The religious lives of Sikh children in Coventry
In the context of earlier studies of Sikhs in the British diaspora and of the nurture of children in their parents' faith tradition, this thesis reports an ethnographic study of the nurture of eight to thirteen year old Sikhs in Coventry. The study develops earlier anthropological insights, notably using the interpretive approach of Clifford Geertz. For the purpose of analysis nurture is classified as informal (unplanned and family based) and formal (supplementary classes in mother tongue and devotional music). Both provided evidence of diversity within the Panth (Sikh community), signalled for example by iconography and dietary norms. They also suggested processes of change, as details of Sikh and non-Sikh cultural practice interacted. The celebration of birthdays and of the Vaisalchi festival serve as exemplars of the complex interactions involved, for which Baumann provides analytical tools. Examination of the data in association with the presentation of the religious worlds of young Sikhs in religious education curriculum books revealed some divergence. This is explored with particular reference to subjects' use of the word 'God', their experience of amrit (holy water) and their understanding of the word
Nesbitt, Eleanor M.
BL Religion
The religious lives of Sikh children in Coventry. In the context of earlier studies of Sikhs in the British diaspora and of the nurture of children in their parents' faith tradition, this thesis reports an ethnographic study of the nurture of eight to thirteen year old Sikhs in Coventry. The study develops earlier anthropological insights, notably using the interpretive approach of Clifford Geertz. For the purpose of analysis nurture is classified as informal (unplanned and family based) and formal (supplementary classes in mother tongue and devotional music). Both provided evidence of diversity within the Panth (Sikh community), signalled for example by iconography and dietary norms. They also suggested processes of change, as details of Sikh and non-Sikh cultural practice interacted. The celebration of birthdays and of the Vaisalchi festival serve as exemplars of the complex interactions involved, for which Baumann provides analytical tools. Examination of the data in association with the presentation of the religious worlds of young Sikhs in religious education curriculum books revealed some divergence. This is explored with particular reference to subjects' use of the word 'God', their experience of amrit (holy water) and their understanding of the word
religious_life child coventry context earlier study british diaspora nurture child parent faith tradition report ethnographic_study nurture coventry study develop earlier anthropological insight notably use interpretive purpose analysis nurture classify informal family base formal supplementary class mother_tongue devotional music provide_evidence diversity_within community signal example iconography dietary norm also suggested process_change detail non cultural_practice interact celebration festival serve exemplar complex_interaction involve provide_analytical tool examination data association presentation religious world young religious_education curriculum book reveal divergence explore particular_reference subject use_word god experience holy water word