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Summary of Question:	Any Advice??
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Thursday, 6/14/2001 7:05 PM MDT

sat sri akal. I have just recently decided to convert from baptist christian to sikhism. My family does not really approve; in fact they think i'm invloved in a cult. They are not very spiritual or religious but still go to church. I love them very much still. And i want them to be a part of my life but they think ive "changed too much", not for the good. I find it very difficult to be with them and keep my faith and be who i want to be. My biggest problem is that i found sikhism through a friend whose very far away from me and ive no one here with me to talk to about anything. I feel so alone at times and I try to have faith in guru and god as much as I know how to. But its really difficult to do that all the time when ur family thinks ur involved in a cult. Also, im white and i want to go to gurdwara but all of them are indian. Ive gone once to gurdwara but im afriad to go again as i find it very difficult to understand their accents and i feel like a dope and very embarrassed. They made me feel

very welcome to come back but i am very shy and find it difficult to interact with others just cause of unability to understand. Also, sikhism is so different from what i knew growing up and sometimes i start to question whether sikhism is really for me just cause its such a drastic change and so much has changed in my life since ive converted. I really feel that its my callign to become close to god. But i question why sikhism cause ive never even heard of it before i knew my friend. ive been learnign about it for 6, 7 months. And ive been readign the granth sahib and trying my best to be a good sikh. Its really hard to follow 100% cause its so different from what ive always known. Sometimes i just think im getting into things that i really dont understand and i tend to lose faith maybe not so much in guru and god but myself cause im not sure if ive enough faith and courage to completely follow gods will. I truely want guru but i find my faith is not as strong as it could be. If anyone has any advice

on any thing ive mentioned, id greatly appreciate anything said. God Bless!! sikhita

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akal Sikhita:

It is a brave thing to convert to a completely different faith, but you can be close to God in ANY faith, it's just a question of how you practice or pray to know that closeness. Go back to the gurdwara and stop being shy. With time your ears will get used to the accents and you will understand. I am not Indian, but I learned a great deal about sangat and pangat from attending Indian Gurdwara and being welcomed as you describe. To be a sikh, you NEED the company of the sadh sangat, the congregation. You can live as Sikh, but Guru is understood through Sangat, and Sangat supports you to live as Sikh. You are not wacky or crazy. Get over your shyness, the Indians can be shy too. So you are alike. But I know they respect you for your choice, and can help you understand Sikhism first hand. IF you feel drawn to be Sikh, then clearly Guru wants you for His own. Sangat will be the support you need to explain to your family that you BOTH worship the same God, but HOW you worship Him is different. My parents are Catho
lic, and at first they thought I had joined a cult. Then I told them there are millions of Sikhs worldwide, and now they are used to it and grateful to God that I worship Him AT ALL. This is how I hope your family comes to think.

Also, unless you really can't stand your family, you have to let them know you are still a member of the family and love them as your family and are grateful to them for all they have given you as family. But you have the right to follow the path that suits you, not them. This takes great courage, but in the end, all of you will be better for going through this. Your family probably thinks you are throwing THEM out along with Baptist faith. Make it clear this isn't so. Help them understand (if they are willing to listen) that Baptists Christianity doesn't work for you, but you are glad it works for them. However, don't let yourself get trapped in circular arguments about whether or not you have been 'saved'. Avoid those types of discussions!

I hope this helps. God bless you!
-DKK