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The Question and Answer section for Silence is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Catholics who kept practicing their religion in secret were called "Kakure Kirishitan," or Underground Christians.
Christovao Ferreira was kept alive after he apostatized, denied his faith. The Japanese used him as an example.
The young priest sees many Japanese Christians die as martyrs for their faith without any sign from the heavens that God is aware of their suffering. Though Rodrigues believes in a heavenly afterlife for the martyrs, he is shocked by the banality...
