When talking about the religions of India, we often hear about Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Hinduism and Islam dominate the subcontinent, leading to conflicts and division. Sikhism is a smaller religion but also has deep roots in the region.
As a monotheistic religion, Sikhism emphasizes devotion to one God, equality, and service. While Sikhism developed in a Hindu and Muslim region, it has beliefs and practices that set it apart. Sikhism remains a mystery to many, but exploring its beliefs can help Christians today better engage with those who follow the religion in love and respect.
Sikhism began in the Punjab region of South Asia (India and Pakistan). Born in 1469, Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the religion in Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in today’s Pakistan. Guru Nanak witnessed the religious conflicts and strict caste divisions, and he tried to create a path for a more direct connection to God. Rejecting idolatry, ritual, and the rigid caste system, he taught equality and devotion to God. The message spread among people of other religions, especially Hindus and Muslims.
Guru Nanak’s followers became known as Sikhs, or disciples. Sikhism further developed over the next two hundred years through nine other Gurus, each who built upon the previous Guru and Nanak’s original vision. In 1604, Guru Arjan Dev compiled a holy scripture called the Granth Sahib. Arjan also established the Golden Temple in Amritsar, still the heart of Sikhism today. However, growing conflicts with the Mughal Empire led to Arjan’s death, which had a major impact on the Sikh community. His successor, Guru Hargobind, militarized the Sikhs in response, developing a concept called “Miri-Piri,” a spiritual and worldly authority, to make sure Sikhs could defend themselves and their faith.
The tenth and final Guru, Gobind Singh Ji, created the Khalsa in 1699, which made the Sikh community more formal. This brotherhood dedicated themselves to justice and the five Sikh principles, known as the Five Ks. Singh also declared the future spiritual authority would rest with Guru Granth Sahib, their scripture, instead of any man. The earthly authority would be with the Khalsa community.
After the death of Guru Singh, Sikhism continued to develop and spread, even through conflicts. Sikhs in Punjab continued to face persecution from the Mughal Empire. Various Sikh leaders resisted and even established their own empire in the early 1800s under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh Empire promoted religious tolerance and trade in Punjab. However, once Ranjit Singh passed away, the empire weakened until the British Empire took control of the area in 1849.
Under British colonial rule, Sikhs became major contributors to the Indian independence movement. The British relinquished control of the region in 1947, and the boundaries of India and Pakistan split Punjab and tragically misplaced many Sikhs. This diaspora and upheaval spread Sikhism around the world since the followers moved to places like North America, the United Kingdom, and Southeast Asia. Today, Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world with around 25 million followers, most of them in India. Other Sikh communities exist in other Western countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Sikhs believe in one supreme, formless God, referred to as Waheguru, who is all present, all powerful, eternal, and beyond human understanding. This belief in a single god separates Sikhism from most other South Asian religions. Guru Nanak and his successors taught devotion to God is open to everyone, no matter the caste or gender, making equality a core Sikhism belief.
The Guru Granth Sahib serves as their sacred text, and it includes hymns and verses by Guru Nanak and other Gurus. Since Nanak sought more unity, the Granth Sahib also has writings by spiritual leaders from other religions like Hindu and Muslim. Each gurdwara (the Sikh temple) has a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, and Sikhs treat it with respect and reverence.
Sikhs follow beliefs and practices in the “Three Pillars of Sikhism.” These pillars are Naam Japna (meditating on God’s name), Kirat Karni (honest life and work), and Vand Chakna (sharing with those in need). The Khalsa community introduced the Five Ks. These symbols daily remind Sikhs of their identity and values. The Five K’s are: Kesh (uncut hair to respect God’s creation), Kanga (a wooden comb to represent cleanliness and order), Kara (an iron bracelet for strength), Kirpan (a small ceremonial sword to represent the duty to justice and protecting others), and Kachera (undergarments for self-control and modesty). Many Sikhs commit to the Khalsa community and wear these symbols to show alignment with their religious principles.
Sikhs believe that selflessly serving others without expecting anything in return, or “seva,” reveals their devotion to God. A main way they practice this belief is through “langar,” a communal kitchen in every gurdwara temple where Sikhs serve free meals to people regardless of background. Langar symbolizes equality. Everyone sits together to eat.
