Book Description
The Sikh religion has a following of over 20 million people worldwide and is one of the largest religions in the world. However, events such as the verbal and physical attacks on Sikhs just after September 11 indicated that Sikhs were being mistaken for Muslims, and suggests that the raising of sufficient and appropriate awareness about Sikhism still needs to be addressed.This book will introduce newcomers to the meaning of Sikhism, and its practices, rituals, and festivals. The key threads in the fascinating history of the religion will be highlighted, from the Gurus and the development of the Sikh look, to martyrdom and militarization in the 17th and 18th Centuries and the diaspora. Eleanor Nesbitt brings the subject completely up to date with an examination of gender and caste, referring to contemporary film, such as Bend It Like Beckham, and media reports. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not what I had expected
My interest in Religion stems primarily from the desire to learn about faith and beliefs, and their metaphysical underpinnings. So when I pick up a book in order to learn about a religion that is different from my own, I have an expectation that the major part of that book will deal with the subject matter of those beliefs. Regrettably, that is not the case with this very short introduction. The Sikh beliefs are dealt with briefly and in a very superficial way. Most of the book deals with Sikhism as a social and ethnic category. Of course, those considerations should not be neglected either, but this was not why I decided to pick up and read this book. If, on the other hand, you are interested in those "demographic" aspects of Sikhism, this very short introduction will provide you with plenty of information. This, however, makes for a very boring read. ... Read more

Amazon.com
It's the image you have in your mind of the colonial Indian soldier: long beard, fierce eyes, burly build, turban piled high on the head, sword at the ready. Sikhs were recruited by the British for their fighting prowess, a skill honed over centuries of defending their faith. In Sikhism, Hew McLeod, one of the world's authorities on Sikh religion and society, covers the universe of Sikhism, from origins to present, sacred texts to prohibitions and customs, the forces that Sikh soldiers were resisting, and the modern diaspora. His approach is that of a historian, methodical and removed. He separates the facts from the hearsay, revealing why many Sikhs don't cut their hair, why they chant the divine Name of the eternal Guru, and why Sikh men carry swords with them at all times. But a historian can also stir up controversy when his research conflicts with accepted lore. Sikhism is believed by many to be a mix of Islam and Hinduism, but McLeod shows that it owes little to Islam, while sharing many traits with the Sant sect of Hinduism. Having spent almost a decade in the Indian Punjab, the birthplace of Sikhism, McLeod writes with authority. --Brian Bruya Book Description
Dr. McLeod provides an introduction to the sacred literature of Sikhism, giving a clear orientation to Sikh history, religion, and tradition. The collection itself begins with episodes from the lives of the Ten Gurus, translated from sacred texts. These are followed by extensive selections from the "Adi Granth and the" "Dasam Granth, supplemented by extracts from the works of the notable Sikh poets Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lai. A translation of the entire" "nit-nem (the daily liturgy of the Sikhs) is included, together with scriptural portions traditionally chanted during Sikh ceremonies. A shortened text of the" "Rahit Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) is also provided. The volume concludes with a selection devoted to the principal Sikh sects and a selection from the works of modern Sikh theologians." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Informative but extremely biased in tone
This book gives you the basic overview of Sikh history.Unfortunately, at times the author seems more concerned with his opinion that no reasonable person could believe in any of this than he is with actually recording the facts.It's becoming a little too cliche to talk about a religion and to label its followers as blind to the realities of the world.This books seems more concerned with discounting Sikhism than exploring its dogma.

Good discussion
This is a history of Sikhism.It covers the history, the religion, and the society, as well as covers the questions involved in determining authoritative information.

The history covers the Ten Gurus and the Panth.The religion section covers the doctrine, the Khalsa and its code of honor, worship, sacred writings, and different sects.The society section discusses what defines a Sikh and discusses the Sikh diaspora.

Included in the appendix are excerpts from Sikh scripture.This and the list of references were very helpful in expanding understanding of this religion.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more about the Sikh religion from outside the religion.The tone of the book is that of a non-practitioner.

