Silence By Shusaku Endo

Why are we reading this? Examines one of our main themes: global Christianity Examines one of our main themes: global Christianity can Christianity be translated into Japanese culture, or is Christianity inherently Western? can Christianity be translated into Japanese culture, or is Christianity inherently Western? Why did the Christian missions to Asia not work out like the Christian missions to the Americas? Why did the Christian missions to Asia not work out like the Christian missions to the Americas? What can we learn about Jesuits from this period? What can we learn about Jesuits from this period?

Asks classic theological questions and resists easy answers Asks classic theological questions and resists easy answers Why is God silent when those who love him are suffering? Why is God silent when those who love him are suffering? How do we deal with human failures and weakness? How do we deal with human failures and weakness? How does religion obscure God (Christ) even as it teaches good and true things? How does religion obscure God (Christ) even as it teaches good and true things? What is the meaning of Jesus’ suffering death? What is the meaning of Jesus’ suffering death?

Model to us for one foot in present world, one in the past. Model to us for one foot in present world, one in the past. How is Endo writing about his own experience as a 20th century Japanese Catholic, with doubts and serious questions, even as he writes about a very different historical setting? How is Endo writing about his own experience as a 20th century Japanese Catholic, with doubts and serious questions, even as he writes about a very different historical setting? How does the historical setting become a powerful way of exploring his questions (by removing him from his immediate context)? How does the historical setting become a powerful way of exploring his questions (by removing him from his immediate context)?

Endo ( ) Japanese Catholic Japanese Catholic Unlike his peers: Less than 1% of Japanese population is Christian Unlike his peers: Less than 1% of Japanese population is Christian Studied in France, felt alienated from Western Christianity Studied in France, felt alienated from Western Christianity Central problem: how to reconcile these two parts of himself Central problem: how to reconcile these two parts of himself Silence first published 1969; bestseller in Japan Silence first published 1969; bestseller in Japan Like his other novels, raises more questions than it answers Like his other novels, raises more questions than it answers

Christianity in 1600s Japan First brought by Francis Xavier (1549); later Italian and Jesuit missionaries (1579) First brought by Francis Xavier (1549); later Italian and Jesuit missionaries (1579) By 1600, ca. 300,000 Christians (total pop: 20 million) By 1600, ca. 300,000 Christians (total pop: 20 million) First tolerated, then persecuted First tolerated, then persecuted Japanese rulers fear new religion will prepare for political interference Japanese rulers fear new religion will prepare for political interference

Persecutions 1597: 26 missionaries crucified 1597: 26 missionaries crucified 1614: Missionaries expelled 1614: Missionaries expelled Major change: make Christians apostatize Major change: make Christians apostatize “glorious death” of a martyr increased devotion to the cause “glorious death” of a martyr increased devotion to the cause So, focus shifted to worse forms of torture, not killing So, focus shifted to worse forms of torture, not killing Purpose: utterly stamp out Christianity Purpose: utterly stamp out Christianity

Themes Evolution of Rodrigues Evolution of Rodrigues God’s silence in the face of suffering God’s silence in the face of suffering Martyrdom: theology of glory, or theology of the cross? Martyrdom: theology of glory, or theology of the cross? Kichijiro: what of the coward who apostatizes? Of human weakness and failures? Kichijiro: what of the coward who apostatizes? Of human weakness and failures? Jesuit spirituality Jesuit spirituality visualizing the face of Christ visualizing the face of Christ Looking for God in all things Looking for God in all things Indigenous Christianity: how has this been inculturated? Indigenous Christianity: how has this been inculturated?

Questions What is the character of Rodrigues? What is the character of Rodrigues? Is he arrogant? Courageous? Genuine? Is he arrogant? Courageous? Genuine? Why does he need to defend Ferreira? Why does he need to defend Ferreira? What do you think of Kichijiro? What do you think of Kichijiro? How do you understand the Japanese Christians? How do you understand the Japanese Christians? How does Endo depict the physical environment? How does Endo depict the physical environment?

Things to watch for How and where does Endo discuss silence? Can you actually “hear” any sounds, from his narrative description? How and where does Endo discuss silence? Can you actually “hear” any sounds, from his narrative description? How does Rodrigues begin to change? How does Rodrigues begin to change? How does Rodrigues see Christ? Is the image always the same, or does it change? How does Rodrigues see Christ? Is the image always the same, or does it change? Is Kichijiro a redeemable character? Is Kichijiro a redeemable character?