Literary Corner: ”Silence” by Shusaku Endo

In this episode of Religion in Praxis: Literary Corner, we examine Shusaku Endo’s Silence—a haunting novel about faith, doubt, and God’s silence in the face of suffering. Set in 17th-century Japan, the story follows Jesuit priest Sebastião Rodrigues, who embarks on a dangerous mission to find his missing mentor and minister to persecuted Christians. But as he witnesses unspeakable cruelty and hears nothing from God, Rodrigues faces an agonizing question: Is faith still faith when God remains silent?

We discuss:
🔹 The problem of divine silence—why doesn’t God intervene?
🔹 Rodrigues’ Christ-like self-image and his crisis of faith
🔹 The moral dilemma of apostasy—can denying faith be an act of mercy?
🔹 Connections between Endo and Dostoevsky on suffering and belief

This is a story of betrayal, resilience, and the painful complexity of faith. Listen now and join us in unpacking one of the most thought-provoking religious novels of the 20th century.