Presentation

Prabhnoor

Presentation.

Image 1: (ONLINE Secular Community Network - Hosted by SCN Ottawa West, 2021)

About Religion

What Is A Religion?

“religion, human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It is also commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death” (“Religion | Definition, Types, Beliefs, Symbols, Examples, Importance, & Facts | Britannica,” 2023).

If somebody asks me: What is religion to you? I would answer it as a hope to keep on going. Some might even say that it is a beautiful, hopeful perspective on religion.

A religion could be many things like:

• A source of comfort and strength - Religion provides spiritual comfort during difficult times and gives me strength to keep moving forward when life gets hard.

• A guide for living - The teachings and wisdom of my faith show me how to live a meaningful life and treat others with love, kindness and compassion.

• A sense of purpose - My religious beliefs give my life purpose and direction, reminding me of my role and responsibilities in the larger scheme of things.

Key Words

Characteristics

4 Major Characteristics Of The Religion

“The Sikh religion is a monotheistic faith founded in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. It is characterized by its devotion to one God and its principles of selfless service and communal worship” (Basics of Sikhism | What Do Sikhs Believe?, 2019).

1. Monotheism - Sikhs believe in one supreme God who is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-present. They reject idol worship and believe God is infinite, eternal and beyond human comprehension. God is referred to as Waheguru, meaning ‘Wonderful Teacher.’

2. Devotion and remembrance of God - Central to Sikhism is nam simran, or the remembrance of God’s name. Sikhs are encouraged to constantly meditate on and chant the name of God. This devotion and remembrance helps unite the soul with God.

3. Striving for social justice - Sikhs are called to live honestly and work for the good of all humanity. Service to others, especially the poor and needy, is seen as service to God. Sikhs have a history of fighting against injustice and oppression.

4. Equal acceptance of all - Sikhism preaches the equality of all beings and rejects discrimination based on race, caste, gender or religion. Sikhs follow one spiritual path and believe all people can unite in devotion to the one true God.

“The Four Pillars of Sikhism are the foundation of the four characteristics that define the Sikh faith.”

GURU NANAK

Five K’s

The Five K’s are the symbols that every baptized Sikh must wear as a sign of their faith.

Seemingly corresponding with the five obstacles are symbolic emblems that are continually worn called the “Five Ks”

Image 2: (The Sikh Symbols - the Five K’s, 2023)

1. Kesh (uncut hair, usually tied and wrapped in the Sikh Turban, Dastar.)

2. Kanga (wooden comb, usually worn under the Dastar.)

3. Katchera (specially made cotton underwear as a reminder of the commitment to purity.)

4. Kara (iron bracelet, which is a symbol of eternity.)

5. Kirpan (curved sword, comes in different sizes.) (Reed, 2012)

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Image 3: (IndianLegion | Official Book 2021 - ☬ Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti ☬Wattpad, 2021)

History of Sikhism

Contemporary Issues In Canada

History, Culture, Politics, And/Or The Workplace.

Multiculturalism and inclusion of minorities: Sikhs value Canada’s multicultural policies but feel more needs to be done to combat racism, prejudice and discrimination. Sikhs have advocated for greater recognition and accommodation of cultural and religious practices.

Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples: Sikhs support efforts to reconcile with Indigenous peoples and rectify historical injustices. Many see this as an important part of healing the country and moving forward together.

National unity: As newcomers to Canada, most Sikhs support a united Canada and do not favor Quebec separatism. But they also encourage

the federal government to engage more with minority groups to foster a greater sense of inclusion and belonging.

Environmental protection: Sikh teachings emphasize living in harmony with nature and being good stewards of the environment. Many Sikhs support strong environmental protections and action on climate change.

Healthcare access: Like other Canadians, Sikhs value Canada’s universal healthcare system. However, some feel the system could do a better job accommodating cultural and religious needs of minority groups (Logan, 2022).

Role in the world: Sikhs have a history of advocating for justice, freedom and human rights around the world. Many feel Canada has an important role to play as a force for good on the global stage (World Sikh Organization of Canada | the Canadian Encyclopedia, 2020).

Workplace discrimination: While Canadian workplaces are generally inclusive, some Sikhs still face challenges with discrimination related to race, religion and cultural practices like wearing turbans or having uncut hair (Workplace Discrimination for Sikhs Goes beyond the City of Toronto Security Guard Lay Offs, 2022).

