For the Media - Common Misconceptions Regarding Sikhism

Source: The Sikh Network

There are many misconceptions the general public has about Sikhism. This section is an attempt to correct some of those misconceptions.

Misconception 1: The Sikh religion is a blend of Islam and Hinduism or it is a sect of Hinduism.
Truth 1: Sikhism is a unique revealed religion. It is not derived from any other religion. It is not a blend of any two or three religions. Guru Nanak started a new faith. [more]

Misconception 2: Sikhism supports the patriarchal model.
Truth 2: The tenets of Sikhism apply to all Sikhs, regardless of whether one is a Sikh man or a Sikh woman. Sikhism demands the equal treatment and involvement of men and women. [more]

Misconception 3: Sikhs are Indian.
Truth 3: Sikhism is a religion. Indian is a nationality. Those Sikhs born in the United States, Canada, UK or any other place adopt the nationality of that country. Sikhism as a religion spans any such geo-political boundaries. [more]

Misconception 4: Sikhs are Hindu.
Truth 4: Sikhism is a unique faith and is not derived from Hinduism. Sikhism challenges and rejects many precepts of the Hindu religion. It is only due to a shared geographic culture that some ideas or methods may be similar. [more]

Misconception 5: Anyone who wears a turban and sports a beard is Muslim and from the Middle East.
Truth 5: Not all turban-wearers are Sikhs, but all Sikhs must cover their heads at all times (most often done with a turban.) Sikhs are required to keep unshorn hair, but non-Sikhs may have long hair, unshaved legs, or beards out of personal choice. [more]

Misconception 6: Sikh fundamentalists are those who have undergone the Amrit (commitment) ceremony and are vocal in fighting social injustice.
Truth 7: Sikhs are not fundamentalists. Amritdhari Sikhs (those who have taken Amrit) are devout in their faith and strive to balance spirituality and community service. [more]

Misconception 7: Sikhs are terrorists
Truth 8: Sikhs are against terrorism. Sikhs strongly condemn killing innocent people. In fact, Sikhs are commanded to defend the innocent and fight against oppression. [more]

Flawed Definitions of Sikhism
Browsing the comparative religion section at Border's bookstore, we pulled out a few comparative religion books to see their definition of Sikhism. Unfortunately, very few of them described Sikhism accurately. [more]

Different Types of Sikhs
The most widely accepted definition of a Sikh comes from the Sikh code of conduct, Rehat Maryada. [more]