The Auron MacIntyre Show How Christianity Became Elite in Japan | Guest: Crémieux | 11/12/25
13 snips
Nov 12, 2025 Christianity's journey in Japan reveals a fascinating transformation from suppression to elite status. The story starts with early missionaries, connections to trade, and the eventual underground movement during the Edo period. Post-isolation, Christianity found its foothold amid rapid modernization and urbanization. The discussion dives into how samurai embraced the faith, transforming literacy and identity markers for the elite. Historical persecution, modern acceptance, and the unique role of Christian organizations in filling social gaps further enrich this intriguing narrative.
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Early Missionaries Tied Faith To Power
- Early Jesuit missions (starting 1549) won converts and opened trade links that brought firearms and power to converts.
- Shogunate repression after later revolts forced Christianity underground, shaping its distinct historical trajectory in Japan.
Gunboat Diplomacy Accelerated Christian Influence
- Commodore Perry's forced opening in the 1850s ended isolation and triggered Meiji modernization that welcomed foreign Christians.
- The Meiji state used missionaries to teach language and technical knowledge, linking Christianity to modernization.
Institutions Explain Divergent Modernization
- Institutional differences made Japan able to adopt Western tech rapidly, unlike China which limited modernization.
- Japan's smaller, tightly governed domains allowed the state to suppress revolts and scale modernization from above.
