Kids Corner

Columnists

To Believe or Not to Be ...

by RUBIN PAUL SINGH

 

It's happened enough times to cause concern.

Whether it's through a group discussion at a Gurmat camp or a talk with a concerned parent, I'm finding more and more Sikh youth questioning their faith.

Not as much about the articles of faith, but faith itself ... to simply put it, they don't believe in God.

This issue is not unique to our community. In fact, all of the other faiths have struggled with this, off and on, for much of the last century. The challenge has arrived within our community belatedly, but surely.

I consider myself a very liberal-minded Sikh and see a lot of grey where others might see black and white. But neither I, nor anyone else, can stretch the definition of a Sikh to include one who does not believe in God.

In my dialogue with these youth, I find there are all kinds of different reasons for their uncertainty. Some I feel use their "atheism" as an excuse for the real issue, their disinterest in the keeping the Sikh uniform. And well, saying you don't believe in God is a shorter and less emotional argument to have.

With others, the doubt is more genuine. Some are students of science and are accustomed to basing their principles on quantifiable and verifiable evidence, while others have been born and raised in a technology culture where everything is so here, so now, and so in your face - that contemplating the un-seen is so foreign to them.

I recall having my own doubts about the existence of God in my teenage years. I rejected the concept of "blind faith" and the dogmatic approach to Sikhi that I was familiar with, and I couldn't understand how people I respected so much believed so strongly.

That is, until, I stumbled upon Guru Nanak.

No, not a "vision of him"... but a history book. I read extensively about his life, his work, and his travels - and I was amazed! At that age, I idolized social and political revolutionaries like Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Che Guevara - but I learned that none of them could compare to my Guru.

It wasn't the story of how he stopped a boulder from falling on him that fascinated me; it was how he challenged the caste-based society, how he challenged devotees of meaningless rituals in their own holy places, and how - through his powerful words - he challenged the tyrannical ruler, Babur. He believed in truth and justice ... and was completely fearless in preserving it.

This was the magic of Guru Nanak!

Although I had my doubts about God ... I believed in Guru Nanak - with all my heart. And well, He surely believed in God ... so maybe there was something more for me to learn.

After some further study, contemplation and discourse with my sangat - my faith became firm.

Questioning can be healthy, and the journey in finding out answers can actually do more good and strengthen one's faith long-term.

To some, faith and belief come easy. To others, it takes a little work. Some youth are skeptical and are not really willing to put in the effort - to learn, reflect and discuss. To them, I offer a quotation from Dr. King:

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

Or in Bhai Gurdas' words: "If you take one step towards the Guru, then the Guru will take a thousand steps towards you."

As a community, I think we often focus so much of our spiritual development through ceremonies, competitions and other public displays of faith ... but very little on simran, reflection and vichaar.

Perhaps I need to find more creative ways to engage children on these aspects of Sikhi at a younger age, so their foundation is solid and not easily swayed by peer pressure or doubt.

In one discussion with an unconvinced youth, he turned the tables on me and asked, "How can you believe?"

I had to reflect ... how could I? How could I close my eyes and fall back on something I've never seen or touched? How can I look out in to the darkness and pour my heart into something ... somewhere out there ... into the oblivion, and trust that He has heard me ... how can I believe?

Although I'm a writer and poet, I still have a tough time articulating my belief. I don't have the words to express myself when I hear the elderly man next to me at the gurdwara, who is moved to tears every time he hears the hukamnama. I cannot explain how I feel when I see a Sikh mother hold her child and pat him to sleep, with Gurbani on her lips. I cannot explain how I feel when, for every hundred times I rattle through my nitnem, I connect with a line somewhere that touches my soul. I cannot explain what comes over me when I've looked straight up in the sky at twilight, and see the sun and clouds arranged in a way, where such a masterpiece could only be designed by the Almighty. I cannot explain what it's like to hold a newborn baby in my arms, knowing that only a few minutes before ... He was holding her in His own.

I am overwhelmed by his Grace ... and to those who doubt it; all I can ask is ...

"How can you not?"

 

April 12, 2009 

 

Conversation about this article

1: D.J.Singh (U.S.A.), April 12, 2009, 10:11 AM.

How do you perceive God? Is God only a cosmic force that sets the laws of nature in motion? Or is He/She/It deeply involved in our daily life and world events? Does God get angry and punish the unfaithful and ungodly? What is divine judgment?

2: Tejwant (U.S.A.), April 12, 2009, 8:01 PM.

A couple of things about atheism and faith: The definitions of God and Atheist, according to the dictionary: Atheist - One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods. God - 1) A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions. 2) The force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being. 3) A being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people, especially a male deity thought to control some part of nature or reality. An image of a supernatural being; an idol. [Yahoo] Now let us see what is Ik Oankaar according to the Mool Mantar. Ajauni Sahibhang - Creative Energy. In other words, not a personified deity whom the atheists define as God. So, in anutshell, what/whom the atheists reject as God has nothing to do with Ik Oankaar. In fact, I have many atheist friends who understand the concept of Ik Oankaar in Sikhi very well and appreciate it. That is why I never refer to Ik Oankaar as God or Lord.

3: Tejwant (U.S.A.), April 12, 2009, 8:08 PM.

Faith makes people blind. Sikhi is not about faith but is based on three basic tenets: 1) Naam Japna - Understanding and using Gurbani as the tool box to construct a positive life that can make a difference. 2) Kirat Karni - Using the tools from Guru Granth to have a work plan as a true student from a very young age. Studying hard, dilligently and honestly. No cheat sheets! And, working in an honest manner to make a living. 3) Vand Chhakna - Only Ik OanKaar gives. A Sikh has no capacity to do so. So, upon having reaped the fruit by sowing the seeds with the above two, a Sikh shares with others. As a student at a school or in a college, helping others who need help like tutoring and other things and as a student of life, helping anyone who needs a hand in anyway or form, irrespective of their hue, creed or faith. That is why, for me, Sikhi is neither a belief system nor a faith but a Way of Life.

4: D.J.Singh (U.S.A.), April 13, 2009, 9:09 PM.

Are the concepts of "One God; honest living; and sharing a part of one's earnings" unique to the Sikh religion? Is "Kesh" a symbol of the Sikh faith or a way of life?

Comment on "To Believe or Not to Be ..."









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.