was influenced by it. And in every religion, every word delivered in their own respectful book, SGGS, Koran, Bible, etc. is the word of God, but if even one word is proven wrong, then that really questions the validity and existence of God. Now if you claim that "oh those holy books, words, etc." were created by man not God, then God was created by man. We as a world, as human race are so divided, and yes culture, geographic location does factor in, but religion is also clearly the cause for chaos in the world. Don't sit here and say that Sikhi didn't have any cause for wars in India. Sure your defense might be that what Sikhi was trying to deliver was peaceful, but won't every religion say that to. It caused separation. Sorry I went little off topic to your reply - RD1, but religion and all its rules are not needed. We as a human beings have been on this planet for 1000s of years. The world has seen the massacres its created, and for the most part has tried to correct itself. And uses common sense to go about things. Sikhi is no different, and no more special than the next.
I always find if fascinating that most Atheists probably come from a Christian background. And they always question God, religion, etc. But in Sikhi, in Punjabji culture, you can't even question. Questioning the Gurus, SGGS, is like a death sentence. I'm sure that newer generations will try to use their minds more, instead of fairy tails from previous generations. More I can say, but I think I can add more points to some of the other comments.
