GCSE Religious Studies: Sikhism – Beliefs, Teachings and Practices

Sikhism is one of the religions many schools choose alongside Christianity for the study of religions part of GCSE Religious Studies (for example, the Sikhism section of AQA's specification). This material covers both halves of that study, beliefs and teachings as well as practices, in a single course of revision.

It begins with God as described in the Mool Mantra, the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib: one, true, creator, without fear or hatred, timeless and known through the Guru's grace. You then learn how Sikhs understand human life as an opportunity to unite with God, the aim of mukti, the five stages of spiritual development, and the barriers that stand in the way: maya, haumai and the five thieves. The contrast between the gurmukh, who is centred on God, and the manmukh, who is centred on the self, ties these ideas together.

Equality runs through the material. You see how Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh challenged caste and taught the equality of women and men, and how this is lived out in the langar, in the names Singh and Kaur, and in sewa, the selfless service of body, mind and wealth, within the sangat.

The practices section takes you into the gurdwara, with the takht, the palki, the chauri and the Nishan Sahib, and explains nam japna, prayer at home and the akhand path. Festivals are covered through Vaisakhi and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, Bandi Chhor Divas and the gurpurbs, alongside the significance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Finally you study the naming ceremony, Amrit Sanskar, the meaning of each of the five Ks, and the difference between amritdhari and sahajdhari Sikhs.

The material offers a quiz with explanations for every answer, flashcards for the Punjabi terms, a printable written sheet of explain-and-evaluate tasks with reference answers, and an oral practice exam in which the examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

Sikh belief and practice are described accurately and neutrally, including differences between Sikhs. Use the material to learn the key terms and practices, then to practise explaining their importance and weighing statements about them.

• Explain the nature of God in the Mool Mantra
• Explain mukti, the five khands and the barriers to mukti, including haumai and maya
• Explain Sikh teaching on equality with examples from the Gurus and practice today
• Explain sewa, the sangat and the role of the gurdwara and langar
• Describe Vaisakhi, Bandi Chhor Divas, gurpurbs and pilgrimage to the Golden Temple
• Describe the naming ceremony and Amrit Sanskar and explain the five Ks

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE religious studies subject content for Sikhism and, for example, AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), Sikhism: beliefs, teachings and practices.