God as Creator Flashcards
(7 cards)
What is the Punjabi name for God as Creator- also stated in the Mool Mantra?
Kartaa Purakh
How was the world created?
There is no creation stories in Sikhism. Sikhs believe that God created the world, universe and any other universe’s that exist, however do not know the means by how it happened, so usually turn to scientific arguments.
A Sikh may have questions about God for this reason and this can be used as an argument against being able to easily understand God.
What is the Punjabi word for Gods will?
Hukam
Qualities of God as the Creator
> Separate from the universe
Uncreated- Present before creation
Transcendent- beyond human understanding (Akaal Moorat)
‘He possesses all qualities; he transcends all qualities’- GGS
It is easy for Sikhs to understand the nature of God (12)
Yes:
- Mool Mantra- principle chant and contains qualities of God
-We each have a part of God within us- the divine spark
-The GGS is the ‘living guru’ and holds the stories and teachings of the Gurus (Gur Prasad- learn about god through the GGS)
-Sargun (immanent)
-Prayer- Sikhs can have a personal relationship with God, as well as by doing good deeds (e.g. in the Gurdwara playing music and serving food at the langar)
-Wearing the Kara- constant reminder of endless nature of God
No:
-‘God established the earth’ (GGS) however there are no creation stories so how did he do it?
-God is without form and genderless
- ‘He is the perfect transcendent Lord’
-Human words are limited and cannot fully convey the idea of God and his characteristics- even the Mool Mantra
What does it mean for God to be ‘Sargun’?
The idea that God is immanent means that he is within or part of creation. In other words, God is active, present and involved in the universe he created. He is not some distant being and wants to have a special relationship with humans. This conveys his love toward his creation.
In Sikhism this idea is conveyed through the ‘divine spark’ that lives within all human beings.
What does ‘nirgun’ mean?
God is without qualities and form
God is uncreated, free and therefore different from his creation.
