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.

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)

HUMN200 (23S-O-B) - World Religions:

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