ReligionComparisonPaper

Sikhism,Christianity,andHinduism
AreAllReligionsUltimatelythesame?

TysonAcree

SikhismCreeds
Sikhismisoneoftheworld'smostrecentmajorreligionandcomesfromPunjab
India.Sikhteachingscomefromaseriesof10Gurus,thefirstofwhichbeingGuru
Nanak.GuruNanak,essentiallythefounderofsikhism,wasborninthe15thcentury.
ThethreebiggestteachingspasseddownbyNanakandtheothernineGurusarehard
work,sharedearnings,andalwaysrememberinggod.Sikhsaredevotedtoonegod
andtheyconsiderallreligionstoworshipthesamegodintheirownuniqueway.Sikhs
donotclaimthatSikhismistheonlypathtogod,andinfactthecurrentGuru,theholy
texttheGuruGranthSahibcontainsbothIslamicandHinduteachings.InGuruNanaks
MulMantraheexplainsthathereisOneGod,WhoseNameisTruth,TheCreator,
Withoutfearwithouthate,Eternalbeing,Beyondbirthanddeath,Selfexistent,Realized
bytheGurusgrace.EachofthetenGurusandtheirteachingsaresaidtoshinewith
thelightofgod.TheSikhGoldenTempleinAmritsarandindeedmostSikhtemples
haveadooroneverysideofthebuilding,symbolizingthatallarewelcomeinside.Sikhs
seetheworldasaplacewheregodexistsinallthings,andinworkinghardonecan
realizegodisallthings.EveryoneistreatedequallybytheSikhs,asgodexistsinsideof
everyoneandbecauseofthisSikhstakeituponthemselvestofightoppression.
SIkhismteachesnotonlytorespectoutsidersbutwomenaswell,incontrastwith
traditionalIndiansociety.GuruNanaksaid,Whydenounceher,whoevengivesbirthto

kings?ThecurrentGuruisGuruGranthSahib,theirholytext.TheGranthSahibisa
setofincrediblyrespectedscripturesthat,issomerespects,istreatedasanindividual..
Thebookanswersanyandallquestionsoftheuniverseandcontainstheteachingsof7
gurus.TheGuruGranthSahibismusicalinnatureandisoftensungorchanted.Godin
theSikhtraditionisasingularentitywhilesimultaneouslyexistinginallthings.Sikhs
believethathumansareessentiallylostsoulstryingtoreconnectwithgodandthatto
reconnectwemustrealizegodinoursurroundings.

SikhismCodes
SikhismquicklydifferentiateditselffromHinduismandtraditionalIndiansocietyin
manyways.Thebiggestisperhapstheirtreatmentofwomenandalllife.Theyalso
believethatdividingpeoplebasedongender,caste,color,andfaithisethicallywrong.
Sikhsaretaughttoupholdjustice,somethingthathascausedmuchadmirationand
scornthroughoutthe600yearsofthefaithsexistence.Theyaretaughttolivevirtuous
livesaswell,andabstainfromthingsdeemedmorallywrong.AhugepartofSikh
guidelinesarewhattheycallthefiveKs.ThefiveKsareanintegralpartoftheSikh
traditionbuthaveattimesproveddifficulttofullyfollow.ThefirstKisKesh,oruncut
hair.IdeallySikhsdonotcuttheirhairtheirentirelives,butalwayswearturbansor
othercoverings.ThesecondKistheKanga,asmallcombtheyuseeachdayto
straightentheirhairandremindthemselvesthattheyshouldbeorderlyandneatinall
things.ThethirdKistheKara,asmallsilverbanglethatsignifiestheyareapartofthe
globalSikhcommunity.ThefourthKistheKachera,acomfortableunderwearthatis

worntoremindthemtobechaste.ThelastKistheKirpan,asmallswordordaggerthat
theymustuseatanytimetofightforjusticeanddefendtheinnocent.Allbaptisedmen
andwomenfollowthefiveKs.

