h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

What a great article!


I always enjoy learning about other's beliefs, and this was particularly enlightening.


It sounds like a really noble faith to belong to.

Out of interest, do you have to be born Sikh like you have be born Hindu, or is it possible to 'convert'?

It is possible to adopt Sikhism as a religion by just following the virtues outlined in the Guru Granth Sahib and adhereing to them.
However it must be said that Sikhs do not actively seek converts and strongly advocate religious freedom.

So if one were to adopt "the virtues outlined in the Guru Granth Sahib", would one then be entitled to change one's name? Would other Sikhs 'recognise' such a person?


I'm not sure that I'd want to 'convert' to any religion really, as I'm quite happy in having my own take on spirituality. But I do love to learn about the beliefs of others.

That is a good question!!
The simple answer is that Sikhs are very tolerant and they have accepted converts from all parts of the world. The most notable are American-Sikhs and their Gurudwaras where the basic tenets are followed. They have gained recognition and are equally respected. As long as the basic philosophy is not compromised, there is no question of someone not gaining acceptance. Changing a name should be far less challenging than following the virtues.
That said, there have been instances when in recent times, some very learned people have proclaimed themselves as Gurus or Saints in the Sikh faith. Since this is not acceptable, they fail to find any recognition although they may have their own following.

Thanks for that answer!

May I ask if you are Sikh?


One of the things that I find wonderful about the Sikh religion is that women have the surname Kaur(Princess), which they keep throughout their lives. It seems to me a beautiful way of having equality without aspiring to 'sameness'... which in my opinion benefits no-one.

Yes I am a Sikh.

It is great that you find some aspects so wonderful. If you look at the history of India (and it is so true even today), women have always been opressed. Therefore giving them a title of Princess was in a way to instill confidence in them. but in my opinion, it became symbolic over the years and the society did not accept them as equals. It is a shame to find that prevalent in some areas of Punjab even today.

I do not though understand your concept of sameness.

It is a sad truth that women have been oppressed in many countries and for many long years.


By 'sameness' I mean that often women in the western world aspire to be "as good" or "the same" as men in order to prove their equality as a human.
As a woman, I find that I *am* different than men in many ways, and that those differences are to be celebrated rather than squashed down in order to try and be the same. In my opinion we are all equal as human beings, but our differences should be respected and celebrated.
The world would be a boring place if we were all the same!



Hope that makes sense!

In my opinion, men and women are never the same, but they can be granted an equality oin a social platform. The differences between the sexes will always exist and it is just natural that they do.
Respect can be gained only by protecting one's identity and not by losing it in pursuit of "sameness".

I am a Sikh, and as far as I know, Sikhism is not restricted to any particular ethnicity. In fact, you can meet many caucasian Sikhs in California. (It's the location with the largest number of converts).

I also wanted to point out if there is any way that the current article can be edited to reflect two changes:

1. The Golden Temple is not called Harmandir Sahib by Sikhs because of the use of the word (Mandir), it is generally called the Darbar Sahib.

2. Not all Sikhs follow the Rehitnama. In fact our Gurudwara does not follow it, since it seems to be written by 'saints' after the last guru. That is not to say that we dont follow all the guidelines in the Rehitnama, but we don't stringently follow it.

example for "comfortably numb": For example, we dont stop the Rehras Sahib after the Salok before the Pauri: as the Rehitnama dictates, but we go all the way....

So... how could I propose these changes?

Wow!!

The Golden Temple has always been represented by a multiplicity of names including Sri Harmandir Sahib, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, The Golden Temple. I am not sure if there is a preference for a name, but the locals most often refer it to as Darbar Sahib.

I am not sure about the details that HSB has pointed out!!!
Needs some more research on my part!! Though it is true that anything written or propitiated by the later day saints is absolutely irrelevent as far as the Sikhs are concerned, the Rehatnama just provides for a code of conduct for a follower of the faith.


I do not think that the guide entry can be edited any more because its already been approved.

CN