Sources

Sikhism

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Sikhism." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/sikhism.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Sikhism. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/sikhism

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-sikhism,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Sikhism},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/sikhism},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

W. H. McLeod's account draws on Sikh institutional practice and scripture directly, addressing specific, checkable claims such as the status the Guru Granth Sahib holds as the living Guru and the tradition's actual absence of an ordained priesthood, rather than general summary. McLeod was among the scholars who helped establish critical historical study of Sikhism as a field, which is a track record claim about influence rather than about his publisher. This record has not independently traced a documented history of scholarly disagreement with his specific claims. Use it for facts about Sikh institutions and the status of Sikh scripture and clergy.

Facts

Citation

Author

W. H. McLeod

Publisher

Penguin Books

Publication Year

1997

URL

https://archive.org/details/sikhism00mcle

Source Type

Scholarly work

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A scholarly account from an author among those who helped establish critical historical study of Sikhism as a field, drawing directly on Sikh institutional practice and scripture.

Notes

On Sikh institutions, the status of the Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru, and the absence of a priesthood.

Claims Backed By This Source (410 claims)

This source backs 410 claims across the atlas. As facts: 244 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 74 holds. Plus 90 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Scripture Portions, 124 claims: 62 well-attested, 31 holds, 31 general references.
Doctrines, 50 claims: 26 well-attested, 16 holds, 8 general references.
Articles, 31 claims: 31 well-attested.
Mantras, 26 claims: 18 well-attested, 5 holds, 3 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 22 claims: 19 well-attested, 3 general references.
Vices, 18 claims: 13 well-attested, 5 general references.
Virtues, 16 claims: 10 well-attested, 1 holds, 5 general references.
Practices, 14 claims: 11 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 13 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 holds, 3 general references.
Realms, 13 claims: 9 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Symbols, 12 claims: 6 well-attested, 4 holds, 2 general references.
Figures, 8 claims: 3 well-attested, 5 general references.
Sources, 8 claims: 8 well-attested.
Rituals, 7 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 holds, 3 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Subcategories, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Disciplines, 5 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Deities, 4 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 general references.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 4 claims: 3 holds, 1 general references.
Creeds & Confessions, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Religious Events, 3 claims: 2 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 3 claims: 1 holds, 2 general references.
Alphabet Letters, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Bodies of Water, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Countries, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Denominations, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Cities, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Cultures, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Languages, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 1 claims: 1 general references.