Biased, unobjective, not worth your money
McLeod, a Christian Missionary, in another attack Sikhism seeks to provide a more of an anthropological work colored in bias that seeks to diminish the stature of the Sikh religion.He does not refer to the Sikh scripture for authority.Can you imagine a general book on Christianity without the mention of the Holy Bible?McLeod rather define the Sikhs according to his bigoted viewpoint of a missionary than refer to the Sikh scripture and historic Sikh tradition.Please save your money and instead buy a more balanced and definitive work, The Sikhs, by Patwant Singh, which is available in both paperback and hardcover editions.You will thoroughly enjoy the riveting style of Patwant Singh.McLeod is not worth your time and money.

Solid Historical Referance Work
This book provieds a clear and concise summary of Sikh history and factions. It caused something of controversy with the Sikh community when released, as it takes a critical view of religous subjects. Very well researched. A good place to start if you want to gain an overview of Sikh history and trends.

Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wahe Guru
"Sikhism" is an excellent, objective history and overview of the Sikh religion.It is written from an academic's perspective; as such, some observations may not sit well with a devoted follower of the religion--the same as a Christian might be uneasy with an academic treatise on Christianity.But, as another reviewer points out, the author is not disrespectful toward the Sikhs; to the contrary, I get the impression he has a certain fascination with the religion; and that feeling comes through the book.I could hardly put it down.

Examples of subject matter: the author explains the origin of the Langer, or free kitchen--and why they generally serve only vegetarian food even though most Sikhs are not vegetarian.Also, the history and meaning of the beard, turban, and other outward symbols of the Sikh, are thoroughly explained.I found particularly interesting the discussion of the 10 Sikh gurus.Since they lived not so far in the past (16th-18th century?) there is actually some recorded history of their lives.

The author's style is concise and easy to read.The only difficulty for this Western reader was dealing with the many unfamiliar Sikh terms. But they were necessary for understanding and not too difficult.

For anyone with a serious interest in learning about the Sikhs, I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description
This unique and insightful book skillfully combines recent research in the area of Sikh studies to provide an accurate and comprehensive overview of Sikh history and religiosity against the backdrop of other major religious traditions of the world.Considers the Sikhs today, with focused discussion on the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Guru Panth, the Darbar Sahib, and Amritsar. Examines the founding of the Sikh community, the Guru Nanak, the Sikh doctrine, and the guiding ethics of the religion, and delves into the development of the community, including the influences of the Guru Gobind Singh, the establishment of Sikh Kingdom in the Punjab, and Sikhs move into the modern world. Explores Sikh beliefs, practices, family life and festivals, and concludes a thought-provoking chapter on the future of the Sikh religion—meeting spiritual needs away from the Punjab; replanting the Sikh institution in an alien soil, and moving toward a membership of the global community.For readers interested in World Religions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sikhism ....so so
I thought the book was ok.. very indepth on the history and formation of the Sikh religion.. less about social customs and modern sikhism.Small print and few in text definitions...had to thumb back to the glossery in the back of the book made this a time consuming and heavy read.Not for the armchair religious scholar.I thought the weird placing of the section on Sikh Art was a wrench in the works.. it also didn't direct you to the continuing page for the section I was in the middle of reading.Plus side good photos and the book was printed on nice glossy paper.

A very solid short introduction
Sikhism is a tradition that often gets forgotten, and it's a great shame. Luckily this is changing and, thanks in large part to scholars such as Gurinder Singh Mann, Sikhism is now getting the attention it deserves. Professor Mann's new book is a very approachable yet academically accurate and informative introduction to Sikhism. Packing the complex religious history of the Sikhs into just over 100 pages isn't an easy task but Professor Mann is exceptionally well qualified and does the job well. In the end, the reader comes away with a very solid foundation of knowledge. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description
The essays collected here cover a wide range of topics: Guru Nanak, the nature of the Sikh Panth (the Sikh Community), the Khalsa Rahit (the code of belief and behavior all initiated Sikhs must promise to obey), Namdhari or Kuka Sikhs, caste as observed by Sikhs, and the Sikh diaspora to other
countries. ... Read more

Book Description
Religion, civil society and the state form the three dimensions of this semiological study of sikhism. Uberoi first explains the underlying structure of medievalism in both Hindu and Muslim cultures, and goes on to undertake an examination of the period of collaboration between Sikhism and
Gandhism after the revolution of Islam in Iran. The figure of the martyr is seen to be an integral part of Sikhism, Gandhism, and Shia Islam. ... Read more

Book Description

Six studies of six faiths.