Sikhism rejects superstitions, rituals, and empty religious practices. Sikhs discourage idolatry and pilgrimages, instead encouraging each other to find spiritual enlightenment through sincere devotion, right living, and generosity.
Both Sikhism and Christianity believe in a single, all-powerful God. Sikhism teaches about Waheguru, a formless, eternal, and unknowable God. Christianity teaches that there is a single and omnipotent God as well, but teaches that this transcendent God reveals himself so we can have a relationship with him through the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. According to John 1:14, God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The incarnation and loving Father aspects are absent from Sikhism, whose god proves largely distant and impersonal.
When it comes to salvation, Sikhism teaches that people achieve union with God through cycles of reincarnation and liberation. In reincarnation, the soul regenerates through various life forms based on karma (good or bad living rewarded or punished in the next human or animal life). Reincarnation happens until people are absorbed into God. Salvation in Sikhism involves breaking free from this cycle through meditation and righteous living.
Christian belief says that people live once and then experience judgment before God (Hebrews 9:27). The Bible declares salvation is a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection provides the path for salvation, offering forgiveness and eternal life with God. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Both religions have sacred texts. The Granth Sahib contains teachings from Sikh Gurus and even saints from other religions. It serves as the final authority. Christianity holds the Bible as its only authoritative scripture, a divinely inspired text (2 Timothy 3:16). Christians teach that the Bible is God’s revealed written word. It is comprised of teachings, historical accounts, poetry, prophecy, and wisdom, which teach us about God and becoming a disciple of Jesus through the Spirit.
Both religions value serving the poor and those in need, but their motivations differ. Sikhism encourages “seva,” or selfless service, as a way to live a godly life and achieve a closeness with God, however unknowable. Christianity teaches that good works and service flow from a salvation that has already occurred and cannot be attained through human works. Disciples of Jesus serve from an intimate relationship they already possess through the Spirit, to share the love he has given them.
Like Paul addressed the Greeks in Athens, using their religious ideas to introduce the truth of Christ, we can do something similar with all religions. Through finding common ground and universal needs, we begin respectful conversations and relationships to lead people to Jesus.
We always begin with prayer. We come before God and ask for wisdom, humility, and opportunity to share the Good News in ways that respect Sikh cultural perspectives. Pray for Sikhs to encounter the love of Jesus and see God’s grace clearly through our love for them. As James 1:5 says, God gives generous wisdom to those who ask, and we need it to navigate productive conversation. Also, prayer prepares our hearts to love no matter what happens, opening the way for God to do the work in another person’s life.
With the foundation of prayer, we then build a relationship with Sikhs, which is essential since their faith emphasizes community and relationships. Sikhs value friendship, as most people do, so showing genuine interest in their lives goes a long way. When we take the time to understand beliefs, traditions, and their family situation, it shows love in a way that speaks louder than mere words. Jesus often spent time with marginalized people, forming relationships and showing compassion. We can follow his example, participating in cultural and family events when possible.
Along with prayer, we must listen more than speak in the beginning. Others feel more comfortable sharing their beliefs and experiences if they know we are actually interested in understanding. Through listening, we get insight into Sikh beliefs that can serve as bridges for spiritual conversation. For example, Sikhs teach Naam Japna, meditating on God’s name, and “seva” or serving others. We can encourage these shared values and speak to how Jesus taught his followers to serve others and love God with all their hearts (Matthew 22:37-39). In addition, we can then explain how Christ offers peace through knowing him, replacing rituals with personal relationship.
While discussing beliefs, the concept of salvation will come up. Sikhs don’t have the assurance of salvation we possess in Christ, since their faith relies on personal achievement over several lifetimes. We then have the opportunity to explain how salvation is a gift of grace, not based on our works but on Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
Further, Sikhs seek a closeness to their god, although that effort for intimacy is tragically unattainable since Waheguru exists beyond human understanding. And Waheguru has no form to relate to. We can give testimony, our own stories about how we communicate with God and he speaks to us. Sikhs might be interested in narratives from the Gospels where God came in human form specifically so he could be with us, Emmanuel. God chose to close the distance, to reveal himself. We could never know him otherwise. This should be Good News to Sikhs who seek to know God.
Peace.
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