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Pakistan is home to major places of worship that reflect its strong religious diversity. We will follow several families belonging to the Christian minority as they prepare for the Christmas festivities. We will witness their daily religious practices and the challenges they face.
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00:30Despite the Sharia rule, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a multicultural and multi-religious
00:37country in which peoples and empires of the past have left a rich legacy.
00:55Christmas festivities are there to remind us of the secular presence of which there are
00:59over two million followers of Christianity.
01:01Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Jesus, happy birthday to
01:19you.
01:26Here, there are about 100 to 150 Christian homes.
01:41During the Christmas period, we decorate the street.
01:44We collect monies and we also distribute cakes.
01:48On Christmas Eve, we cut the cake together and it's a party, a time to share.
01:56At 11 a.m., we hold a mass.
02:09When we go to these people's homes, they are also Christians.
02:16They are our neighbors and we can return home without fear.
02:20But we cannot go like this among Muslims.
02:23On the one hand, because their women are veiled, and secondly, we have no contact with them.
02:29We say hello and goodbye, and that's about it.
02:35Good morning.
02:36Good morning.
02:37Good morning.
02:38Good morning.
02:39Good morning.
02:40Contrary to the opinion conveyed by Western imagination, you can go quietly to your neighbors,
02:45to your friends.
02:46In terms of the Catholic obedience, women, girls, wives are not veiled.
02:51They are pretty and even wear makeup.
02:54The time to come for Christians will be very bad.
03:11Every day, Muslims find an excuse.
03:14They are struggling against the Christians, so Christians are suspicious.
03:19Even if there is a riot or a conflict between Christians and Muslims, they always bring up
03:24the history of blasphemy by saying, ah, they burned a Koran.
03:27They insulted the prophet.
03:29And because of that, we are always scapegoats.
03:35Josephine and her family are going to their neighbors.
03:38On Christmas Eve, tradition dictates that one goes around to the neighbors' houses,
03:42where many discussions are held over tea and pastries.
03:46The courtyards are richly decorated, and as women are veiled, we still feel that we
03:51are indeed in the heart of the city of Peshawar.
03:57In larger towns and areas, protection is provided by Christians.
04:01They are between 10 and 20, in which they do rounds, and they even go on the roofs to
04:06ensure that no one touches us.
04:08In addition to this, the government also put in place a security police.
04:19But still, we do not trust the police.
04:22Because too often, as the police are Muslims, they are the ones that give information to
04:27the fundamentalists.
04:29In this case, no one protects us.
04:31In smaller places frequented by Christians, they cannot leave their homes.
04:36They are so afraid that they are really hidden.
04:43As Josephine said, in the future, things will get worse.
04:47It is because of madrasas.
04:50People only see the benefits to their children in madrasas.
04:53They will be fed and educated, but it will also teach them to be anti-Christian.
04:58They are taught that all the others are impure.
05:02That those who kill the impure are performing the work of true Muslims.
05:06They will go to heaven.
05:08Who is a traitor then?
05:10One who is not a Muslim.
05:13In our education system until the 7th grade, despite the changes, the first thing that is
05:18quoted in the books is, we are Muslims and Pakistan is our country.
05:36It is good to believe in Islam, but if it is a history lesson or a science course, this
05:41does not happen to be.
05:43Whatever the discipline, it always starts like this.
05:46So students are unaware of other religions.
05:50And so there may be a Muslim sitting beside a Christian, but they don't know who he is.
05:55The Christian must also say and write this sentence.
05:58Initially, the Muslim does not know I am a Christian, and as soon as he knows,
06:03he may distance himself from me asking what is a Christian.
06:10When he did not know that I was a Christian, he was perhaps my friend.
06:14We ate together and we laughed.
06:16And the problem here is because of education.
06:19The only improvement was evident on the commercial side, because people wanted to do business
06:24with each other.
06:25Pakistan, and particularly the Punjab region, have long been at the religious and civilizational crossroads.
