Religious thought has evolved over thousands of years. God has always been at the center of religion but has taken varying forms. The early communities and tribes worshipped spirits or deities. The classical concept of God as the Creator did not exist. The deity was in fact the creation of those worshipping it. Worship of deities continues in some tribes and families even today. The purpose of this worship is to keep the deity pleased because of the belief that it can grant benedictions, save from suffering, and also punish if displeased.

Evolution of religious thought has proceeded along with intellectual development of man (and woman). As the mind developed it looked to higher values in life, generally aimed at maintaining peace of mind in the midst of increasing physical, mental, and social activity. Man also tried to understand the meanings of religious beliefs and questioned them. There have been enlightened souls in all ages that were able to guide the people. This brought in the concept of a guru, preceptor, or spiritual teacher. As intellect developed and people started getting educated the teachings were put in writing and the scriptures came into being

Out of the current organized religions believing in God, Hinduism is the oldest. It has the concept of God but also has a large number of demigods and goddesses that are worshipped in temples with their idols installed therein. The Hindu religion has a large number of scriptures which are highly venerated. Their latest scripture, the Bhagvad Gita, meaning the Song of God, is at present the most popular with Krishna as the Godhead. It emphasizes the unity of God, while discouraging, but not rejecting, worship of gods and goddesses (Gita, 7:23). Hinduism is therefore polytheistic. It retains some rituals and the caste system (Gita 18:42-44).

Up to about 3500 years ago, multiplicity of gods, goddesses, spirits, and idol worship was common. The concept of a single God came with the covenant that God made with Abraham around 2000 BCE and the first monotheistic religion, of the Jews, may be said to have been founded. as recorded in the Old Testament (OT). The Jews and Christians, acknowledge the whole of OT as their scripture. The Muslim also acknowledge the first five books of the OT credited to Moses and called the Torah. Among other things the OT describes creation of earth, its sky, and all the creatures by God in six days by God who rested on the seventh day called the Sabbath.

Coming into being of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and culminating in Sikhism shows how the concept of monotheism evolved. The references of books given hereafter, unless otherwise mentioned are from the Old Testament and the the New Testament (NT) which together form the Bible.

The Jews had gone to Egypt were enslaved over a long period of time and were suffering. There was a covenant between God and Moses with God saying: “I shall take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (Exodus 6:7). This made God exclusive to the Jews who consider themselves the chosen ones. God as described in the OT is akin to a person. He is shown as errant because he repents for having created man (Genesis 6:6), he works for six days and then needs a day’s rest (Genesis 2:2). He is jealous and punishes many generations for inequities (Exodus 20:5) thus instilling fear.

The Christian scripture the Bible comprises of the OT and the New Testament (NT). The NT which covers the period of Jesus and shortly afterwards depicts God living in heaven. Jesus is His only begotten son (John 3:16) born of a virgin mother (Matthew 1:23). The entire NT has no role for God, except being described as Jesus’ father. Everything is said and done by Jesus. It says Word was God (John 1:1) but later says the flesh (Jesus) became God (John 1:14). Jesus who is believed to resurrect after crucifixion tells his disciples to preach in the name of the Father (God), the son (Jesus) and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). The Christian missionaries however preach that God is trinity comprising of these three although the NT does not say so. God in NT is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Matthew (20:32) and not of the universe. A religion that was meant to be monotheistic has in effect become polytheistic going against the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).

Christianity as presented in the NT it has posed many problems. Some Christians found they could not believe in God and at the same time accept the virgin birth and divinity of Jesus, trinity, and miracles. This led to the concepts of Deism, Pantheism, and Atheism as found in Western countries like Great Britain, France, and the USA.

The Deists believe in God but see everything in the light of nature and reason. They do not conform to any religious tradition. Their concept of God is one who created the universe but then withdrew from it. One of the often-heard arguments is that if God exists why he allows violence and suffering.

The followers of Pantheism believe that God is identical with nature which is an expression of His being. God is not a person. They take the real universe and nature as starting and finishing point, not any preconceived idea of God. They do not subscribe to the ideas like supernatural powers or miracles.

The Atheists do not accept the existence of God. This may be by choice or inability to believe religious teachings which seem incredible to them. It is not due to ignorance.

