A Sikh tradition in D.C., a "femme fatale" blackmailing Buddhist monks, and Catholics skipping Mass because of ICE

Religion links for 7.11.25

The church of San Pedro de Atacama in high-altitude San Pedro, Chile. Originally built during the Spanish colonial era in the 17th century, the adobe church is made from cactus wood beams. It is thought to be Chile’s second-oldest church. [Wikimedia Commons]

Top Story: A Sikh Tradition Returns to Capitol Hill

During the writing and researching of my 12 Major World Religions book, I spent a couple of weeks telling my family all about the Sikh religion and how much I appreciated it.

Truly, there are a lot of really compelling elements of that tradition, from distinct equality teachings (its founder rejected India’s caste system) to the selfless service ideal of seva to Sikhism’s emphasis on protecting the vulnerable. (The warrior-saint aspect of Sikhism is truly unique and, as a result, American Sikhs are over-represented in the security industry.)

Sikhs don’t even try to convert others because they are so committed to coexistence with other religions. I really love that.

Within those impressive teachings is the Sikh tradition of Langar, a communal meal that dates back to the religion’s founding by Guru Nanak in the 15th century. He intended it as a protest against India’s caste hierarchy, promoting the need for people of all positions—from kings to peasants—to dine together in a communal meal. It has long been a quiet act of anti-segregation within xenophobic cultures, and Sikh Gurdwaras each have Langar halls where these meals are served on a regular basis—sometimes daily.

On Wednesday this week, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) hosted its ninth annual “Langar on the Hill” on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. It was the first in-person Langar since the pandemic.