Silence (Peter Owen Modern Classics) by Shusaku Endo (2006) Paperback

Graham Greene, one of my favorite authors, called this book "one of the finest novels of our time." With that high praise, I bought a copy of Endo's "Silence," and immersed myself in the missionary world of 17th century Japan.

After some fruitful years in this "swamp," Christianity has fallen on hard times, with increasing pressure on believers and priests to apostasize. Indeed, it is rumored that one Portuguese man-of-the-cloth, Christovao Ferreira, has done just that. No word has come from Ferreira, and so two more priests leave Portugal, sailing for Macao, then Japan, in an effort to find their comrade and continue his secretive work. Rodrigues and Garrpe arrive in a small seaside village, where they spend much time in hiding, slowly disseminating the gospel to the locals.

The majority of the story is told through letters by Rodrigues. He tells of his fervent love for the face of the Lord, his increasing respect for the Japanese, and his recurring troubles with a cowardly man named Kichijiro, who has already apostasized once before. Rodrigues watches men and women be martyred, then finds himself imprisoned while an interrogator named Inoue slowly breaks his morale through intellectual and physical means. In Inoue's words, Christianity is like an extra, unwanted wife in the Japanese household of religion. In Rodrigues' mind, Christianity (namely, Catholicism and the universal church) is the only true wife. If this is so, Inoue wants to know, then why is the wife so barren in Japan?

It's a question that plagues Rodrigues, even as he faces difficulty and the chance to apostasize. Where is God's voice? Why is God silent? The beleaguered priest wrestles with these issues, while still longing to see the face of his beloved Lord.

I had hoped for a bit more historical and social exploration of this time period in Japan's history, but Endo does a wonderful job of charting the human soul's journey through the quagmires of faith. The "swamp" that Inoue refers to is not only Japan, but that of any soul struggling to understand God. While books such as Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth" gave a deeper view of Asian life, Endo focuses on the Lord's face and silence in the midst of turmoil. This is a moving book, often understated and never melodramatic.

This book was highly recommended by my dear friends in a circle of Christian community recently, and the one of the reasons was probably because I am a Japanese raised by the Christian family of five generations in Japan. This book has throughly impressed me by the Shsaku Endo's intensity and sincerity in probing into his personal faith as a Christian in time of trials. Since I myself often imagined how far I would be able to endure when my faith is severely tested as was this priest experienced in the hours of life and death situation. The book helped and guided me through the agonizing path during my reading with new found compassion and love of God in men and women therfore I may have clearer And gentler understanding of God in my life.

I am not a big fan of historical fiction -- prefer to read the real thing -- but this book is fantastic. The plot revolves around a Portugeese missionary who travels to Japan in the 1600's, when Christianity was banned and believers were hunted down, tortured, and usually killed. The book addresses two conflicts: the external struggle arising from service as a missionary in a hostile, alien environment, and the internal struggle with the "silence" of God in the face of incredible suffering. Endo's style is economical, but he does justice to the characters and atmosphere. Yes, this is a book about religion, but both believers and non-believers will find it worthwhile. One line, especially, blew me away: "Even if [Our Lord] had been silent, my life until this day would have spoken of him." Good stuff. Internet rumors suggest Martin Scorsese may have a film adaptation in the works.

This is a dark, introspective, spiritual exploration of religion and the lengths one will go to in order to preserve and defend what they believe in. Ultimately we can see the direction the central character will have to go. Glad I read the book before seeing the film as it gets much deeper into the head of the protagonist than the film can. Ultimately it leaves more questions than it answers but it's expertly told.

People of faith believe that their commitment to that faith is strong and can endure even the greatest challenges to it. When it is tested, they stand firm, never waivering but suppose that your faith could cause suffering and even death to others. To watch others die over and over again because of what you believe would wear on the beliefs of the strongest of individuals.

Rodrigues has his faith tested to its limits. The frustration he faces brings him through a journey of relationships with simple people who risk all for him and others who betray him at every turn. In the midst of it all, God is "silent"...

This is no "feel good" read but it will move you and cause you to think about your own faith.

Masterful novel that should be read by any Christian, or human being, struggling to relate to other cultures. This is also an excellent novel for those attempting to understand the relationship of colonialism to Christiany.
Alberto L Garcia, Ph.D.

I've listened to almost all Sonata Arctica albums, and I would have to say this is probably one of the best. If you're just now purchasing their albums, I would say this album would be a great place to start. Standout Songs would be the Power of One, The End of This Chapter, and Sing in Silence to me. Of course, opinion varies, but go ahead and listen to a few tracks first, don't just take my word for it.

it is impossible to be a passive reader with this book. it captures you immediately and you'll find it hard to put down after that. At the end of each chapter you are left wondering not only what will Rodrigues do, but what would you do, what would you think of him based on what he did? It really makes you think about your own faith and your one life, what you would be willing to sacrifice and what you belief and would never give up on. I think it takes something special in a book to so completely relate to the reader and every reader at that because I dont think anyone could read this without an intense reaction, even if they are not Christian.
There are so many little details in the book, I could read it 50 more times and still be realizing new little details that I never noticed before.

The book is incredible, one of the great pieces of literature in the past 50 years. Your emotions may be challenged for a very long time and it may take a very long time for you to re-read this masterpiece. Shusatsu Endo's brilliant story telling will wound your soul..

