[Rebelbase]

Verbally renouncing Christ has eternal consequences. Trampling pieces of wood doesn’t.

[mylife]

Good point.

[Mrs. Don-o]

That was just the dilemma portrayed in this excellent, psychologically deep and historically accurate novel, Silence. These were agonizing questions: did trampling the fumie silently symbolize the rejection of Christ? If one did it only as a way to deceive the police, was one guilty of treason to Christ, or of deception (lying)? Was it best to refuse, and then inspire others by one's steadfast witness or martyrdom? Or would one's death by torture discourage other beleivers and cause them to apostatize too?

I really recommend this novel. It has a difficult and highly paradoxical ending.

Historically, this ended up in the almost total eradication of Christian communities in 17th century Japan.

[SaraJohnson]

Verbally renouncing Christ has eternal consequences. Trampling pieces of wood doesn’t.

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Right, it depends on what is going through your mind when you do it.

It is wrong for a Christian to cooperate with that whole exercise of hate and wrong for the professor to order it done. I sure hope I would have told him to blow it out Mohammad’s azz. : )