The World Religions series explores the major religions of our world today. Focusing on the six main religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism, each title looks first at one person's experience, and then examines the facts, arguments and opinions from around the globe. Special debate panels, supported by a wealth of resource material, invite the reader to discuss the issues that are currently shaping our world.

Young readers will learn about their own faiths and will receive answers to important questions such as: What is Jewish Law? What is enlightenment? Do Sikhs believe in an afterlife? Should we question the truth of religious books such as the Bible? What does the Hindu way of life aim for? These questions and many more are explored in detail, providing readers with a glossary and resource guide for further reading.

Written by educators, these books are well researched, carefully written, and are credible resources for young students. Parents will appreciate the open and sensitive treatment of each religion. The World Religions series is an important contribution to helping increase cultural awareness and promote tolerance.

Book Description
The present volume represents a major contribution to the field of Sikh studies. It grew out of an international conference on Sikh studies hosted by the Program in Sikh Studies and the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures in September 2001 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The scholars explored issues of scriptural authority, social history, gender, diaspora, and national and religious identity from a perspective solidly grounded in rich historical sources. The conference in effect was able to examine some of the consequences of Sikhism's appearance in the light of history---for scholars of Sikhism, for scholars of religion, and for scholares of history. The volume was put together in honour of one of the leading specialist in Sikh studies of present times, Hew McLeod, and it has articles by some of the most well-known names, as well as the young rising stars in the field: Pashaura Singh, N Gerald Barrier, Louis E. Fenech, Tony Ballantyne, and Doris Jakobsh. ... Read more

Book Description
Each book in the enlightening This Is My Faith series features true-life photographs and interviews with a child who talks about his or her faith and discusses its role in the life of the family. Boys and girls speak of the rituals, obligations, and joys that are basic to their religions. The children in these books come from many different cultures and countries around the world, thus reflecting the global nature of humanity’s religious impulse. Photos show children in their daily activities, and with families and friends at religious services and festivals. Books are available in both paperback and hardcover editions.

A child tells how Sikhism originated among some gurus of India roughly 500 years ago, emphasizing belief in one God rather than many gods, and rejecting India’s ancient caste system. Sikh communities are now found in many parts of the world, including the United States. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume collects four core works by one of the world's leading authorities. Put together in a representative volume, they provide an understanding of the Sikh individual, historical community, and religion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
One of the world's major faiths with more than 20 million adherents, Sikhism is a religion which most people, including academics, seem to ignore. This introduction assumes no prior knowledge on the reader's part. At the centre of the religion is the scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, it is the focus of Sikh theology and practice to the extent that no one is allowed to come between it and the believer. There is no priesthood. A particular aspect of Sikhism is its relationship with and attitude to other religions, something of particular significance in our multi religious society.

Owen Cole has taught at all stages of education from junior school to university, his two main interests have been multi-faith Religious Education and Indian religions. He is one of only four non-Sikhs to have a PhD in Sikh studies from a British university.
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Review:
"This is a rich read, a sharing of deep experience of the Sikh tradition... However widely readers have already read on Sikhism they will find illuninating detail and interpretation." -- Interreligious Insight ... Read more

Book Description
With roots in the Punjab region, Sikhism is based on the teachings of the ten Gurus who encouraged devotion to God and service to people of all faiths while developing traditions which helped the faith survive persecution. Today Sikhs live and worship worldwide. ... Read more