06:40The Katas Temple is the timeless witness to this phenomenon.
06:44The Mandir is a grand center of the Hindu religion.
06:48Built there over 1200 years ago, it is still the place of pilgrimage.
06:53In Hindu mythology, when Shiva's wife Parvati left, Shiva was very sad.
07:00He cried a lot, and one of her tears fell here.
07:03The Shakwal district is very dry.
07:07The tear that fell in this place formed a lake, and became the source of which the entire region feeds from.
07:13For political reasons dating back to the independence, it is now very difficult to reach this place of worship.
07:19Despite the promise of the Pakistani government to include the site as a world heritage in 2007, the Katas Temple remains abandoned.
07:29Archaeologists and restorers are denied access to the Mandir.
07:34The Hindus, who migrated to the East Punjab, however, refused to give up the Katas.
07:39Today, the faithful of all faiths are allowed to enter the building complex only once a year.
07:45For pilgrims, bathing in the sacred pond will lead to the renunciation of sins and achieve ultimate salvation.
08:06Until recently, the belief was that the source of water had unlimited depth.
08:11However, the intensive use of groundwater for industrial purposes has led to the gradual drying of the land.
08:19The
08:25The
08:29Tonight
08:30The
08:32That
08:33The
08:34This
08:36This
08:38This
08:39This
08:40This
08:44This
08:45This
08:47Peshawar
09:16Peshawar is considered to be the center of international terrorism, yet it has at its heart a church and a Christian cemetery dating from 1821.
09:28The Peshawar Catholic Church was once a synagogue erected in 1883 by Worthington Jukes.
09:35When this church was built, there were eight deaths that day.
09:50The mark of their martyrdom is in the cross. We can still make out the bullet holes.
10:08The main road was that they were in the cross. The main road was that they were in the cross.
10:16If they were to the place, they were to be a church.
10:20When it was a cross, they were to be a man who was to be a man who was to be a man who was to be a man.
10:27In the past, people here thought that with the minaret, the building was going to be
10:38a mosque.
10:39But no matter how the church was designed, the plan represents a cross.
10:44When we wanted to raise the cross, the locals attacked us, and that was in 1883.
10:50In my experience, people in Punjab are much harder.
10:53Here, Pashto are men of honor.
10:56They never caused us problems.
10:58You see the houses there?
11:00Shiites live there.
11:02This is the hardest area of Peshawar.
11:05This really is their center.
11:06This is where all the events take place.
11:09Everything happens here.
11:11And we live here.
11:13Even when there is a big party, I open the church every day.
11:17People come to pray nine, even ten hours.
11:19We are always present regardless.
11:22People come to the church every day.
11:24People come to the church every day.
11:26We are always present.
11:28Peshawar, December 24th.
11:34Far from the rumors in the media in the West, there is neither an Islamic terrorist nor a woman
11:40veiled on every corner.
11:54A couple does their Christmas shopping easily.
11:56Together, they experience the excitement of the city from one store to another.
12:02Kaisal is still present.
12:04The town that the malls are on the side of a visa in the South, there is an incredible
12:10tie of a pa valley.
12:11As I said, I didn't have to ask for the city of Punjab.
12:12After that, I put a walk in the wall.
12:14Now I can ask for the city of Abu Dhabi and a global holiday.
12:18The town of Abu Dhabi G !
12:20The town of Abu Dhabi is quite a bit.
12:21I will take care of the city of the city of Abu Dhabi and a small city of the city.
12:23The town of Abu Dhabi is famous here in the South.
12:26A mountain of the city of Abu Dhabi and a large city of the city.
12:27At the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city, women buy beauty products in a cosmetics shop.
12:38Here is a family choosing new clothes in a shop run by a very primed seller.
12:58The choice of sweater is an overall debate.
13:08Like the Western community, the Catholic community of Peshawar prepares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
13:29On Christmas Eve, one tries to be beautiful and elegantly dressed.
