Conversions of Sikhs in Punjab to Christanity !
On page 11 of the book ‘God of Surprises’ by Gerard W Huges:
Von Hugel, in The Mystical Element in Religion, takes three main stages in human development – infancy, adolescence and adulthood – describing the predominant needs and activities which characterise each stage. He shows that religion must take into account the predominant needs and activities of each stage, and so concludes that religion must include three essential elements, an institutional element corresponding to the needs and activities of infancy, a critical element corresponding to the needs and activities of adolescence, and a mystical element corresponding to the needs and activities of adulthood.
The needs and activities of infancy do not disappear in adolescence, not do the needs and activities of adolescence disappear in adulthood. But they should cease to be predominant as we grow up. Religion must include all three elements: the institutional, the critical and the mystical.
So the church knows/understands human needs and then stands with its followers in the hour of need.
Do we have enough material in Sikhi to satisfy the above three elements: the institutional, the critical and the mystical?
How can we make Sikhi – Sikh way of life 100% realistic so it remains as a part of one’s life style?
How can we make Sikhi more attractive to the young generations?
Are we trying to ask poor families to be in ‘ChardiKala’ without addressing their basic needs of food, shelter, health, education, etc ?
I hope this reading this post we sikhs can/will come up with some solutions to the problem rather than just be an intellectual exercise.
Please share your solutions with us.