SikhismCultus
TheGurudwaraisakintowhatwemightconsideratemple.TheGurudwara
translatesasTheGurusDoorandishometotheGuruGranthSahibbutisalsoasort
ofcommunitycenterforthelocalSikhpopulation.TheGurudwarahasadooroneach
sideofthebuildingtosymbolizethatallarewelcomefromanydirection.Sikhismisa
ritualistictradition,butnottothesameextendasHinduism.AritualknownasJapjiis
performeddailywhichincludesseveralprayers.DuringaserviceattheGurudwara
manyhymnsaresungaccompaniedbymusic,afterwhichthescripturesareread.A
veryimportantritualtothistraditionisLangar.Langarissimplyafoodserviceofferedto
anyonewhocomestothetemple,poororrich,allarehumbledwhentheyeatonthe
floorwitheveryoneelse.OurbooksharedthestoryofLangarbeingservedtosikh
prisonersaboardatrain.ThelocalSikhcommunitywantedtostopanofficialtrain
carryingSikhprisonersbuttheofficialsrefusedtostopthetrainforanyreason.Willing
todietoservetheunfortunateprisoners,agroupofSikhslaidthemselvesonthetrain
tracksinanefforttoforcethetraintoahaltandwerecrushedasthetrainwasntableto
stopintime.Thewoundedpeopleonthetracksrefusedassistance,tellingtheothers
theirfirstpriorityshouldbetohelptheprisoners.Many,ifnotall,oftheSikhsonthe
tracksdiedtoserveLangor.

ChristianityCreeds
Christianityhasamassiveandgreatlyvariedlistofreligioustextsandscriptures.
HowcanonmostofthesetextsareissomethingstillhotlydebatedbyChristianscholars
fromaroundtheworld.ChristianityismainlybasedhoweverontheBible,theoldand
newtestament.ManydifferentChristiansectshaveaddedtheirowntextstothebible
however.TheNewTestamentitselfiscomposedof27individualbooks.InChristianity,
Jesuswastheresultofanimmaculateconception,meaninghismotherwasborn
withouttheoriginalsinofEve.Jesuswasavirginbirth,andwhilethenatureofJesuss
existenceisdebatedstill,allChristiansacceptthatJesusisthelivingsonofgod.Jesus
ChristmakesupapartoftheHolyTrinityasingularentitythatisthecombinationof
theHolySpirit,TheFather,andTheSon.ChristiansbelievethatJesusperformedmany
miraclesduringhistimeonearth,andspenthislifeteachingothersthetruegospel.The
storiesofJesusoftensymbolizeJewishideas.Jesusspokeofequalityforeveryone
includingwomenandthepoor,andheextolledthevirtuesofcompassionandkindness.

ChristianityCodes
Jesustaughtaboutequalityandloveandperformedmanymiraclessuchas
healingthesickandtheblind.Asourtextbooksays,Inacultureonwhichthewomans
rolewasstrictlycircumscribed,Jesuswelcomedwomenashisdisciples.Jesuswas

radicallyegalitarian.Jesuspresentedhislessonsasparables,andusedworldy
metaphorstomakehispointstothecommonpeople.Wealthypeoplewereslowto
adopttheteachingsofJesusashecalledforeveryonetogiveupwhattheyhadinorder
toeffectivelyworshipgod.Christianslivetheirlivesbyavarietyofcodes,howevernone
aremoreprominentthantheTenCommandments.TheTenCommandmentstellthe
followersofChristtohonortheirgod,andthatthereisnogodbeforethem.Italso
highlightsthemostheinousofcrimes.TheCommandmentsprovideabaseforChristian
moralbehavior.Jesusalsotalkedabouttheruleoflaw,andinnerlaw.

ChristianityCultus
ThevariousformsofliturgymakeupthemajorityofChristianpractice.Singing,
praying,readingtheholytext,allareformsofliturgy.Therearemanysacramentsas
well,suchascircumcision,eucharist,andanointing.Christianscelebratecertain
aspectsoftheirfaithonholidaysthroughouttheyear.Christmas,celebratingthebirthof
Christ,andEaster,celebratingtheresurrection,arethetwobiggestoftheseholiday
seasons.ChristianChurchesandcathedralsareconsideredtobethehouseoftheLord
andfromwhatIhaveseen,arerichlydecorated.Theinteriorandexteriorofthe
CathedraloftheMadeleinewasabsolutelystunning.TheSermongivenatthe
Cathedralwasaboutthevalueofcontemplation,agreatformofreligiousexpression.

