Guru Fateh
Thanks for the response. The word is SIKH. No offence taken but as it has been misspelled often, I felt the need to get your attention.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Who is not a Christian is called a non- believer by your religion and is bound for Hell and will be thrown in the lake of fire.
Your response:
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This is too simplistic. For example, Catholics believe non-believers could be saved.
What do you mean it is too simplistic? You mean there is an enhanced interrogation program? . j/k. The fact remains the same that all non- believers are thrown in the cauldron of fire. Your Bible says that. If you disagree with that, then please explain.
Secondly, saved from what, why, how and what for? The fact of the matter is that, salvation is only needed where love is absent. It is sad to notice that this dogmatic God wants his followers to be sinners, hence in trouble, so he becomes the only one who could save them from the ill traits called sins which are instilled by the same omnipotent God to start with. That is why perhaps he is called the Saviour because he relishes that title after putting his followers in trouble so they can rush back to him and beg for being saved.
Nice self-fulfilling prophecy for the blind followers of the religion, it seems
.In Sikhi there is no such carrot and stick fear factor. All who do good deeds are"saved" irrespective of any one's religion. Sikhi is not a dogmatic religion like Christianity and other religions which are fenced by their own doctrines concocted on subjective truths.
Sikhi is a pragmatic way of life and all humans have the same right because goodness is innate in all of us. Religions act like catalysts in how to take the best out of it.
This is the reason that the Sanctom Sanctorum of Sikhi called Harmander Sahib in the city of Amritsar in Punjab has four doors to invite peoples from all directions, cultures, classes and religious beliefs. 70,000 free meals are served daily to all who visit and the kitchen is open 24-7. All the work is done by the volunteers because Sikhi instills selfless service in all. One can also stay for free in any of our Gurdwaras, as our religious places are known as ( Guru's- Teacher's door).
One can get a free meal and a place to stay for a couple of days in all Gurdwaras around the world no matter what religion one belongs to.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Whereas, in Sikhi we all come from one light, irrespective of our hue,creed or faith and no one is bound for Hell because such thing is just a fear factor to lasso the followers together.
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Is there a concept of evil in Sihk religion? Are there consequences for when people commit evil actions in this life?
First of all, your response has nothing to do with what I posted. what do you understand about what I posted above and what is your opinion about it?
Please explain the concept of evil in your religion so I can understand where you are coming from in order to respond in the right way and if there is such thing as evil then only omnipotence is responsible for that as it is for everything. However, I will reserve my comments on this after hearing from you.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Why can't this God instill all those things you mentioned in us? Doesn't he have all the power to do that as a good father, as the omnipotent God?
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He does instill all of those things in us. He does not force us to accept those things that are in us however.
Are you trying to say that the God you serve is not omnipotent because omnipotence is responsible for everything?
It is like saying that your God instills the scent in a rose but does not force it to have the perfume, which is not possible and makes no sense.
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Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
How can you love your neighbour who may not be a Christian when your God tells you that he/she is a non- believer and bound for Hell and will be thrown in the lake of fire? In other words, killed mercilessly. So, don't you think "love thy neighbour" is a farce and fallacy when we know our neighbour will be thrown in Hell whom we are supposed to love?
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Those who followed Jesus asked him who our neighbor was. Jesus responded that anyone in need is our neighbor whether he/she is a Christian or not.
Where did Jesus say that? Please quote him for me from the Bible.
Secondly, love is not capable of breeding non-believers who are bound to Hell by the commandment of your own God. Love does not work in this fashion. Only hatred and disdain d
ne can not have it both ways.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Why would all loving God make a place like Hell for his own children? Where are his good parenting skills.
There is no Hell or Heaven in Sikhi because these concepts are based on subjective Truths which are man made not objective/ relative Reality that surrounds us.
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God does not force goodness on people, he offers it to us freely and we are free to reject that goodness. How does the concept of goodness in people from God work in Sihk religion?
I am sorry to say but it seems you do not understand the meanings of omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, the traits of your God. Please check the meanings for your own clarification. God with these traits does not need to force anything on any one and no one is free to reject anything. If what you said were true, then your God has none of the mentioned traits and hence not needed for anything.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
In Sikhi, we are all children of one God irrespective of our hue, creed or faith and everyone has the right to seek him/her /it, the way they wish to as long their ways give them the tools to breed goodness within so that their actions, not their beliefs can make them God loving through sharing. That is why Sikhi is not God fearing as most of the dogmatic religions are rather than God loving.