13:38Back at home, preparations are done in absolute joy.
14:06The girl has recently won a henna contest.
14:10She draws the careful patterns on the hands of her aunts.
14:25The women display their shopping on parade.
14:30They are enchanted by their new outfits.
14:32I bought it to hide from the cold.
14:37They do not hesitate to tease the only man left to contemplate their joyful day.
14:41It is now time to prepare the Christmas Eve meal.
14:51Everyone helps in the preparation.
14:57Everyone helps in the preparation of the meal.
15:27When it's time to eat and sit at the table, everyone laughs together.
15:52Everyone finds a most serious and solemn moment to say grace, except perhaps an uncle
16:07who prefers to prepare his camera.
16:20Dinner is primarily a moment of exchange and sharing between men and women, young and
16:24old.
16:25It's a pleasure to be with you.
16:34It was a pleasure to be with you.
16:40Before leaving for midnight mass, everyone dresses up and is perfectly quaffed.
16:52This is an important moment and it is a great moment to celebrate.
17:04Arriving at the church, one must take off their shoes.
17:26The faithful are far from resembling the Christian stereotypes rooted in the Western tradition.
17:31Yet the liturgy remains the same.
17:33With a desire and wisdom.
17:49You want to walk a little bit closer tothe most of the can.
17:56SP Singa was the Christian leader.
17:59There were differences during the elections, and it had been decided to be given the need
18:03to vote.
18:04The English told us, unite.
18:10So the Muslims went to see S.B. Singha, who told them, me and my fellow Christians will
18:15vote for you.
18:17If Christians had largely voted for India, there would be no Pakistan.
18:21They mostly voted for Pakistan, and hence the country was born.
18:26And today, the Pakistani authorities are trying to erase the name of S.B. Singha, despite
18:31all he has done for the country.
18:56The Pakistani authorities are trying to say that we are always responsible for peace and
19:02peace and peace.
19:04And of course, it is the message of the Lord of the Lord of the Lord of the Lord of the Lord.
19:12Anyone in Pakistan must first think about Pakistan.
19:17Stories of religion must take second place.
19:20Religion is good, but it has its own place and function.
19:23In my case, I went to the United States in 2002.
19:27I went with my cleric's clothing, and the Americans did not want to give me a visa, yet I am a
19:32bishop and my name is Sebastian.
19:38The people who live abroad have increased the reach of our nationality even stronger than
19:42religion.
19:43That's why these nations are strong.
19:46I was treated more as a Pakistani than as a Christian, and I think it's great.
19:50The Americans said, we better check out this guy to see who he really is.
19:55They did not let me go before the end of an investigation.
19:58And I think that is what is lacking in Pakistan.
20:01When we meet, we say, where are you from?
20:04I come from such and such region.
20:06Me?
20:07I am from another.
20:09Someone will tell me, I am from Balochistan.
20:14Until we get out of this regional division, we will not create a united nation.
20:18We will not create a new village.
20:36Satsang with Mooji
21:06Shabbat Shalom
21:36This is the most important part of the world.
22:06Thank you very much.
22:36that the Holy Lord has been given the Lord
22:39and who has been given the grace of God from all this.
22:43I am God, the power of God, the Holy Spirit,
22:46and God of the Holy Spirit,
22:48and the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit.
22:51Amen to everyone who has attended this call.
22:54Amen.
22:56Especially after the early Jesus used theель the Holy Spirit,
23:00however even after this hour until this hour...
23:02Historically, in the year 40 or 42,
23:05St. Thomas came to Pakistan in the Taksila region, in which there is still evidence of this in a local church.
23:19We do not know at what time he left India in the Kerala region.
23:22As he settled there, he and his followers established Christian colonies, and the people of Kerala will always remain the faithful followers of St. Thomas.
23:40Later, the Christian presence did not come with kings. It actually appeared with missionaries.
23:54When St. Thomas came to Taksila, the kings of the time caused it.