HinduismCreeds

Hindutextshavetwomainbranches,ShrutiandSmriti.Shrutiisthatwhichis
heardandShrutitextsareconsideredtobethemostsacred.Shruticanonisclosed
whichmeansnothingcaneverbecomeShrutieveragain.ShrutitextsincludeVedas
andUpanishads.SmritiisthatwhichisrememberedandwhileSmritiliteratureinhighly
valueditisalwaysrankedlowerthatShrutitexts.Smrititextsincludestoriespassed
downthroughthegenerations,mythsandlegends.SmritiliteratureincludestheLawof
Manu,theMahabharata,andtheRamayana.ManyHindusdontconsiderSmritistories
asbeingliteral,theyexisttoteachlessonsorexplainabstractideas.TheVedaswere
theveryoriginaltexts,thoughtheytoowerestoriespasseddownbeforetheywere
written.Hinduismbeginswhichancientmonkshearingthetruthoftheuniverse,what
theyheardweretheVedas.TheVedasincludesongsofpraiseandlovefortheGods.
TheUpanishadsweretheresultofearlyHindumonkswritingtheirowninterpretations
oftheVedasdown.Theseearlymonksspeculatedabouttheuniverse,andtheir
teachingswereadmittedintoShrutiliterature.

HinduismCodes
Hindusocietyhaslongbeenorganizedintoaseriesofcastes.TheCastesystem
startsatthebottomanunofficialcastecalledtheDalit,oruntouchables.Movingup,
ThereistheShudratoperformmanuallabor,theVaishyaforskilledlabor,Ksatriyafor
soldiersandlowlevelleaders,andtheBrahminstobepriestsandphilosophers.The
LawofManuteachesthatHindusshouldstrivetowardsfourbasicthings,withmoral
considerations.ThefirstisCharmawhichiscarryingoutdutiesforthegoodofsociety

andthecommunity.ThesecondisArtha,whichissuccessinmateriallife.Thethirdis
Kama,whichistohaveafulfillingpersonallife,andthefourthisMoksha,liberationfrom
thiscycleoflifeanddeath.TheLawofManualsoteachesabouttherolesofwomen,
andthelifestagesallpeoplegothrough.
HinduismCultus
ThefourmainpathsthatHIndufaithandpracticeisdividedintoareKarmaYoga,
BhaktiYoga,JnanaYoga,andRajaYoga.EachYogadoesnotnecessarilyclaimitis
theonetruepath,andsomepeoplemayfollowmultipleorchangethroughouttheirlife,
eachpathcanevenbedividedbycaste.KarmaYogaisthepaththatteaches
enlightenmentisreachedthroughpracticingrighteousandmoralactionsforthegoodof
othersandthestate.ThisYogaissuitedtothosewholiveincitiesandgotowork.
BhaktiYogaisthedevotionalYoga,andmanytypesofpeoplearesuitedtothispathof
surrenderingtogod.BhaktiYogisaretaughttolovegodandeachother.JnanaYogais
apathforstudentsandtheeducated,oftenthewealthyaswell.JnanaYogisfind
enlightenmentthroughunderstandourworldandarenaturallyinquisitiveand
philosophical.ThefourthYoga,RajaYoga,isthepathofasceticismsuitedtotheretired
andpriests.MostHindupracticefallsunderPuja,whichistheactofofshowing
reverenceorpraying.Pujarisusesymbolsorimagesofthedivinetoconnectwiththem,
andtheyevokeallthesensesthroughdrums,fragranceandincense,foodofferings,
fire,andvisualrepresentation.TherearemanyspecificHindurituals,butthemajority
areusedtocelebrateaspectsofone'slife.Offerings,chanting,andprayingareall
common.AttheHindutemplewevisited,thepositionofthegodsintheirhierarchywas

shownthelayoutoftheinterior,andthestringthatconnectedthecentraldeitywiththe
flagpoleoutsidewasagreatrepresentationofdivinepower.

ConclusionCreeds
Thesereligionsteachalotofverydifferentideas,butIbelievetheunderlying
messagebehindmanyoftheirteachingsareultimatelythesame.SikhandChristian
textsstandoutasplacingahugeemphasisonloveandcompassionforothers,andthat
howyoutreatothershasahugeimpactonyourrelationshipwithGod.Idontmeanto
sayHinduismdoesntteachthis,asitdoes,howeverinHinduismthefocusisonthe
individualandtheirownjourneyandwhilelivingamorallifeisimportantthereisntthe
samestressonhowtotreatothers.TheGuruGranthSahibandShrutiliteratureare
alikeinthattheoriginalcanoningenerallyuntouchedbymodernalterations,whilethe
Biblehasbeenalteredmoretimesthanonecankeeptrackof.Smrititextsuniquein
thatitissortofconsideredlightcanon,ChristianityandandSikhismdontreallyhave
anythingthatcompareoutsideofthenormalcanon.

