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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Religion of the Sikh

Sikhism is relatively a new religion in our modern world. This indigenous religion of India was founded over 500 years ago by Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469 (A.D./C.E.).

Guru Nanak preached a message of love and understanding and openly criticized the blind rituals of the Hindus and Muslims. Nanak passed on his enlightened leadership of this new religion to nine (9) successive Gurus, with the final [living] Guru being Gobind Singh who died in 1708. 

A Way of Life and Philosophy...

Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times. Truthful living, equality of mankind and social justice are also recognized, but the Sikh (meaning 'disciple') is fast to denounce superstitions and blind rituals. Their beliefs are steadfast and include:
There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all religions.
The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an exemplary existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.
The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship etc.
Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer.  
Sikhism is a religion that is open to all through the teachings of its ten (10) Gurus, which is enshrined in the Sikh's Holy Book known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The wisdom of these sacred teachings are practical and universal in their appeal to mankind.
"I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Bhairon pg. 1136) 
Gobind Singh, the final living Guru, established the Khalsa order or the soldier-saints. The Khalsa, which uphold the virtues of commitment, dedication and social consciousness, are men and women who have undergone the Sikh baptism (aka: Amrit Sanchar) ceremony and who strictly follow the Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions. 

Before his death in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared that the Sikhs no longer needed a living Guru and appointed the Sikhs sacred Holy Book as his spiritual successor; his physical successor he assigned as the Khalsa. This ancient Guru felt that all the wisdom needed for spiritual guidance could be found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, who is classified as the Eternal Guru. The writings of this Eternal Guru  is considered unique and coincides with the writings of saints from other religious faith whose thoughts were consistent with those of the Sikh Gurus. While this religion does not recognize priests, which were also abolished by Guru Singh, the Sikh community have custodians of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (granthi) and any member of the Sikh religion is free to read the sacred holy book in the Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) or in their own home. All people of all faiths are welcome to the Gurdwara. At every Sikh temple a community kitchen can be found which serves meals to all people of all faiths. Guru Nanak (the first Guru) was responsible for starting and instituting this, which outlined the basic Sikh principles of service, humility and equality of all mankind. 

The most significant religious center for the Sikhs is Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) at Amritsar in the state of Puniab in northern India. While all places where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is installed are considered equally holy for Sikhs, it is not a mandatory place for pilgrimage or worship. 

Sikhism, a progressive religion that was well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago, has a following of over 20 million people worldwide in our modern times. It is ranked as the 5th largest religion in the world. The celebration of God and the Gurus teachings on how one should live their lives [found in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib] transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries and are universal in their appeal.
"Alone let him constantly meditate in solitude on that which is salutary for his soul, for he who meditates in solitude attains supreme bliss." ~ Guru Nanak



Sunday, October 12, 2014

The Prophet Jeremiah


Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, prophesied during the dark history of Jerusalem and Judah; he is oftentimes referred to as the "weeping prophet". His prophetic ministry began as early as 626 B.C., which included Nebuchadnezzar's 70 year despondency upon Judah. While Jeremiah wrote with authority of the certainty of the judgment of God upon a sinful people, he continually preached about the greatness of God's love. He also foretold the conditions that will herald in the end of an age (aka: Armageddon). The ancient seer is credited with writing the Book of Jeremiah, I Kings, II Kings and the Book of Lamentations and considered [by Judaism and Christianity to be] the second of the major prophets. In Islam, while not mentioned in the Qur'an, Jeremiah is revered as a prophet. Muslim literature narrates and parallels many instances from the life of Jeremiah, including the imprisonment and persecution of the prophet found in Sura 17 and the destruction of Jerusalem (which parallels the account given in the Book of Jeremiah found in the Hebrew/Christian Bible)

