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Summary of Question:	Not Understanding This Label Business
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Monday, 12/08/2003 6:22 PM MST

sat nam ji's.

i feel so fortunate to have access to this forum. it expands my community and helps me to remember that there are no bountaries on this path.

now my question is not regarding sikh faith but it is regarding why one must call themselves a sikh. i see people say "i am a christian" "i am a muslim" " i am a buddhist"...

they label themselves and therefore separate themselve from the rest of the human population. my misunderstanding is why one must call themselves anything other than a human. why do we not hear "i am a human". in truth we were not created as anything but. the creator created humans who we're meant to be good no matter what faith or religion. i hear over and over "a sikh should do this, a sikh should not do that". are these guidelines for only sikhs or for humanity?

isn't this the most important thing to consider? we know the power of words. if people ask your faith why not say "much of my guidance comes from the sikh gurus". there is no separatism with this answer. guru arjan gave his life for another faith because he did not see only "Sikh's" as his family -brothers, sisters, children.

we will never unite as a world until we get this through our heads. as long as we identify with words which catagorize and separate us, there will always be people who question the teachings instead of the questioning the actions of individuals whom hide behind a religious label.

"Catholic" priests molesting choir boys. "Sikh" ministers involved in mass murder of 300+ canadians. !!!no wonder people do not take religion seriously anymore!!! these labels now do more harm then good.

i hope i have not offended anyone as the theme i am going for is "STRENGTH IN UNITY" which means me and you and all of humanity, together as one, working for peace.

sat nam,

Hansmukh KK