ConclusionCodes
ManyofSikhethicalguidelineswereestablishedincontrarytopopularHindu
guidelines,suchasthecastesystem.Hinducodesaremuchmorestructuredthan
ChristianandSikhcodes.NooneelsereallyhasanythingquitelikethefiveKsof
Sikhism,thoughitispossibletocompareittotheChristianCommandments,however,

thefiveKsandtheCommandmentscovervastlydifferentbases.Allfaithshavethe
underlyingprincipleoflivingmorallivesandteachtobegoodpeople.Hinduismand
Sikhismhavevastlydifferentideasabouttheroleofwomeninsociety,andwhilethe
Sikhtraditionmayhavemoreprogressiveideasaboutgenderroles,Indianculturehas
itsowntraditionalideas.Christianityalsoimprovedtherightsofwomenafterits
formationandshowedthattheycouldbeequaldisciplesofChrist.

ConclusionCultus
TheHinduandChristiantraditionsarealikeinthatmajorpartsoftheirpracticeis
goodtreatmentofthepoor,thoughmyownobservationisthatSikhsliveuptothatideal
muchmoreinthemodernworld,thoughIdontmeantocriticizetheChristianchurchas
theydoalotofgoodforthecommunityaswell.AmajordifferencebetweenHinduism
andtheothertraditionsinthatyourlifestylegreatlyaffectsthekindofpracticeone
performs.IntheSikhfaith,everyoneworksuntiltheyarereadyfortheAmritandtheir
vowstoupholdthefiveKs.Theservicesofeachfaithishighlyritualized,withhinduism
incorporatingthemostritual.MuchoftheChristianritualsperformedattheCathedral
weremoresubtle,suchascertainitemsbeingcarriesorcertainsongsandprayers
beingreadinacertainorder.TheGurudwaraisanopenandinvitingplace,justlike
HindutempleandChristianCathedral.Eachspaceforworshipisaplaceforreverence,
andonlyintheChristiantraditiondidwenotremoveourshoes.TheGuruGranthSahib
intheGurudwaraisinapositionverysimilartothatofapriest,anditisreadasifitwere
speaking.TheHinduspacewasnotonlypractical,buthighlysymbolicandhighly

decorated.Themoreimportantadeityis,thebiggerandcloserthethecenterthey
were.IntheCathedral,thewallswerelinedwithgorgeousartdepictingthesacrificeof
Christasareminder.

ConclusionAreallreligionsultimatelythesame?
Whilesayingthatthesereligionsandtraditionsarethesamemightbeatadtoo
extreme,Iwouldmaketheargumentthattheystemfromthesamecorehuman
attributesofgoodness,justice,righteousness,reverence,kindness,compassion,and
ourdrivetoseekouttheunknownandtheunknowable.SikhsandsomeHinduswould
arguethatallreligionsaretheirownpathtoauniversaltruth,atruthwhichaffects
everyone.WhileIcan'tclaimtoknowanythingaboutauniversaltruth,IcansaythatI
understandwhatitmeanstobehuman.WhileIcantclaimthatallreligionsarethe
same,Icansaytheunderlyingprinciplesaresomethingthataregenerallygoodthings.
Peoplemayperformgooddeedsforheaven,orenlightenment,ortorealizeGodinour
world,butevenatheistsperformgooddeeds.Iwouldarguethathumansareinherently
moralbutflawedcreaturesandthatthatinherentmoralityistheunderlyingtruthofthe
threefaithsIhavediscussed.Thepointthathasdividedthemallishowtheidealmoral
lifethatIbelievehumansinherentlystriveforisdefinedandenforced.Thatisnottosay
thereisnoultimatetruthaboutgod,orthatoneormoreofthesefaithsareexactlyright
ineveryaspect,butIarguethatthesefaithsstemfromthesameplacewithinourselves.