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Unlock This CourseIn Sin and Crime: What Is the Difference? you learned that a sin is a wrong act in the eyes of a religion, and a crime is an act that breaks the law. Some acts are both, such as theft or murder. Here we look at what Sikhs think.
Sikhs do not teach original sin. They believe a person is born with the light of God inside them. In Maya, Manmukh and Haumai you learned that a manmukh is a person who lives by their own mind and ego instead of following God. For Sikhs, sin is living as a manmukh, giving in to the five thieves (lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride), and breaking the Sikh code of conduct, the Rahit Maryada. A crime breaks the law of the country. Sikhs are taught to live honestly, so most Sikhs believe that obeying the law is part of living a good life. But the two are not the same. An act can be a sin for a Sikh without being a crime, and some Sikhs may feel they must stand up against a law they think is unjust.
Justice means treating people fairly, so that those who are wronged are put right and those who do wrong face fair consequences. Sikhs give these reasons why justice is important:
Sikhs believe God is fair and that nobody escapes the results of their actions. The specification cites the Guru Granth Sahib, page 274, which is in the Sukhmani Sahib, the prayer of peace by Guru Arjan, for the Sikh teaching that God is just and sees every action.
Sikhs believe in the oneness of humanity and the divine light in everyone. If all people are equal, fair treatment should protect all of them, whatever their wealth or background.
There is also the Sikh duty to stand up for the weak. In Sikh Attitudes to Conflict: The Saint-Soldier and Zafarnama 22 you learned that the saint-soldier protects people who are treated unfairly. Working for justice is part of that duty.
Key terms:
Justice matters for the victim because it shows that what happened to them was wrong and that they matter. Without justice a victim may feel ignored and may be hurt all over again. Sikhs believe every person has the divine light, so a person who is harmed deserves care, fairness and protection. Sikhs also believe in sewa, selfless service, so the community should help a victim and not leave them alone.
Some Sikhs see punishment as a form of justice. They give these reasons:
Sikhs also believe that a wrongdoer still has the divine light and can change, so punishment should be fair and not cruel. How Sikhs think punishment should work is the topic of Sikh Attitudes to Punishment and Its Aims.
Crime harms individuals, families and whole communities. It brings fear, loss and pain, and it can lead to more crime. Sikhs see it as a sign that something has gone wrong in society, so they ask why it happens and what can be done about the causes, not only the results.
The specification names six reasons. For each one, here is how Sikh teaching responds.
A person with no money, food or home may be driven to steal. Sikhs teach that people should share with those in need.
Unfair laws or corrupt leaders can leave some people without justice. Sikhs believe those with power must use it fairly.
Hatred of people for their background can lead to hate crime. Sikhs teach that all people are one human family.
Addiction can lead a person to steal to pay for drugs, or to act violently. Sikhs who have taken amrit are taught not to use intoxicants.
Children who grow up without care, guidance or good examples may copy harmful behaviour. Sikhs stress good nurture in the family and gurdwara.
A person who feels worthless may look for respect through crime. Sikhs teach that everyone has the divine light and so has worth.
Sikhs believe it is not enough to condemn crime. They should help to remove its causes. Individual Sikhs may:
Sikh groups work together to reach more people. The example the specification gives is the Sikh Welfare and Awareness Team (SWAT), now known as NishkamSWAT. Nishkam means selfless, and the group is a London-based charity. Its volunteers feed homeless people and help people facing addiction. This tackles two causes of crime: poverty, because people who are hungry or homeless are helped, and drugs, because people with addiction get support. Treating each person as someone of worth also helps with low self-esteem. Its work is sewa, which you met in Mukti, Gurmukh, Nam Simran and Sewa.
Gurdwaras also help. The langar feeds anyone who comes, and the sangat offers friendship and advice. Khalsa Aid, from Peace and Peacemaking in Sikhism, shows how Sikhs organise help for people in need.
Paper 1 (a) [3 marks, AO1]: Identify three reasons why crime might occur.
1. Poverty (1). 2. Drugs (1). 3. Low self-esteem (1). (Politics, racism and upbringing are also accepted.)
Paper 1 (b) [4 marks, AO1]: Choose one religion. Outline two reasons why justice is important in this religion.
Sikhs believe God is just (1), so wrongdoing should have fair consequences (1). Sikhs also believe in the oneness of humanity (1), so every victim should be treated fairly and protected as an equal (1).
Paper 1 (c) [6 marks, AO1 and AO2]: Choose one religion. Explain how followers of this religion try to end the causes of crime.
Sikhs believe they should help to remove the causes of crime, not only condemn it. Poverty is one cause, so Sikhs do sewa, such as serving free food in the langar, because they believe in sharing with those in need. The Sikh Welfare and Awareness Team, now NishkamSWAT, feeds homeless people and helps people facing addiction, which deals with poverty and drugs. Sikhs teach that all people are one family, so they oppose racism, another cause of hate crime. They also stress good nurture in family and gurdwara, so children grow up with the Sikh values of honesty and care. Everyone has the divine light, which helps people with low self-esteem see that they have worth.
Paper 1 (d) [12 marks, AO1 and AO2]: "Religious groups can do more than the police to reduce crime." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion.
For: groups such as NishkamSWAT deal with causes like poverty and addiction before crime happens; the langar and sangat give support; religious teachings shape how people live, for example the divine light and sewa.
Against: the police and courts catch offenders and protect the public, which religious groups cannot do; the state has more money and power; non-religious charities and Humanist groups also help; religious groups cannot reach everyone.
Possible conclusion: religious groups can do more to prevent crime by dealing with its causes, but only the police can deal with crime once it has happened, so both are needed. Judge each argument and give a clear final decision.
When asked how a religion tackles the causes of crime, link each cause to a named Sikh action: poverty with langar and sewa, poverty and drugs with NishkamSWAT.