BERKLEY: A two-day retreat in Berkeley found nearly 100 Sikhs taking a close hard look at the disparities between religion and day-to-day activities.
The retreat organized by Dr. Narider Singh Kapany chief architect of the Sikh foundation was held to “bring together some of the young people and some of the schools (of Sikhism) to transmit something of the fundamentals something of the history something of the spirituality and something of the social and other factors.”
By all accounts the event was successful in raising many issues and giving the participants an opportunity to look closely at their religion and its functioning in the modem world.
Identity: The problems of identity gender inequality of religious practice vs precept were some of the issues being debated. One young speaker noted” Let’s not think of ourselves as being different but as being distinguished.
Historian Gurinder Singh of Columbia University focused on the evaluation of Sikhism Once a regional religion it is becoming a world-wide belief.
Dr. Kapany a pioneering American scientist focused on technology in the 20th century and how it failed to answer fundamental questions such as: “Who am I Why am I here Where am 1 going which inevitably backs one to the concept of God Quoting from Gur Granth Sahib he remarked that Sikh scripture leads us to the truth that we are all one all his children He stated this was indicative of the belief in unqualified equality for women This sparked a recurrent theme of agenda equality that surfaced after during the two days.
Sexism: One young woman said we are not true Sikhs until we eradicate sexism and other forms of inequality in our society. Some of the arguments presented regarding this issue included reconciling gone self to that fact that there were no female Gurus. Pressure by parents to find girls a suitable match as if shopping for a car” and referring to the marriage ceremony noting that “The woman with her head bowed her chunni over her face following behind her husband” was symbolic of how women were actually regarded Dr. Guradham Singh Kalsa a professor at Western Michigan University said that social dis Parties between men and women exist in Sikhism because of custom and not because of doctrine.
Pride & Politics: Sikhs are an equalitarian peace loving people. They have an image of people who are political threat tis up to the Sikh community to assert their pride self-eastern and identity in order to foster true understanding of Sikhism in the world.
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