Book Description
The Simple Guide to Sikhism, as with all others in the Simple Guides to World Religions series, provides the reader with an informed and unbiased overview of this religion, presented in a very accessible format.The aim of the book is describe Sikhism's meanings and myths, the teachings these embody, and the practices, rituals and festivals of Sikhism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good introduction
Sewa Singh Kalsi's "Simple Guide to Sikhism" is pretty much just what the title says it is.At only 120 pages I breezed through it in a few days.The book covers Sikh history, teachings, traditions, scriptures, worship, festivals, rites of passage, sects and the diaspora.It is pretty easy reading and no one high school age or over should have any trouble with the text.The only problem I had with the book was that there is so much Punjabi (the language of most Sikhs) that I couldn't remember what all the words meant and they would be used later without translation and I had to flip to the glossary or flip back to the original spot a decent bit.Even then, that is largely unavoidable as many religious terms (not just in Sikhism) are difficult to translate and repeatedly translating within the text would have been even more distracting.This definately isn't the place to go for in depth knowledge, but that's not the point of this book. If you want a general idea of what Sikhism is all about then this is a good place to go. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a clear introduction to the history, beliefs, religious practices, and social customs of Sikhism. Teach Yourself Sikhism makes it easy to understand the attitudes of the culture and provides insight in dealing with members of the community. It examines all aspects of the faith, including Sikh initiation, worship, and festivals; the Gurus and the beginnings of Sikhism; the Sikh scriptures and teachings about God; the family, marriage, and death; Sikh names and the naming ceremony; and Sikhism in the modern period.

Customer Reviews (3)

More about Punjabi culture than Sikhism
Imagine a book that is meant to teach you about a religion that hardly mentions or quotes its scriptures. Imagine that the book tells you very little about what the faith believes. Instead, it spends most of its pages explaining the culture of the country where the faith originated. This would be like explaining Mormonism by talking about American customs like Thanksgiving and Halloween. Very uninformative. Sikhism won't grow if it is trapped in Punjabi culture. It will remain a local phenomenon. I don't think that is what the founders intended but that is the impression the reader gets from this book. Sikhism teaches equality of the sexes but Punjabi (and hence, Sikh culture) insists that women serve the meals to the men and not eat until the men are finished. Sikhism teaches gender equality but most women are expected to give up their careers to serve their families at home. Sikhism teaches that empty ritual means nothing but the Sikh religion, in reality, demands that all baptized men wear turbans, uncut hair, the wearing of a sword, special underwear, a wooden comb in the hair, a bracelet, etc.. Sikhism will never be a universal religion because it is so deeply tied to Punjabi culture that Sikhs in America have major controversies and infighting over such issues as whether a western Sikh can use a chair instead of sitting on the floor!

Great intro to an rich and diverse faith
This book is well written and structured.It covers all aspects of Sikh religion, history and culture in enough detail that you will feel you have a real understanding of the religion.The only reason I am giving 4 stars is that the references are rather few and should have been at the end of every respective chapter so one could delve deeper into any appropriate area one desires.Use (...) for more information and (...) for an entire online version of their holy book the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Do not waste your money on this book
This is beyond doubt the worst written book I have ever read. An eleven year old essayist could be expected to have a more coherent thought pattern. ... Read more

Book Description
This expanded and updated second edition of the dictionary is an excellent place to learn more about Sikhism. It provides a chronology of events, a brief introduction that gives a general overview of the religion, and a dictionary with several hundred entries, which present the gurus and other leaders, trace the rather complex history, expound some of the precepts and concepts, describe many of the rites and rituals, and explain the meaning of numerous related expressions. All this, along with a copious bibliography, provides readers with an informative and accessible guide toward understanding Sikhism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More than just a Dictionary
The Historical Dictionary of Sikhism provides information on the Sikh religion, its history, culture and its principles and practices. As the name suggests, the book is organized by entries in alphabetic order with anexplanation for each key entry. It has an extensive introduction and achronology of Sikh history from the birth of the founder, Guru Nanak in1469 to the turmoil in the Punjab until 1992. The Dictionary iscomplemented by an extensive Bibliography of over 100 pages.

I find thebook to be informative, well organized and an excellent starting point forfurther readings into Sikh religion and history. As a dictionary ought tobe, it is also a valuable reference work. I recommend it highly.

Theauthor, W. H. McLeod, is a New Zealander and has written extensively onSikh history, religion and sociology. Some of the other books he haswritten include Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, The Evolution of the SikhCommunity, Early Sikh Tradition and Who is a Sikh? ... Read more

Book Description
Essential Sikh Texts translated in English ... Read more

Product Description
An illustrated guide to Sikh religion, history and culture. many color plates. also designed to be useful as a text, with questions and issues for discuss arranged for each section. full index. An important new reference, with art paper and world-class production. Text information on request ... Read more