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Summary of Question:Can Someone Own A Gurdwara?
Category:Gurdwara
Date Posted:Saturday, 1/15/2005 10:52 PM MST

Hello there,

i would like to know,if a person can own a gurdwara,can he alone run the gurdwara without any trustees?if he can use the money of gurwara for his personal use?
waiting for your reply.
regards,
pooja.

*********
reply
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I am sure s/he could, but why? Gurdwaras should not be money=making enterprises for individuals. Why? Because gurdwaras --and other houses of worship in any faith-- are meant to uplift the consciousness of humanity, and are centers for propagating the faith (whatever faith we are talking about). If money becomes the motive, what is to keep the owner(s) from twisting or revising the teachings or scripture in order to make more money? This often happens ANYWAY in worship centers (again, anywhere, any type) where the priests/ministers/reverends/gianis/bhai sahibs/imams/whatever title they use rely on donations of members for income and for living expenses. I'm am not saying this to disrespect anyone/any faith, it is just a fact of life in many places around the world, whatever faith they may be.

In the USA, most religious houses/organizations have 'not-for-profit' legal status, which means that any monies earned in the course of operation are used to keep the organization and its facilities operating and to serve for ministry. So in the USA, this would be flat-out illegal if the gurdwara involved had this kind of status as a religious not-for-profit and the 'owner' used the income for personal use.
Guru ang sang,
-DKK



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