Comments on: Invitation to Read Shusako Endo’s Silence http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/ Catholic Anglican Reflections on Theology and Culture Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:04:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Janet Leslie Blumberg http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-372 Janet Leslie Blumberg Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:30:48 +0000 http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-372 Oh, also I should give a spoiler alert on Shusaku Endo's _Silence_! If I were you, I wouldn't read much about the novel until after you've read the novel itself. You really DO NOT WANT TO KNOW what's going to happen, okay? Oh, also I should give a spoiler alert on Shusaku Endo’s _Silence_!

If I were you, I wouldn’t read much about the novel until after you’ve read the novel itself.

You really DO NOT WANT TO KNOW what’s going to happen, okay?

]]> By: Janet Leslie Blumberg http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-371 Janet Leslie Blumberg Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:26:52 +0000 http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-371 _Silence_ came into discussion at deepgraceoftheory because one of the scientists who's been participating in the science/faith discussions there and is himself Japanese introduced it as an example of how difficult it is for a Japanese to be a Christian. Hi himself found Western science to be something that is honest and open and "universal" and he came here and became a molecular biologist; he wonders why anyone should embrace any religion, when they differ around the world and lack these qualities he finds in science. He also makes some thoughtful comments on how Western religions appear to an Eastern outlook. So I recommend Hi's introduction to Endo, too, which you'll find via a link I give you within my invitation. I've really enjoyed my conversations with a group of scientists who are not theists at my blog, and not only are they dubious about Christian literalism, but they also have fears that postmodern thought unfairly discredits science. We've gradually learned to trust each other. So be aware that this conversation on _Silence_ will not be carried on from strictly within the Christian community. These scientists are very interested in the question of God, though, and want to know why we believe. So let's try not to get off too much into the rarified fine points of our varied theological traditions, okay? We can come back over to The Land of Unlikeness for the more technical discussions, right? At my blog the talk should be more existential, I suspect. Let's try to be honest and vulnerable about our reactions to the novel, and of course, very respectful and aware of the non-theist points of view. Thanks! _Silence_ came into discussion at deepgraceoftheory because one of the scientists who’s been participating in the science/faith discussions there and is himself Japanese introduced it as an example of how difficult it is for a Japanese to be a Christian. Hi himself found Western science to be something that is honest and open and “universal” and he came here and became a molecular biologist; he wonders why anyone should embrace any religion, when they differ around the world and lack these qualities he finds in science. He also makes some thoughtful comments on how Western religions appear to an Eastern outlook.
So I recommend Hi’s introduction to Endo, too, which you’ll find via a link I give you within my invitation.
I’ve really enjoyed my conversations with a group of scientists who are not theists at my blog, and not only are they dubious about Christian literalism, but they also have fears that postmodern thought unfairly discredits science. We’ve gradually learned to trust each other. So be aware that this conversation on _Silence_ will not be carried on from strictly within the Christian community. These scientists are very interested in the question of God, though, and want to know why we believe.
So let’s try not to get off too much into the rarified fine points of our varied theological traditions, okay? We can come back over to The Land of Unlikeness for the more technical discussions, right? At my blog the talk should be more existential, I suspect. Let’s try to be honest and vulnerable about our reactions to the novel, and of course, very respectful and aware of the non-theist points of view. Thanks!

]]> By: DWM http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-360 DWM Sun, 14 Oct 2007 03:38:14 +0000 http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-360 Sammy, from everything I hear, it seems you're right. I'm excited to read the book in a group like this. Hope you can join us. thanks for the comment. Dan Sammy, from everything I hear, it seems you’re right. I’m excited to read the book in a group like this. Hope you can join us.
thanks for the comment.
Dan

]]> By: Sammy http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-358 Sammy Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:07:02 +0000 http://www.thelandofunlikeness.com/2007/10/11/invitation-to-read-shusako-endos-silence/#comment-358 Great book. Great book.

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