Culture and Religion in Pakistan

Oct 30, 2006

The pleasure of getting to know local people can’t be expressed. I'm very privileged because of the work I do with The Pink Kit Method For Birthing Better®. Rarely do we have an opportunity to meet people as one human being to another. Usually all the differences of culture, religion, race, language, education, marital status, gender and age have a huge impact on our social relationships.

The Pink Kit Method is so universal and just plan common sense and practical, suddenly we realize the Truth ... we are all One Humanity. The Pink Kit Method gives us a common language to understand the way Humans give birth.

Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country and there are certain cultural social behaviors expected and adhered to. Although women are present on the street, there is not the street living one sees in other countries which are not Muslim. In fact you don’t even see many children. The streets are predominately full of men. The living takes place inside one’s home.

At the present time, I am in Hyderabad about 3 hours from Karachi. The family I am with is originally from Persia (Iran) and have been Baha’i for two generations. They live in the market area of Hyderabad in a house built around a central court yard. There are 5 rooms on one side of the court area and several more rooms on the other. Pakistan people live in extended families with many people sleeping in the same room.

This family is middle class and has three TVs. The International Cricket Competition has been playing. Pakistan just lost to New Zealand and New Zealand has gone into the semi finals with South Africa, Australia and the West Indies. Since both Pakistan and India have lost, there is less interest in the outcome of the competition.

Pakistan families are extended. This means that the woman’s familiy and man’s family are the social relationships. I am learning a little bit about cultural practices. Unlike in Muslim families in Pakistan, Baha’i do not marry their first cousin. The people I am meeting in this family will extend all the way to the grandparents sybling’s children’s children and sometimes back to another generation and the lineage which springs from those relationships.

Baha'i people are very social. Although there are 3 TVs (and cable) in this house there is much more socializing then in Western countries. Baha'i people love to talk and love to laugh. This is both a Persian and Urdu speaking family as well as English. I understand little but enjoy the energy.

People of all ages congregate and enjoy each other. Because Baha’i is a religion that expressly says women and men are equal, the relationship between the genders are relaxed and informal.

When we are presenting to Muslim women or in Hindu villages there is less interaction between women and men and certainly less socializing. This is the first Muslim country I’ve been in. I’ve been in many traditionally living villages in other countries where men and women are generally more relaxed than in either the Muslim or Hindu communities.

This in no way detracts from the enjoyment of sharing. In fact, once Muslim and Hindu women recognize The Pink Kit as universal skills both the culture and religion give way into a place inside which is just about being a human being. This is nice.

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