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The crucifix & the rising sun : the Roman Catholic Church of Singapore during the Japanese occupation, 1942-1945
Author
Lee, Jeremy Damian Boon Haw
Supervisor
Hack, Karl
Abstract
This Academic Exercise is an attempt at a micro-history of the Roman Catholic Church during the Japanese Occupation. Tracing its experience from the period prior to the war up to the end of the Japanese Occupation. On one level, therefore, its is a social and religious historical study of a single community. On another level, the study attempts to examine how one community experienced the Occupation, and reacted to it. From this it is intended to throw light on the nature of Japanese military rule in Singapore and the experience of the Occupation. While at the same time using this experience to re-evaluate the existing historiographical viewpoints of the period.
The multi-ethnic composition of the Catholic Church poses an unique historiographical question as to what was the experience of a community that held members, such as Chinese, Europeans and Eurasians, who were 'suspect' persons. Hence, there lies a contention between the Japanese desire to assert control over these 'suspect' persons while at the same time respecting the Church and its members as part of its policy of gaining 'co-operation' from the existing cultural systems. With this 'tension' in mind, what was the experience of the Church across the two phases of Japanese rule: the initial period of chaos and the mature period after 1943." In addition, was the Church passive or was it active in its response.
Rally, this academic exercise looks at the how the historical conditions of the Japanese Occupation affected the Church, both as an institution and a community.
The multi-ethnic composition of the Catholic Church poses an unique historiographical question as to what was the experience of a community that held members, such as Chinese, Europeans and Eurasians, who were 'suspect' persons. Hence, there lies a contention between the Japanese desire to assert control over these 'suspect' persons while at the same time respecting the Church and its members as part of its policy of gaining 'co-operation' from the existing cultural systems. With this 'tension' in mind, what was the experience of the Church across the two phases of Japanese rule: the initial period of chaos and the mature period after 1943." In addition, was the Church passive or was it active in its response.
Rally, this academic exercise looks at the how the historical conditions of the Japanese Occupation affected the Church, both as an institution and a community.
Date Issued
1998
Call Number
DS610.55 Lee
Date Submitted
1998