Indigenous Reconciliation Religious Reforms Poverty and Homelessness

Image 4: (Coppes, 2016)

Image 5: (Allison, 2017)

Image 6: (Vision & Mission - Play against All Odds, 2021)

Image 7: (Sikh Teens Spread Awareness + Love in Manhattan, 2015)

The 1984 Sikh Genocide

In 1984, the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi led to the killing of thousands of Sikhs in India. Canadian Sikhs commemorate this tragedy by observing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and Children.

Image 8: (Gyapong, 2019)

Image 9: (http://www.facebook.com/macleans, 2019)

Quebec’s Bill 21

Québec’s controversial Bill 21 bans public sector workers and officials, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols at work. This has particularly affected Sikh public servants in Canada.

Racial Profiling

Sikhs have experienced racial profiling and hate crimes, including the tragic Oak Creek massacre in Wisconsin, USA. Canadian Sikhs continue to advocate for policies to combat hate crimes and hate speech.

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Contribution Of A Religion To The Contemporary Issue In Canada

outline Promoting Diversity

One of the key values of Sikhism is inclusivity and equality. The Sikh community has played an active part in supporting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Canada. They have participated in Pride parades and organized events to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues.

Community Service

The Sikh community in Canada is known for its commitment to community service. They run food banks and kitchen programs, homeless shelters, and other community services to support those in need. They believe that service to others is an important part of their faith.

Social Activism

The Sikh community in Canada has a long history of social activism. They have been involved in many different causes, fighting for equal rights and justice for all. They have organized protests and rallies to raise awareness about issues such as racism and discrimination. They believe in standing up for what is right and making a positive difference in the world.

Communal Dining

Langar is a community kitchen in which free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors, regardless of social status, gen-

Community Kitchen

Blood Donation Drives

Walkathons and Marathons

The Sikh community serves free food as part of ‘ Langar ’ to everyone in Canada, regardless of their caste, religion, or

The Sikh community in Canada actively participates in blood donation drives and other charitable initiatives.

The Sikh community participates in several walkathons and marathons in Canada to raise funds for charitable causes.

The Practice of Langar

Communal Dining

Langar is a community kitchen in which free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors, regardless of social status, gender, or religion (Langar: The Communal Meal, 2023).

Spiritual Significance

Langar represents the Sikh principles of equality, service, and community and reflects the belief that all people have a right to dignity and respect.

Volunteer-Driven

Langar is sustained through the collective effort of volunteers, who contribute their time and resources to prepare and serve.

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Image 10: (View, 2020)

Image 11: (Tran, 2021) Image 12: (Guardian, 2017)

Source: (Saskatoon Sikh Community Celebrates by Helping the Homeless, 2013)

Conclusion

Overall

The impact of Sikhism may be seen in the arts and cultures, academics, politics, and civic life of Canada, where it has developed into a significant component of the country’s multicultural landscape. The inclusive, compassionate, and socially fair principles of Sikhism continue to motivate people all around Canada, thus despite continued difficulties, the religion’s future in this nation remains optimistic.

Overall, Sikhism in Canada has a bright future since its primary principles of justice, equality, and service are in line with Canadian norms and the community is becoming more socially and economically integrated. Sikhism’s contributions and impact within Canadian culture are expected to keep growing in good ways as a result of active participation in civic life, meaningful intercultural conversation, and acknowledgement of diverse religious identities.

Image 13: (Turnbull & Aiello, 2022)

Image 14: (Sikh Community Welcomes the SCC Decision in Loyola, 2015) Image 15: (Gianluca Mezzofiore, 2018)

References

Figures

1. ONLINE Secular Community Network - Hosted by SCN Ottawa West. (2021, July 26). Centreforinquiry.ca. https://centreforinquiry.ca/cfic-in-themedia/

2. The Sikh Symbols - The Five K’s. (2023). Sikhmissionarysociety.org. https:// www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/sms/smspublications/thesikhsymbols/ chapter4/

3. IndianLegion | Official Book 2021 - ☬ Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti ☬Wattpad. (2021). Wattpad.com. https://www.wattpad.com/1013584623indianlegion-official-book-2021-%E2%98%AC-guru-gobind

4. Coppes, M. (2016, August 9). Canada’s Acceptance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Implications for... The Arctic Institute - Center for Circumpolar Security Studies; The Arctic Institute - Center for Circumpolar Security Studies. https://www.thearcticinstitute. org/canadas-acceptance-declaration-rights-indigenous-peoples/