This question, raised countless times by the main character Rodrigues, is just one of many theological issues that Endo explores in this highly emotional, extremely probing novel. The Christian period of Japan is regarded as a somewhat curious anomaly by the Japanese themselves, and is largely unknown in western circles. That Endo could weave so elegant a tale, using a foreign main character (there are few precedents in Japanese literature) and frequently changing narrative styles no less, is an accomplishment in itself.
"Silence" raises several theological points, but the two that stuck with me the most were the following: how can God remain silent despite the suffering of his people (a question no less relevant with the events going on in the world today), and secondly, is it possible that Christianity cannot "grow roots" in the "swamp" that is Japan. A Catholic himself, it is obvious that Endo has struggled over these questions himself, searching for answers. Is it possible to betray your faith but stay true to your God? Endo's frank look at questions like this is part of his universal success. It is amazing to consider that this book was a huge seller in Endo's native Japan, which itself is barely 1% Christian.
"Father, you were not defeated by me," Inoue says to Rodrigues. "You were defeated by this swamp of Japan." "No, no ... my struggle was with Christianity in my own heart" Rodrigues replies. Ultimately, Christian or non-Christian, no matter your age or nationality, faith comes down to these battles in the heart. Endo does a magnificent job depicting this, and Silence is an outstanding book because of it.

Provides insights on the clash between outlawed Catholic Christianity viewed as invading and threatening a highly traditional Asian society/culture and the official government. The protagonist must choose finally between the lesser of two evils - Apostacy or causing the torture and death of innocent believers. Truly a spiritual and human dilemma.

With the hype of the movie version, I have decided to read this before seeing the movie. I will repost once I have time to think about this. As someone who has lived in Japan and has some insight on Japan, the Japanese people, and the Japanese way of life I can understand this book. An isolated nation and way of life in the 1700's fighting against foreign influence. I have so far found the book well written, a little dark, but from my understanding-accurate.

Hard to put it into words. It would be offensive to call it fantastic or to describe it as a page turner because I don't want to characterize it a superficial novel on a bestsellers list. It is haunting but in a manner that causes the reader to consider Christ in a different light. Read this book, maybe devote an entire Saturday to it, and then reflect on what impact it could have on a world that needs to consider the compassionate Christ of the cross.

Silence is a book about persecution.  Although it is historical fiction, the book speaks of a era in 1600's Japan when Christians were killed for their faith.  The book explains the travels of a Jesuit priest's mission to Japan to assist the local churches, as well as seek the status of another Jesuit priest who preceded them.  During his time in Japan the priest encounters the Church forced to hide their faith and forced to worship underground.  Samurai and government officials roam from village to village seeking out Christians to apostatize publically or be killed.
Obviously the content is difficult.  The themes are uneasy.  Silence.  God's silence during pain and suffering.  God's silence during the persecution of His people.  In the book God is portrayed as the one who remains silent.  But God's silence is the author's connection to God's message.  It is the silence of accompaniment for the hurting, the forsaken, and the suffering.  God choosing not to taken away the pain, but suffer it with them.
Very well written. Highly recommended.

Silence (1966) by Shusaku Endo
Book Review by Mary P.
Background and Summary:
Historically, Endo’s novel is set in seventeenth-century Japan after the 1614 edict of expulsion of all Jesuit missionaries, and after the Shimabara Rebellion in 1636 by Christian insurgents, when the Tokugawa Bakufu finally severed all ties with Portugal and sealed Japan from the world. Despite widespread persecution, torture, and death by fire and water, a secret organization of Christian converts kept their faith alive. The story pieces together historical artifacts, shipping records, and letters from Father Christovao Ferreira and his Superior, and relies largely on letters sent by Sebastian Rodrigues recounting his journey with Father Garrpe to Japan in 1637. Father Rodrigues narrates their meeting with Christian villagers in Tomogi, near Nagasaki, living in a hillside hideout, their mission to the neighboring village of Goto, before the betrayal and subsequent prosecution of the villagers by government agents started a systemic psychological and spiritual warfare that escalate, when he’s betrayed, prosecuted, and his faith tested.
Main Characters:
In the spiritual vacuum left by the expulsion of all Jesuit priests, Father Rodrigues identifies himself as the only one who could minister to the poverty-stricken, spiritually-deprived peasants. His weakness lies in the flawed view that if he dies, the Japanese church dies with him. Therefore, he should preserve his life to keep the faith alive, even as an underground apostolate. Betrayed for three hundred pieces of silver by the cowardly Kichijiro, an alcoholic lone wolf rejected by Japanese Christians as a government informer and apostolate decoy, who shadows Father Rodrigues throughout his journey, always begging to confess his sins, but remaining unrepentant. Magistrate Inoue, Lord of Chikugo, appears deceptively benign, but deploying psychological tactics, cunningly pits his syncretic knowledge of Christianity and Buddhism against the theology of Father Rodrigues. Ironically, the priest realizes the heavy burden of guilt imposed on him: the Japanese Christians were willing to lay down their lives for him in the torture pit, instead of him laying down his life for them, like Christ. Throughout the story, he questions the validity of his faith in the continual silence of God.
Evaluation of the Work:
Five stars for Endo’s Silence, a novel of transcultural theodicy, blending a Japanese Christology and cultural sensibility that differ from a Roman-Greco theistic worldview. Although the novel focuses on the protagonist’s conflict between faith and human suffering, ultimately choosing apostasy over martyrdom, it fails to justify his spiritual downfall and life-long collaboration with his captors. Like Judas, he betrays Christ at the crucial moment of truth. Instead, Silence evokes an unwavering faith in the simple truth that God speaks to the hearts of devout believers, such as Monica, Mokichi, and Ichizo. It testifies to the love of Christ for villagers, whose voices, long inured to suffering and pain are silenced, but whose martyrdom, speak louder than words. Metaphorically, the endless sea in the novel represents the relentless silence—the face of the suffering Christ, brought before Pontius Pilate.