Modern society often assumes that dating is necessary before marriage. A common question is, “How can you know whether someone is right for you unless you date them first?” Sikhi, however, offers a different approach. Rather than encouraging a young man and woman to develop an
Read MoreWhat does Sikhi say about divorce? Can a Sikh get divorced and remarry? Drawing upon Gurbani, the Sikh Rehat Maryada and research by Sikh educator and author Bhai Manvir Singh (UK), this article explores marriage breakdown, separation and remarriage from a Gurmat perspective. Quick answer Sikhi
Read MoreModern society generally treats sexual activity and having children as two separate choices. A married couple may continue having sexual relations while deliberately preventing conception, and this is usually regarded as morally neutral. Traditional Gurmat — the Guru’s way of thinking and living — begins from
Read MorePride has become one of the most visible features of modern Western culture. Rainbow flags appear in schools, workplaces, shops and public institutions, while sexual orientation is increasingly spoken of as an important part of personal identity. In response, some critics have proposed “Straight Pride”. Sikhi
Read MoreModern reproductive technology has made possible things previous generations could scarcely imagine. IVF can help couples struggling to conceive. Sperm and eggs can be donated. A woman can carry a child for somebody else. Same-sex couples can become legal parents through adoption, donor conception or surrogacy.
Read MoreQuestions about transgender identity have become increasingly prominent in modern society. A Sikh may hear that biological sex and gender are separate, that someone can be “born in the wrong body”, or that an internal sense of gender determines whether someone is male or female. How
Read MoreHomosexuality and same-sex relationships are discussed much more openly today than they were a generation ago. Young Sikhs encounter different views about sexuality through school, university, television, social media and wider society. They may have gay friends or relatives, or may themselves experience same-sex attraction. This
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