5. Allison. (2017, October 20). A ban on face-covering veil by Quebec state officials faces disagreements. UPDATED TRENDS. https://updatedtrends. com/15480/ban-face-covering-quebec/

6. Vision & Mission - Play Against All Odds. (2021). Play against All Odds. https://www.playagainstallodds.ca/vision-mission/

7. Sikh Teens Spread Awareness + Love in Manhattan. (2015, May). Asian

(23S-O-B) - World Religions: A Comparative Study

American Writers’ Workshop. https://aaww.org/sikh-parade/

8. Gyapong, D. (2019, April 2). Quebec’s Bill 21 puts religious freedom at risk. Catholicregister.org; The Catholic Register. https://www.catholicregister. org/item/29277-quebec-s-bill-21-puts-religious-freedom-at-risk

9. http://www.facebook.com/macleans. (2019, April 9). Quebec’s unthinkable Bill 21 - Macleans.ca. Macleans.ca. https://macleans.ca/opinion/quebecsunthinkable-bill-21/

10. View. (2020, August 30). Langer Sewa By Sikh People – Food To Hungry . SJSR Motivational Speaker; SJSR Motivational Speaker. https:// sjsrspiritualmotivator.wordpress.com/2020/08/30/langer-sewa-by-sikhpeople-food-to-hungry/

11. Tran, P. (2021, November 3). Sikh Nation annual blood donation event returns to Kelowna. Kelowna Capital News; Kelowna Capital News. https:// www.kelownacapnews.com/community/sikh-nation-annual-blooddonation-event-returns-to-kelowna/

12. Guardian, Y. (2017, April 27). TORONTO WEEKEND EVENTS: Check out Hot Docs, Khalsa Day, learn how to speed skate and more. Toronto.com. https://www. toronto.com/things-to-do/toronto-weekend-events-check-out-hotdocs-khalsa-day-learn-how-to-speed-skate-and/article_34e0c887a6cf-5606-9af3-99051a740007.html?

13. Turnbull, S., & Aiello, R. (2022, May 12). “Anger that I haven’t seen before”: Singh harassment incident puts renewed spotlight on politicians’ security. CTVNews; CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/anger-that-ihaven-t-seen-before-singh-harassment-incident-puts-renewedspotlight-on-politicians-security-1.5900833

14. Sikh Community Welcomes the SCC Decision in Loyola. (2015). World Sikh Organization of Canada. https://www.worldsikh.org/sikh_community_ welcomes_the_scc_decision_in_loyola

15. Gianluca Mezzofiore. (2018, May 10). US apologized after Canadian minister was asked to remove turban | CNN. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/10/ us/canada-minister-navdeep-bains-turban-us-airport-trnd/index.html

References

Text Basics of Sikhism | What Do Sikhs Believe? (2019, November 4). Discover Guru Nanak. https://discovergurunanak.com/basics-of-sikhism/

Langar: The Communal Meal. (2023). Pluralism.org. https://pluralism.org/ langar-the-communal-meal

Logan, N. (2022, September 7). Canadians less satisfied in their access to health care than Americans: poll. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ canada-health-care-access-1.6574184

Payne, K. (2018, May). The Simple Guide To Find Your God Given Purpose In Life. Kevintpayne.com. https://kevintpayne.com/the-simple-guide-to-findyour-god-given-purpose-in-life/

Reed, S. (2012, April 15). Sikhism’s “Five Ks” and Other Sacred Clothing and Artifacts. Oneclimbs.com; oneClimbs.com. https://oneclimbs. com/2012/04/15/sikhisms-five-ks-and-other-sacred-clothing-andartifacts/

Religion | Definition, Types, Beliefs, Symbols, Examples, Importance, & Facts | Britannica. (2023). In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/ topic/religion

Saskatoon Sikh community celebrates by helping the homeless. (2013, April 14). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatoon-sikhcommunity-celebrates-by-helping-the-homeless-1.1336939

HUMN200 (23S-O-B) - World Religions: A Comparative Study

Workplace discrimination for Sikhs goes beyond the City of Toronto security guard lay offs. (2022, July 11). Thestar.com; Toronto Star. https://www.thestar. com/opinion/2022/07/08/workplace-discrimination-for-sikhs-goesbeyond-the-city-of-toronto-security-guard-lay-offs.html

World Sikh Organization of Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2020). Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/ en/article/world-sikh-organization-of-canada