Sikhism Assignment

1. Do you consider yourself a religious person? Would you identify yourself with a particular religious group? (Which one?)

I do not think that I myself am a whole hearted religious person, I believe that I’ve accommodated certain lifestyles to accompany my religious upbringing as I have gotten older in life and especially in a University setting away from home. If I were to identify myself with a particular religious group I would say I am someone who is identifiable to the Sikh religion or Sikhism in regards to a specific ism, even though my parents are from Goa which is a largely Catholic based part of India.

2. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “religion and food”?

That is a good question Peter. Let me think about that to be honest. When I hear the phrase “religion and food”, Understanding the role of food in cultural and religious practice is an important part of showing respect and responding to the needs of people from a range of religious communities. However it is important to avoid assumptions about a person’s culture and beliefs. Specifically in regards to my Sikh religion, religion and food resonates with me as a connection to how certain foods and practices are followed and adhered to because of some restrictions to my remembering that Sikhism imposes in regards to dietary laws and proceedings.

3. Does your religion guide what you eat? (If so, how?)

In regards to the Sikh religion, vegetarian food is a staple in our diet that is mostly served within the home and Gurdwara (Sikh temple), however unlike Hinduism, we Sikhs are not restricted to a purely vegetarian diet and we can consume meat, fish, fowl, poultry etc. From a young age I was given the choice by my parents whether I would like to incorporat...

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...ia as a functioning and expanding country, and the global dominance that is the fast food franchise McDonalds, even altered its menu to accommodate dietary restrictions. They changed some of McDonald’s iconic meals like the McMuffin which traditionally has meat in it, to a vegetarian mcmuffin. Another one I remember seeing was a spicy paneer wrap.

21. Is there anything else that you would like to mention or reflect upon before we conclude this interview?

First off I would like to thank you for interviewing me so I can offer a modern perspective of a Westerner practicing Sikhism. I would like to say that modernity has definitely changed how religion interacts with its traditions, however this interview has opened my view to my religions world in regards to food, and I will most definitely be aware of others now as my interest in food and religion has been peaked.