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I like this concept to a degree. Yet, does this then imply that it does not matter whether someone is a Sihk since it is a belief system?
I am glad you like the concept so do all the Sikhs and also many non Sikhs who know something about Sikhi. Any hue, creed or faith means just that. All and no one is excluded.
Hence, Sikhi is not a belief system as a matter of fact but a pragmatic way of life to seek and live a truthful life. Truth stands on its own. It does not need any belief system. Only make believe things need it.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
In Sikhi we are responsible for each and every action we take here and now. We are responsible for our actions in this life.
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Are there consequences for being irresponsible?
As responsibility has consequences so does irresponsibility. Remember, we reap what we sow.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Has anyone come back in your religion to tell you how he/she was judged and what he/she reaped after death?
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Yes.
Can you please elaborate your response? Who, when, where and with concrete proofs of your contention?
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
"United with God in Heaven"? Do you mean the God you serve is not omnipresent? Why can't we unite with him here on this beautiful Earth of ours?
"Separated from God in Hell"? So, you do admit that God you serve is not omnipresent hence people will perish in Hell because your omnipotent God is not able to instill goodness in them as a good father.
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It appears from these statements that the difference between Christianity and Sihkism is that Christians believe we have a choice to follow the will of God or reject it if we want to, whereas Sihks believe that God will instill the goodness in us and there really is no choice of doing good because the good will ultimately come to the individual person. Does this sound accurate of Sihk belief?
No, you are incorrect in your assumptions. First of all you have no choice to follow. If you did, your God would not have created Hell and Heaven as punishment and reward.
Your religion is based on fear for your God, and hatred and disdain for those who do not have the same belief system as yours and your God has promised that those who do not obey him the way he wants them to, will perish in hell.
In Sikhi, yes, Ik Ong Kaar (One Source of All there is) instills goodness in all human beings. It depends on the individual how one uses or misuses this goodness instilled.
The DNA of all human beings consists of these five ill traits. Kaam(Lust), Krodh(Anger), Lobh(Greed), Moh(Worldly gluttony), Ahankar(Ego).
Sikhi calls the above ill traits as thieves that rob us from the goodness instilled in us. Sikh scripture called the Guru Granth gives us the tools and teaches us how to lasso them and use them to our advantage as we can not get rid of them. Thus, turn them into traits.
In order to do this, the religions play a big part in it. They become the catalysts which make us change these ill traits into traits. After all this is all energy and how to use this energy in a positive manner is the duty of a religion to teach.
For example, one can either kill someone with a lead pencil or draw like Leonardo da Vinci. The same tool and the same energy is used in both. The difference is that the former is used for doing bad and the latter for good.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Why is your God so punishing and evil if I may say so? According to your own admission, your God is not a good loving father but rather a dead beat dad. Why is that?
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Perhaps Sihk's do not see God as father? How do Sihk's view their relationship with God?
Sikhi sees Ik Ong Kaar as Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Best Friend. Allow me to explain this a bit further. As Ik Ong Kaar is not a deity like in other religions including Christianity, it can be called anything as it is not a being but Creative Energy that envelopes all there is, both organic and inorganic.
In Sikhi: It is hard to meet the Creator of the Universe and beyond, Ik Ong Kaar's form is immeasurable, inaccessible and unfathomable. Ik Ong Kaar is all-pervading everywhere.
Ik Ong Kaar is above all formless and indescribable, so sublime as to be totally beyond human powers of recognition, description, or conception.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Pardon my ignorance but I have no idea what you mean by the above. Does the God you serve have desires? I thought only mortal human beings had that. Can you please elaborate the above?
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Christians believe God is knowable. We believe that in each person has within him or her self an aspect of the almighty. This includes desires, among other things.
Ok, Thanks, but in your earlier posts you said your God has desires which is a trait in the mortals.
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
So, do you mean there is a belief in reincarnation in Christianity?
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There is no such teaching in Christianity.
Then, what does this early post of yours mean if it is not reincarnation?
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How do we achieve the desired will of God regarding the meaning of life? Answer: Our actions in this life determine where you will be in the next life (whether Heaven or Hell).
What does one become in one's next life according to Christianity?
Originally Posted by Tejwant Singh
Hope to hear and learn from this lively interaction. I am sure we can find the meaning of life together in this manner.
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Thank you for the challenging questions. I appreciate your perspective as I try to understand yours. Peace.
Thanks and likewise.
Regards.
Tejwant Singh