23:59They told him, tell us what the Christian religion is all about. Who are you?
24:10When the English settled here, they had no advantage over us. It's the truth.
24:33They laughed at us being Christians. They said, clean the house, go paint, and they did not care about us.
24:39And we were happy with that.
25:09What is it?
25:14We ate their hearts,имо, and they did not like mine.
25:16Our spirit is the one, we ate their hearts, no church.
25:21This is the one, we ate the man who embraced which formed it from the exact faith of the citizens.
25:23This is the one that we Conscious Time and made it.
25:25Indeed it is the Lamb of the Senhor movement for our souls including others.
25:27His behalf and sentec然 was bursting at those who started the healing process of the sassire Muhammad.
25:29I want you to know that the people who have given you will be given to you.
28:14We celebrated the 125 years of our diocese in Lahore.
28:19There is another area where the church dates back to 250 years.
28:22We have evidence that in the 12th century, Christians were already present.
28:32Christians here have never ruled.
28:35They never gave orders.
28:40That is why in the 15th century, the king Iqbal summoned the missionaries.
28:45He had heard of the Christians, so he called them to Lahore and he told them,
28:49come to Lahore and tell me who you are.
28:59In some places where there have been riots, and if we analyze these problems, they never
29:07started because of religion.
29:09To tell the truth, there are never religious conflicts.
29:11And only if we analyze this in depth that things will change.
29:19In all those places where there were problems, it never started because of religion.
29:24This is especially where social relations have been transformed into religious conflicts.
29:28There is a place in Pakistan where 70 or 80 years ago, Christians worked for the land for Muslims.
29:43Some of their children were educated, and gradually, after having worked, they improved the condition of their parents.
30:03They began to buy land and became masters in their turn.
30:07So these people, who were really poor, began to work for themselves and not for Muslims.
30:19And conflict erupted there.
30:21A Christian who was returning with his tractor asked a Muslim who was blocking the street with his bike,
30:25said, stand aside so I can go.
30:28The other answered, who are you?
30:29The other answered, who are you?
30:30Please, just let me go, says the Christian.
30:44The Muslim retorted, you forgot that you were good for nothing and now you have tractors.
30:49and now you have tractors.
30:53That is why today there are conflicts.
31:00Something was converted to a religious status that it was not.
31:04If we analyze this, it's always a question of jealousy or a social problem.
31:09Christians were progressing.
31:12Before that, they were lower than dirt.
31:14The country should take advantage of that.
31:18The more people who work the land, the more there will be agriculture.
31:22The government should take advantage of this situation.
31:26Working the land is a vision for the long term.
31:28More agriculture causes more irrigation which increases more work.
31:33Yes, we are Christians.
31:37We were there like them.
31:38We were nobodies.
31:39As we progressed a little, they found it unbearable.
31:42It means that it is a long view.
31:49There are attacks.
31:54It is a small group that did this.
31:57They have their own philosophy.
31:59I think these people do not like Pakistan.
32:02If they continue like that, how do you expect the country to progress?
32:06When I go abroad, I am proud to say that I am Pakistani, whether I am in Italy or Germany.
32:28There are some problems in Pakistan, do not worry.
32:33We manage ourselves.
32:35We want peace.
32:38Last year, a father had organized a contest for peace card wishes.
32:55There were plenty of schools that took part.
32:58He also asked a madrasah to participate.
33:03And young people who were there had made greeting cards representing people with folded hands,
33:07chanting, God, grant us peace.
33:12This proves that everyone wants peace.
33:15But when a social problem is transformed into religious conflict with anger,
33:25people are able to do things beyond their control.
33:28And then they are able to do everything and anything.
33:31They must take time to understand.
33:33In Lahore, the Christmas festivities are in full preparation.
33:53The Ramit family belongs to a most favored social class and great importance is given to the
33:58education of each of its members.
34:00The beautiful girl prepares a meal.
34:07The beautiful girl prepares a meal.
34:21The smell emanating from different foods is more than enticing.
