Sikhism and Other Religions

"Of all the religions, the best religion is to repeat God's Name and to do pious deeds. Of all the religious rites, the best rite is to remove the filth of evil intellect by association with the saints." (Guru Arjan Dev, Ashtpadi, pg. 266)

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak who shaped a new, unique and distinct religion during his lifetime. Under the stewardship of the Ten Gurus Sikhism was able to gather many followers from other religions. Although the Gurus were critical of other religions they very strongly believed in religious freedom. They also emphasized that the most important thing was not which faith one followed but the remembrance of God at all time and the leading of a decent and honourable life. Due to it's relatively young nature Sikhism is sometimes misunderstood to be only a reform movement or branch of older existing religions. This is certainly not the case, like all religions there are some similarities as well as differences.

Bani Concerning Religions in General

Source: 1994 World Almanac
Religions of the World
Rank Religion Followers
1. Christianity 1,830 mil.
2. Islam 971 mil.
3. Hinduism 732 mil.
4. Buddhism 314 mil.
5. Sikhism 19 mil.
6. Judaism 18 mil.
7. Shamanists 10 mil.
8. Confucianism 6 mil.
9. Bahai 6 mil.
10. Jainism 4 mil.
11. Shinto 3 mil.

Comparisons with Other Religions

HinduismIslamSemiticBuddhismYogaJainismSufismBhakti


 


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