Silence: Film tie-in

A historical fiction set in 17th century Japan. Its deep introspective novel with strong religious dimension. Some of my favourite quotes below."Men are born in two categories: the strong and the weak, the saints and the commonplace, the heroes and those who respect them.""Fate had given him everything he could have wished for, had given it to him in this cynical way."“There are neither the strong nor the weak. Can anyone say that the weak do not suffer more than the strong?”

I enjoyed the book. Really Amazing.One of the premise of the book is (if I am getting this right) - God's Silence in the Suffering of his people. I don't want be too naive as I myself have never gone through such experience of suffering. But at the same time I have a question. How can God be silent when he has already spoken through his word??

I am fine with the fact that I can read the book and have a hardcopy. But the quality is deplorable. It has red spots and markings all over. Amazon should be ashamed of allowing something like this to be delivered!!

A very good book, where the author deals with the sensitive issue of suffering and pain in the life of a Christian.

Amazing

This book is about Christian faith and religion. But basically touches the true meaning of faith, religion and devotion. All the religious extremists of the world need to read this book to understand how to actually have faith and belief in one's god.

This is a straightforward narrative which tells the story of the persecution of Roman Catholics (both Japanese and foreign priests) in the time of the establishment of the Shogunate which united Japan for the first time. Previous to that, for generations, there had been the time of the warring states.The change is summarised in a Japanese saying –(Oda) Nobunaga mixed the dough.(Toyotomi) Hideyoshi baked the cake.(Tokugawa) Ieyasu ate it.Simplistically, Nobunaga began the process of unification, Hideyoshi consolidated it and Ieyasu took over on the death of Hideyoshi. The Tokugawa shogunate brought two centuries of peace and development by isolating the country from all outside interference. This lasted until the 1860s, at which time the Western powers forced Japan to open their ports to trade by bombarding Japanese cities and towns from the sea.Bearing this in mind, it is important that “Silence” does not address the reasons for the persecution, especially after a long period during which the Shoguns had welcomed the Catholic priests and the trade they brought.Set in 1643, “Silence” states that Christovao Ferreira, a Jesuit, is believed to have apostatised in Japan after being subjected to torture.Three priests, Francisco Garrpe, Juan de Santa Maria and Sebastian Rodriguez, head for Japan from Lisbon to find out what happened to Ferreira, and to bring succour to Japanese Catholics. Rodriguez reports back in letters.Santa Maria catches a debilitating dose of malaria, so only the other two carry on to Japan. They arrive, contact Catholic villages, baptise children and adults, hold masses, and generally teach and help their congregations.Rodriguez pictures the face of Christ as being that of the figure in the painting in Borgo San Sepulcro, showing the figure of Christ with one foot on the sepulchre, and holding a crucifix in his right hand.As the story progresses he begins to question his faith. He comes to realise that the God of the Japanese Catholics is not the God of the Catholic Church in Europe. Rodriguez’s God is silent in the presence of the persecution of his believers. He especially doubts when he is captured and learns of what the Japanese Catholics with him will be subjected to if he does not recant. He himself will not be harmed.This must be the most dreadful torture, and must surely break the resolve of any decent person. Does it break Rodriguez? Read the book. I scored it at 8.5 as my contribution to discussion by the Round the World Book Group in Edinburgh.

Excellent from the outset as a thrilling story and as a meditation on a human conundrum - why is God silent and does a seeming betrayal of faith for faith constitute a weakness or an even greeter strength of character, to be reviled (as a Judas), for the very reason that not to play the part of Judas is an even greater betrayal. Endo gives no judgement in my opinion, but leaves us to think about the problem it poses for us. And then the question, ever present for any human being, how would I react or act in a given situation of moral crisis? Do I co-operate with an enemy? Do I follow orders? Do I act for myself preservation or act morally wrongly for the preservation of others. The villains are sympathetic characters. Inoue especially as the benevolent magistrate who doesn't harm physically the Christian priest Rodrigues, engages in dispute about the faith, yet allows Rodrigues to see that his presence in Japan is the reason for persecution and the random violence Inoue orders is in contrast for us and Rodrigues as they discuss with a smile. Read this. It will shock and move you.

The fight for his faith of a priest while God keeps “silent” whatever happens. In the background, Japan of the XVIIth century. Interesting and very instructive novel from the stand points of history, characters relations, life conditions, catholicism against native faith (Boudhism).

A superb study of man and faith. The book paints a vivid picture of life in 17th century Japan and the desperate struggles of the Catholic church as the authorities seek to end its influence in Japanese society. Told mainly through the eyes of a Portuguese priest, it is both brutal and delicate, reflecting the physical and mental challenges the priest faced.

What a marvellous book! From start to finish.