34:28The smell emanating from different foods is more than enticing.
34:32Dinner consists of various recipes using chicken and raw vegetables in salads.
34:42Everyone settles in, ready to share a moment of conviviality around a beautiful table.
34:57Today, I am a teacher in a graduate school.
35:00And teaching in higher education is only second to my greatest pride that I am a Christian.
35:06I am highly qualified and my school is a Christian school.
35:14Despite this, 90% of our students are Muslims.
35:20As their teachers, we are very happy.
35:23However, when it comes to talking about religion, we are very wary because Pakistan has the 295
35:30law, which is the law of blasphemy.
35:36In this case, I tell the students that I am not a Muslim in order to not express anything
35:41against Islam.
35:46So I ask other Muslim teachers, how should I talk about this?
35:50And I add, if there is a problem, please tell me.
35:57We must always keep this law in mind.
36:03The 295 law means that no one can speak against the Prophet or against Islam, whether in a written
36:32or oral fashion.
36:39If someone dares, there will be a court trial and people will be sentenced to death.
36:47Until now, whether a Christian or a Muslim, no one has ever been hanged.
36:53They will be killed long before.
36:55They will be killed in front of the police station even before the trial takes place.
37:07The first trial took place because of a public water problem.
37:10Witnesses certified that there was never any profanity, it was just a conflict.
37:16However, the person was sentenced to death.
37:23As this will continue, as the majority in the assembly is Muslim, we are only four at a meeting,
37:36and again, they are not chosen by the people, but by the party.
37:43They do choose someone to make multicultural strides, but this law can never be repealed.
37:49So far, I have never seen anyone sentenced to death.
37:52That person would be killed well before, either outside the police station or the courthouse.
37:57Changing style here, it's Christmas morning, December 25th, and the better-off families go to the temple in Lahore.
38:16In Pakistan, one can attend both Catholic and Presbyterian churches.
38:21The priest, the strip is a place to live inлагi.
38:23The priest, the priest, the beautiful shirt, the high-off families go to the temple.
38:26The priest, the priest, the priest.
38:27The priest, the priest, the priest, the priest, the priest.
38:31Good morning, Elpic Rusplase, Elpic Rusplase.
38:36I have never seen the priest in the Arab community.
38:50When missionaries arrived here, they started to convert us.
39:16We will never forget the first priests who came.
39:19They gave birth to Christianity here in Pakistan.
39:24It started in the area of Sialkat.
39:28Those who converted the first ones were untouchable among the untouchables.
39:33It is those who were lower than lepers who were converted.
39:41We quickly realized that it is whites who would solve our problems.
39:46And every time we would see them and held out our hands, they found a solution.
39:50They put something in our heads and we began to praise the white man.
39:54This system has become well established here.
39:59I am from a Sikh family.
40:01My father and my grandfather were Sikhs.
40:04We became Christians in 1947.
40:08There were those that no one wanted to touch, but it was not the fault of the missionaries.
40:13They helped us whenever we had a problem.
40:17We could make a little disappointed face and the priest was there.
40:32He approached us and the first thing he did was give us money.
40:48He said, you take the money, and now what exactly is your problem?
40:54Once he had given the money, there was no problem.
40:57It's a bad habit we have undertaken.
41:00If I have two children, the church will say, do not worry, I will raise them.
41:08If I have five children, no problem, the church will do it.
41:12There are families who have found themselves with up to 16 children.
41:16The church responded, it doesn't matter, but none of them were educated.
41:23Someone became the chauffeur of a priest, and another worked for him as a carpenter.
41:28Small jobs, so that there is no progression, and that Christianity can continue, and that
41:33one is always below them.
41:38Today, too, we are still used to begging, yet we do not know how to give 10 rupees to
41:43the church, even though we know how to ask.
41:47We still have the custom of reaching out.
41:49They have not explained to us that we must also give.
41:53Because of this, Christians are still too far away to improve their lot properly.