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Islam followed Christianity in the seventh century CE. The religion is strictly monotheistic. Its fundamental belief is “There is no true god, but one God, Mohammad is the messenger of God”. The Muslim Scripture the Quran quotes God as saying “Do not give status to anyone equal to God” (2:22). The worship and prayer is to God alone. Compared to the concept of an exclusive God in Judaism and God part of Trinity in Christianity, the Muslims accept God’s absolute powers over the universe and He is called ‘Rabbul-aalmin’ meaning God of all the worlds. The Quran refers to Jesus frequently but rejects the concepts of his being the Messiah or being equal to God. God is quoted as saying “If I asked Jesus if he had asked for worship of him and his mother along with God, Jesus would say it did not befit him to say such a thing, and O’ God you know what I said and what is in my mind” (Quran 5:116).

Some Muslim preachers say that God prefers Muslims to others. The relevant verse in the Quran says “Surely the religion with Allah is Islam (3:19)”. However the meaning of the word Islam is surrender or submission to the will of God and covers all those who believe in God alone.

There was a scientific and industrial revolution in the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^Th centuries. This was preceded by advances in education and human intellect was equipped to see everything with a sense of discrimination. Social systems were changing and resentment against inequalities based on religion, caste, or gender could be felt. Communications were improving resulting in greater interaction between people geographically separated from one another.

It was under these circumstances that Guru Nanak the founder of the Sikh religion, came to this world in 1469 CE and was succeeded by his nine spiritual embodiments up to 1708. The Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) that contains the compositions of the Sikh Gurus as well as saints and bards of other religions was composed. This reflects the respect the new religion has for all religions. But above all it highlights the full majesty of God without any reservation, as also fatherhood of God and brotherhood of mankind in the entire universe; (One Father, we are all His children -SGGS P 611). The term father is used generically like ‘man’ is used to represent both man and woman when generalizing. Otherwise it is specifically stated “God remains in steady-state deep contemplation; is difficult to describe being neither man nor woman” (SGGS 685). Gender equality has thus become unique to the Sikh religion.

In the Gita, the Bible and the Quran, God is shown in man-to-man conversation with Arjun, Abraham/Moses, and Mohammad respectively and thus looked at as a person. On the other hand God is described as spirit residing within the human body and realized with the grace of the Guru:

kwieAw ngir bsq hir suAwmI hir inrBau inrvYru inrMkwrw ] hir inkit bsq kCu ndir n AwvY hir lwDw gur vIcwrw ]1] ੪ ੭੨੦

“The formless Master, free of fear or jealousy resides in the body; He is so near but not seen; He is realized through the Guru’s word” (SGGS, P 720).

rMgI rMgI BwqI kir kir ijnsI mwieAw ijin aupweI ] kir kir vyKY kIqw Awpxw ijv iqs dI vifAweI ] ੧ ੬

God having created the universe looks after it with love: “God’s creation is of numerous types and hues; He looks after it with love; that is His greatness” (SGGS, P 6).

Awpn bwpY nwhI iksI ko Bwvn ko hir rwjw ] ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ੬੫੮

God belongs to all and all belong to God: “God is not the monopoly of a group or person; any one can receive His grace through love and devotion” (SGGS, P 658).

brnu ichnu nwhI ikCu pyiKE dws kw kulu n ibcwirE ] ੫ ੯੭

Caste, color or creed are no considerations before God: “God does not consider the color or looks; nor does He consider the ancestry of the devotee” (SGGS, P 979).

The universe is one community and God is the Universal Truth pervading all of it. The Creator belongs to and provides for all:

sBu ko AwsY qyrI bYTw ] Gt Gt AMqir qUMhY vuTw ] sBy swJIvwl sdwiein qUM iksY n idsih bwhrw jIau ]3] ੫ ੯੭

Every one looks up to You O’ Lord ; You reside in all living bodies. All want to be partners in your benedictions; You are alien to none (SGGS, P 97).

The Semitic religions have the concept of the Day of Judgment and consequent heaven or hell. Similarly the Hindu religion has the concept of heaven and hell. In the Sikh teachings God does not permanently condemn any one to hell, but keeps giving opportunities for reform. Using the metaphor of parent-child relationship:

jYsw bwlku Bwie suBweI lK AprwD kmwvY ] kir aupdysu iJVky bhu BwqI bhuiV ipqw gil lwvY ] ipCly Aaugux bKis ley pRBu AwgY mwrig pwvY ]2] ੫ ੬੨੪

The way a child naturally commits mistakes; the father admonishes and instructs, but still hugs him; God forgives past mistakes and guides man for the future” (SGGS, P 624-25).

There is thus no concept of hell. Being able to overcome evil and the soul merging with God is heaven. Until it is able to so merge with God the soul keeps going through cycles of death and rebirth. This is temporary hell. God is compassionate and merciful.