Examining Religion And Belief: Sikhs

This book explores the beliefs, practices, traditions, values
and identities of Sikhs. It is representative rather than
comprehensive, exploring a selection of key aspects of a
Sikh way of life (or Gurmat – ‘the teachings of the Guru’). We use the term Sikhism, as the term commonly used in RE, although one that is sometimes contested and seen by some as a Western
imposition onto the tradition. We also refer at times to
Sikhi, a term preferred by many Sikhs, to show that the
faith is not just a system of belief but a path to follow.
The term ‘Sikh’ comes from sikhna, ‘to learn’, so a Sikh is
a learner.

We have sought authentic resources to introduce
students to Sikhi, including voices of Sikhs in the
UK today (see, for example, pp. 5, 6, 15, 27–29) and
explorations of the Guru Granth Sahib – seen as the
living Guru, a living voice rather than a lifeless text (e.g.
pp. 8–11, 30–31). The place and identity of Sikhs in the
UK have specific contexts, of course. This is examined
in the art of the Singh Twins, setting their own identities
within the story of their father’s (see pp. 12–13). The
account of Gurinder Chadha reflects a similar story
(p. 15). The difference between online perceptions of
Sikhs (as turban-wearing and amritdhari – initiated,
Khalsa Sikhs) and the more diverse reality is considered
in a number of places (e.g. pp. 14–15, 18–23 and in the
infographic on pp. 16–17).

So – we offer a snapshot of Sikhs and Sikh living,
presented alongside a range of creative and engaging
ways to explore Sikhi in the classroom, to get your
students to think hard and learn lots