Is Sikhism an atheist religion

Answer 1

By definition atheists acknowledge no god. In addition they have no formal organization (no code of practice, no meeting halls, no membership) which would make them a religion. In short there is no "atheist religion." Sikhism (the fifth largest religion in the world) emerged in 16th-century India. Its founding teacher, Guru Nanak Dev, was born in 1469. His most famous saying was, "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim, so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow the path of God." It has a God, prayers, meetings, temples.

Sikhism is not atheistic in any of its aspects.

New contribution: Something interesting to consider is the question of what is actually meant by "God" as explored or considered in Sikh philosophy. Firstly, it is very different than the Abrahamic concept. In Sikh mystical and musical poetry the focus is on the human mind and its relationship with all that is; bringing oneself into a state of love, for all, good, bad, and in between; a state of conscious ecstasy at the sheer fact of existence; a stable, balanced state of mind able to be sustained (through practice) regardless of external circumstances. This "All" that is the focus of devotion and love is the concept of "God" in Sikhism and is so broad as to have no conflict with and encompasses all of science, any new discoveries, the universe, every person regardless of faith, sex, caste, class, nationality, sexual preference, etc.; every living thing, and all human experience.

That said, as per usual in all cultures, with stories told and retold down the generations with exaggerations and various cultural influences layered over; today for many Sikhs, rituals and supernatural and magical stories and ideas have come to be considered an important part of what is now an organized religion in the western sense. These things are now often matters of faith that lend proof of legitimacy for many Sikhs. Though well meaning, these things are a departure from the actual writings of the Sikh Guru's or teachers which have been passed down and survive to this day.

Interestingly, the most revered scriptures in the Sikh religion which were compiled in a volume by the fifth Sikh Guru includes not just the writings of the first five Sikh Guru's, but also select compositions from 15 other saints and thinkers from Hindu, Muslim, and Sufi mystical traditions in India. The idea was that human experience, an inspired state of mind, human brotherhood, service to one another, compassion, the pursuit of "Truth" - all transcend artificial divisions and boundaries of class, caste, race, dogma and organized religion.