41:57This is the final, I know, that Christians are too far away to live in the name of Jesus.
42:07Amen.
42:08Amen.
42:38Pakistan was created 60 years ago.
42:56Nevertheless, we are still not considered true Pakistanis.
43:03See this Presbyterian church?
43:05These are Christians who have a social status.
43:09These are people who have dedicated everything to their education.
43:13Those you see in other churches are poorer.
43:15They are poor because they are not educated.
43:20People always have in mind to say,
43:22if I'm not educated, so my child does not need to be either.
43:26If they do not find a job, it doesn't matter.
43:29They will become cleaners or a garbage collector.
43:32That has become a family occupation.
43:35Those who have realized that ideal have sent their children to school.
43:44After the mass, the family is having fun at the Iqbal Park.
43:48Today is Christmas Day. The whole family is here.
44:00We went to church this morning.
44:16We saw all the people in our neighborhood, and we welcomed everyone there.
44:22It has become a tradition.
44:34After mass, we have a picnic with family, and then we go about our business.
44:40We had already come here with our parents when we were not married.
44:46Now I am married with children.
44:50Even they tell me that later, they will come here after the Christmas mass.
44:54We will be able to come here.
44:58The whole family is very happy.
45:00We are also very happy with all the people.
45:02After being here, our family is very happy.
45:08First we are from the other side to the village and the village and the village.
45:10We will have many more places.
45:14Come back, come back, come back!
45:34If you look at history since its independence,
45:36we cannot say with pride and willingly that we are Christians.
45:45We always make a difference between Christians and Muslims.
45:55I'm Romael.
45:56If I go to an office, the officials will say that I have to wait.
46:00If I were called Muhammad Yousaf, they would have received me immediately.
46:14We as Christians, we are treated like Americans.
46:17We are not considered as Pakistanis while our roots are here in Pakistan.
46:22They are very old.
46:24Whenever there is a problem with the United States, France, or Britain, or any Western country,
46:35the people here get together and pick on the Christians.
46:41If there was an event there, there would be revenge here.
46:45In the cities, it's a little less true, but in the villages, it is terrible.
46:50People invent songs to tell the Americans to withdraw from Afghanistan and they add,
46:55and you Christians, get out of here. Go with them.
46:57We are Pakistanis. We love Pakistan.
46:58Despite this, others consider us to be foreigners, as if we came from abroad.
46:59We are Pakistanis. We love Pakistan.
47:00Despite this, others consider us to be foreigners, as if we came from abroad.
47:02and we had parachuted here. It is as if we had no link with the land.
47:07It's as if we had no different link with the land.
47:09That's what we believe.
47:11And that's one of the best.
47:13We are Pakistanis. We love Pakistan.
47:16We are Pakistanis. We love Pakistan.
47:20We are Pakistanis. We love Pakistan.
47:23Despite this, others consider us to be foreigners, as if we came from abroad,
47:27and we had parachuted here.
47:29It is as if we had no link with the land.
47:31It's very disappointing.
47:38Until now, when there was an attack, not one Christian was involved in that.
47:43For 40 years we have never seen that.
47:45This proves that we love Pakistan.
47:50I don't care.
47:51I too could blow myself up with explosives if I did not love my country.
48:01We must continue to be secular.
48:13We must be Pakistanis.
48:15Pakistan must always be a secular country.
48:18It belongs to us all, not just Muslims.
48:26With education, I am sure that people will change.
48:31We must be a secular country.
48:33But we are not sure.
48:35Because we are one.
48:41Because we are one.
48:47Because we are one.
48:53Because we are one.
49:03Because we are one.
49:04Because we are one.
49:05Because we are one.
49:06Because we are one.
49:08Because we are one.
49:10Because we are one.
49:13Because we are one.
49:14Because we are one.
49:16I wanna always pray, cha-cha, to guide me on this bluer path, and fill us inner silence space, until I see God's face.
49:26Thanks.
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