Critical Review of Anne Murphy's, "The Materiality of the Past." & UBC Sikh Chair at a Glance

Sikh religion and its independent identity cannot be studied with materials and phenomenology. The numinous experience is the core and base of the Sikh religion, and its ingredients do not overlook the developments taking place in the universe around him/her. The ultimate reality is not comprehensible through the sensory motor perceptions and speculations. Sikhism is a religion of Naam (numina), which has been explained in the hymns of Sikh scripture/Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Damdami version through revealed statements, literary similes, and allusions. The full gaze of history for true scholars of Sikhism, who would like to find the ideal Sikh identity, should seek the Sikh scripture and early historical sources of 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. For Sikh studies, scholars writing on identity issues must refer to the primary source - Sri Guru Granth Sahib, spiritual experience of the Gurus, their concept of God, their goal, their methodology, and their approach to the empirical life. The book presents the assessment of different scholars who have reviewed Anne Murphy’s book thoroughly. The contributors to this volume are no casual observers or amateur writers but have published extensively on educational matters relating to Sikh studies in the past.