The difference of ideologies of the east and west is best demonstrated through the relationship of Japan with Buddhism and Japan with Christianity. Buddhism adapted to the lifestyle of the Japanese people because it was introduced early in the history of the area. Buddhism came from China, an area from which Japan borrowed many traditions, and merged with Shinto well to develop a polytheistic approach to faith. With centuries of practice and understanding, Buddhism became a part of the “swamp” of Japan. Christianity, on the other hand, was not introduced to the area until much later. This did not allow for any tradition or history to build around Christianity in Japan. This “swamp” of Japan also created a new version of Christianity, not familiar to the missionaries who brought the faith. This new version was merely an adaptation of previous beliefs of the Japanese people. Hymns and prayers stated by the Japanese people included phrases normally found in the Buddhist faith. Relics and idols of Christianity were not available to the Japanese, so anything they could get their hands on they cherished.

The exploration of the globe allowed new and foreign ideas to reach all over the world. Religion and faith were the largest movements with this exploration. With the introduction of Christianity to Japan, the debate of why it failed to create a large movement in the country began. The novel Silence provides an intriguing look into the mystery of western ideas in Japan and why they had a hard time adapting to the “swamp” of Japan. But the novel does more than just describe the religion’s failure, but more importantly describes the changing of one man’s belief in his own faith. Rodrigues underwent a transformation from a western way of thinking, monotheistic and a black and white outlook on thinking, to an eastern way of thinking, polytheistic and muddled with gray areas. Instead of planting his roots within the culture of Japan, Rodrigues drowned within the “swamp” of Japan, thus changing his own faith. The political structure of Japan, the differences of ideologies, and Rodrigues’ own battle with faith proved to be the downfalls of Christianity in Japan. While Buddhism embraced the differences, giving it ample room to thrive, Christianity opposed them, giving the faith little opportunity to prosper in Japan.

When first approached to travel to Japan, Rodrigues wished

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