Sikhism

Introduction by the leading scholar of Sikhism. There are about sixteen million Sikhs in the world today, and this stimulating and informative introduction to their history, doctrines, customs, and society includes extensive translations from their sacred texts. At the heart of their religion are the ten Gurus, who transferred authority from individual leaders to the scriptures and the community itself. Sikhism explores how their distinctive beliefs emerged from the Hindu background of the times, how a number of separate sects split off, and how far the ideals of sexual equality have been observed in practice. The result is a vivid and richly textured overview of one of the world's great religions.