Babylon Captivity & 70 Years of Despondency

Jeremiah's prophecies were finally recognized [by the ancient Israelites from the tribe of Judah] with the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 605 B.C. and the first deportation to this foreign land included Daniel (who would also become another renowned prophet of the Creator). In the beginning, Jeremiah was somewhat reluctant to accept this prophet status from the Lord, stating "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." (Jer. 1:6). However, God was not concerned about his weary thoughts and promised to guide him every step of the way (Jer. 1:7-9). After two more Judean deportations [in 597 and 587 B.C.] and the complete destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled when the remaining people of Judah were exiled to Babylon... 
"Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[a] them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Jeremiah 25:8-11
The ancient prophet had been warning the Children of Judah of the Creator's wrath to come for over 23 years, but Jeremiah was not taken seriously during that duration. Due to their disobedience in ignoring Jeremiah's warnings, Judah lived in utter desolation under the reign of Babylonian rule; the Children of Judah lived and died by the sword, as well as disease and famine in their bondage... fulfilling the prophecy made by Jeremiah. 

A Promise of Freedom

During captivity Jeremiah was instructed to deliver a letter to the surviving elders, priests and prophets of Judah giving suggestions on how to live during their 70 year bondage...
"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”   (Jeremiah 29:4-7)
Jeremiah also delivered another warning in the letter to those believers [in false prophets] whose intentions were not righteous...
"Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. ~ I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord."  (Jeremiah 29:8-9 and Jeremiah 17-19)
Yet, the Creator's promise was steadfast to the Children of Judah, when He pledged to fulfill the covenant... 
"This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14)
The ancient prophet, who was eventually confident enough to deliver the promises of the Creator to a sinful nation, let the people of Judah know that God's great mercy and faithfulness to His people would endure as long they obeyed the "new covenant" that was now being placed upon them... many of these ancient Jews did not comply.

Futuristic "End of the Age" Prophecies

Another "new covenant" was mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31 in which the Creator has promised to restore the land to the descendants of ancient Judah and Israel. 

In chapter 30, Jeremiah goes into some detail about the happenstances that will occur before that can happen - enumerating various troubles that will befall the Children of Israel....


  • "Cries of fear are heard - terror, not peace" (Jer. 30:5)
  • " It will be a time of trouble for Jacob," (Jer. 30:7)
  • "All your allies have forgotten you;" (Jer. 30:14)
Yet, even through the hardships of acquiring the promises of restoring the land to its rightful owners (the modern Jews) is expressly detailed in chapters 30 and 31, God made that "new covenant" with positive authority and finality. 

In the Book of Revelation a symbolic Babylon is likened unto an unchaste woman ruling over the "kings of the earth" (Rev. 17, 18/Jer. 25:29) just as it was portrayed during the era of Jeremiah's time. Modern scholars today compare this to the apostate church. In chapters 50 and 51 of the Book of Jeremiah, it foretells of the symbolic destruction of Babylon; the Children of Israel [of symbolic Babylon] is urged to flee from the destruction that will one day come upon the revived ancient kingdom. (Jer. 51:6, 7/Rev. 17:4; 18:4). The ancient prophecies show that the Creator's judgments against symbolic Babylon will result in total ruin (Jer. 51:18/Rev. 17:1).

Prophet Jeremiah was also used of the Creator to foretell the resurrection of the dead during the "End of Days" (aka: the Christian "End Times"/ the Muslim "Last Days"). Some theologians interpret this as being released from the captivity of death only to be brought again into captivity of the living. Jeremiah forecast the resurrection of the Moabites, the Elamites and the Ammonites (Jer. 48:47; 49:6, 39) Another prophecy revolves around "the awakening of children from the sleep of death" (Jer. 31:15-17) and, the state of death, is poetically described as "the land of the enemy". The "land of the enemy" will be resurrected and the fear of a mother losing her children to death and refusing to be comforted will be as it was during the days of Herod the Great, who ordered the death of all Jewish male children under two years old. Many ancient Jewish mothers lost numerous children in the "Slaughter of the Innocents" and Jeremiah predicts [through the symbolic references to Babylon] this will again happen in the future of modern Israel. 

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Jeremiah's prophecies were direct and firm. The captivity and subsequent 70 years of desolate bondage, as well as the literal destruction of Jerusalem, came true during the ancient prophet's own time. The "new covenant", which some scholars believe was fulfilled with the birth of Israel in 1948, has also been achieved. However, the resurrection of symbolic Babylon and the hardships and rewards in store for the Children of Israel have yet to manifest... 
“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten." Jeremiah 50:4-5