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Summary of Question:	Feeling Uncomfortable Around Christian Friends
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Wednesday, 12/19/2001 9:25 PM MST

Sat Sri Akal!

Thank you for having a great site that is so beautiful that it makes me want to cry.

Anyways, my question concerns the behavior of a few of my Christian friends. First of all I would like to say that I am 16-year-old Sikh girl in the US who loves all people and respects ALL religions. (I believe our Gurus and Waheguru himself prefer us loving all religions.) Infact I love to learn about Sikhism, the Gurus, Christianity, Jesus, Islam, Mohammad, Judaism, etc., even though I truly feel very very close to Sikhism and the Gurus. Therefore I have friends from ALL places, of All religions, and of all degrees of religious fervor. Yet, I have a couple of friends, who are very nice people and very religious, but sometimes question which "God" I pray to or comment something like, "Yes, pray. Remember God, remember Jesus." I wouldn't mind if they said "remember God" or even "remember Jesus." But I just do not like the type of look they get in their eyes at the time. I feel uncomfortable. I show that yes I am very religious, and I tell them that I believe in God, The Omnipotent God.

In fact over the summer I even got a letter from one of them in which he explained how he had just come back from leadership camp and had gotten closer to God. And he continued to write about how he wanted ME to have the same relationship; he even sent a booklet showing a huge hiatus between man and God in which man was shown to be living in sin until the Cross (representing Jesus) acted as a bridge and saved man. I felt very insulted because I respect everyone else, and I feel I am VERY close to Waheguru..I do paath everyday (morning and evening) and have been doing since I was around 8 or 9. These friends are very nice, as I stated before, and get along with everyone and seem to accept all. Infact recently when my mom was hospitalized for a few days, one of them said he would pray for her, which I appreciated very much. But after saying that, he once again got a look on face and began to tell me about how great praying and Jesus are. So when they do such things, I feel isolated sometimes and/or insulted...and frustrated. I feel like, after booklet, that they may be my friends, but do they pity me? Do they pity me because I am living in "sin" because I am not Christian? One of them believes all non-Christians are going to Hell and that Christianity is the only truth. Therefore, does that mean they feel like they have to "save" me by trying to convert me? Is their friendship a way to get closer to me so that I will finally become Christian? If so, I will not be able to accept such ignorance.

I and my family (especially my parents) believe that God is the absolute truth and that the different religions are just simply paths to reach to the one destination, God. I, personally, believe that different religions and different practices were created based on the surrounding and situations at the time. For example, the kirpan is one of the K's, not because Guru Ji liked to fight, but because it was somewhat necessary at the time because of the situation with the Mugals (am I correct?..hope so). And Islam has the concept of jihad because at the time that Islam was founded, Mohammad was fighting agressive tribes of the Arabian Peninsula who were bringing harm to others. (again I hope this is the correct info) I like to make statements that are based on fact whenever possible.

I believe one does not have the right to say that their religion is THE ONLY true way to reach God. How does one know that???? How can one ASSUME that they understand God and speak His true word by reading a scripture or by listening to others preach? I do not believe God nor even Jesus, for that matter, would appreciate such actions as those of my friends. I would just like to know, am I correct with my thinking? Should I, in a way, pity My friends for their narrow-minded and biased beliefs? My parents support my thinking, they actually taught me such things.

Thank you.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ke Fateh
Harmeet Kaur

Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji ki Fateh!

Harmeet Kaur Ji - You are very wise and understand things deeply. It makes my heart happy to see a girl of 16 years with such wisdom. Every assumption you make in your message is true. Many Christians feel that they must proselytize and show others that the only path to God is through Jesus Christ. It is a narrow way of thinking that allowed the Christian church to survive through 2000 years of darkness, the Piscean Age. The motto of the Piscean Age is, "I believe, therefore I know". People acted on faith and belief. It is a method of survival. Now the Age of Aquarius is dawning. Guru Nanak is the Guru for the Aquarian Age and that is why we pray, "Nanak Nam Cherdhi Kala, Tere Bani Sarbhat da Bala". We bless everyone to become aware of their own divinity; to experience the Nam - the knowledge of their True Identity, which is God.

Relax and rejoice. Do not feel uncomfortable. Do not judge you friends. You are a Sikh of the Guru and that is who you are. Pray for your friends and bless them. Smile and love them. Do not argue or discuss religion with them. Let your beauty, light and love speak for you. Your open heart and shining smile speak far more than words can ever say.

May God bless your parents for teaching you so well.

All love in Divine, .....G