Pakistan's Christian History - a brief whistlestop tour.

I have received this interesting and important Blog story from Kenny Masih:

"I have compiled a small list of books that can help the youth or anyone interested, to understand the history and problems of Christians of Pakistan. If you know of any more books that help, aim to gain a better understanding so we can work out a strategy and come up with some solutions, please add to the list. God Bless You"

The Invisibles: The Plights of Christians in Pakistan











About the Author:
Mr. Ramnit Lall Rahi was born to Mr. Labu Mall and Mrs. Grace L. Mall on April 10, 1933 in Budianna, Sialkot. He received his primary education at Budianna Primary Mission School and matriculation at Christian Training Institute, Bara Pathar, and Sialkot. He continued to achieve excellence in education completing his RA. at Murray College, Sialkot, and his Bachelors and Masters (History) at Gordon College Rawalpindi. In 1964 he was awarded Master of Education from Punjab University. Mr. Lall received a diploma in education and a certificate in (CAL) from London University. He now permanently resides in Britain, but his heart still yearns for the Christian community in Pakistan. It is this aspiration to serve the disadvantaged Christians in Pakistan that led him to opt for an early retirement from his profession in the U.K. His service to the community is commendable and valuable.

Christian Citizens in an Islamic State: The Pakistan Experience (Live Questions in Ethics and M) (Paperback):

"Christian Minorities in an Islamic State" deals with the important question of inter-faith relations in Pakistan, a vital region of the Islamic world which has been the scene of the rise of both Islamic militancy and partnership with the West in counter-terrorism measures. Christians are the most important religious minority of Pakistan and their status and experience is a test case of the treatment of religious minorities in an Islamic state.This book covers new ground in exploring the various factors that govern the relations between Muslims and Christians in a nation state which has been politically unstable in the past, and where the imposition of Islamic law has been controversial and problematic for religious minorities. Theodore Gabriel clarifies the history of Christian-Muslim relations in the region, explores the rise of Islamic militancy, and draws on personal interviews to determine the mind set of both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan today.

About the Author:

Theodore Gabriel is Honorary Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Gloucestershire, UK.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christian-Citizens-Islamic-State-Experience/dp/0754660362/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251044837&sr=1-2


The Christians of Pakistan The Passion of Bishop John Joseph (Hardcover):

Description"Christian Minorities in an Islamic State" deals with the important question of inter-faith relations in Pakistan, a vital region of the Islamic world which has been the scene of the rise of both Islamic militancy and partnership with the West in counter-terrorism measures. Christians are the most important religious minority of Pakistan and their status and experience is a test case of the treatment of religious minorities in an Islamic state. This book covers new ground in exploring the various factors that govern the relations between Muslims and Christians in a nation state which has been politically unstable in the past, and where the imposition of Islamic law has been controversial and problematic for religious minorities. Theodore Gabriel clarifies the history of Christian-Muslim relations in the region, explores the rise of Islamic militancy, and draws on personal interviews to determine the mind set of both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan today.
About the Author:

"Linda Walbridge does more than analyze social and religious questions-she brings the reader into the very heart of a community that is struggling for justice and puts a human face on urgent questions of inter-religious relations that are dear to Muslims and Christians alike.."-"Bulletin Of The Royal Institute For Inter-Faith Studies Linda Walbridge was a cultural anthropologist specializing in Shi‘ism and Islam in the West. She died in 2002.

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christians-Pakistan-Passion-Bishop-Joseph/dp/0700716564/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251044837&sr=1-1


Quaid-e-Azam's Vision - Christians in Pakistan: The Battle for Justice:

When Pakistan was born in 1947, its non-Muslim minorities were solemnly assured that they would enjoy full rights as citizens of the new and Independent State. The national flag was designed in two colours - green representing Islam and white the minorities.

The nation's founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah who had aimed for a democratic state based on Islamic principles of social justice, declared: "Minorities are the sacred trust of Pakistan." Christian politicians gave him their full support in the struggle for Independence, and in framing Pakistan's Constitution. Soon after Quaid-e-Azam's tragically early death, the process began which was to turn Pakistan into an Islamic Republic. As that process continued, so the constitutional rights of the minorities - and especially of those of the country's over ten million Christians - were steadily eroded.

Today Pakistani Christians are regularly jailed and even sentenced to death on false charges by a system that is designed to discriminate against them. Many are trapped by poverty, working virtually as slave labourers. However, Muslims who commit crimes against Christians - including murder, rape and kidnapping - go unpunished.

The constitutional rights of Christians and other minorities are severely curtailed and they do not have a single representative in the Pakistan Senate. George Felix's book is the story of that struggle. It is a story of cruelty and oppression, of betrayed ideals and broken promises. It is also a story of courage and determination that in the end truth and justice will prevail.


About the Author:

For more then 30 years the author of this book, George Felix and others have been involved in an ongoing struggle for the constitutional rights of their fellow Christians in Pakistan. A businessman from Lahore now based in the United Kingdom, George has sought the help of the British and Irish governments, the European Union, the United Nations, and many other international bodies in an effort to recover the constitutional rights originally given to Pakistan's minorities by the nation's founders.
He has campaigned against the blasphemy laws, against the electoral laws which deprive minorities of proper representation, the denationalisation of Christian educational institutions and against identity cards which indicate the bearer's religion.

Link:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quaid-e-Azams-Vision-Christians-Pakistan-Justice/dp/1870645049/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1251047176&sr=1-1

Michael Nazir Ali Books

Too many to List
Please follow the link below
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=michael+nazir+ali