Sikhism Overview

Sikhism is the youngest of the world's four great monotheistic religions. It was founded in the 15th Century by Guru Nanak.

“Who are these men with turbans on their heads?” You may have asked this question, seeing such men driving taxi cabs in New York, operating fast-food restaurants in California, or managing clothing stores in Toronto .

 Quite likely, they are followers of Sikhism, the fifth largest religion in the world. Sikhs are neither Hindus nor Muslims; rather, they combine elements from both religions. Like Islam, Sikhism is strictly monotheistic. Like Hinduism, Sikhism believes in karma (the sum of a person’s past actions) and rebirth.

Unlike in Hinduism and Buddhism, a life acceptable to their god does not involve denial. Sikhs may eat meat (except pork), marry, live an ordinary life, and still expect to escape the cycle of rebirth.

Every Sikh must have a guru (teacher) whom he or she follows diligently. The submissiveness of the Sikh to the guru’s teachings is the basis on which their god grants grace and escape from rebirth.