Synopsis
One of the world's youngest religions, Sikhism was founded about 500 years ago in the Punjab region, which now straddles the border between India and Pakistan. Although most of its followers still live in the Indian part of Punjab, many have spread to other areas of the world. Rejecting all distinctions based on social class and race, the religion emphasizes the importance of service, family, and community. Sikhism, Third Edition describes the basic tenets of Sikhism, examines the recent move toward greater political independence within the Indian nation, and covers issues of cultural adaptation, persecution, and subsequent education now taking place in the West.
Almost from the start of civilization more than 10,000 years ago, religion has shaped human history. Today more than half the world's population adhere to a major religion or indigenous spiritual tradition. In societies throughout the world, increasing ethnic and cultural diversity has led to a variety of religions being practiced side by side. This makes it vital that we understand as much as we can about the world's religions.
Rigorously nonsectarian, the books in the World Religions series offer clear, accessible overviews of the major religious traditions of our time, including
Geographical distribution
Origins and history
Central beliefs, rituals, and sacred sites
Contributions to world civilization
Carefully chosen photographs complement the text, and sidebars, a map, fact file, glossary, bibliography, further reading, and index are included to help readers gain a more complete understanding of the subject at hand.