The role of religion in Dune is very interesting in that usually when we discuss the future, religion is not included in our discussion. Within our own society and in the intellectual community especially, there seems to be a growing trend of abandonment and criticism of religion. It is interesting that Frank Herbert's view of the future seems to be less developed than possibly even our world today. The system of government in Dune is feudalism, which most westernized peoples today assume is an old, barbaric system. Then, without religion Jessica and Paul would not have survived in the desert and been able to live with the Fremen. Only through Jessica's Bene Gesserit training and the original planting of false myths by the Bene Gesserit is Jessica able to become revered. Then, if Paul had not been assumed to be the Muad'Dib he would not have been able to gain control of Arrakis. Maybe it could be assumed that Herbert is trying to tell us something about the inherent nature of humans. Although, today, some of us deny that we have ties to religion maybe Herbert is saying that inherently we are predisposed to believe in a higher power, destiny, and foresight. Thus, even if we look 22,000 years or so into the future religion is still a strong, inseparable driving force in society.

However, as with most science fiction works it is hard to believe that Herbert was simply writing Dune to expose his view of what society will be like in the very distant future. Why does Dune have such a large fan base and why do so many people identify with the novel? For me, I felt as if Herbert was trying to expose a side of religion that many people do not want to believe exists. This manipulative aspect of religion has drastically shaped history for centuries. For example, during slavery in the U.S. many plantation owners used religion as another way to attempt to suppress people. Slave owners manipulated Christianity to convince slaves that they were doing god's bidding by being subservient to their masters. If they were always faithful to their masters then they would eventually go to heaven. Governments use religion as justification for their actions- look at manifest destiny in the U.S. for example. Religion is constantly being manipulated to fit a certain purpose be it justification for a conflict, a way to control the masses, or to give hope. Jessica and Paul seemed to only stay alive and succeed in regaining control of Arrakis by using religion as a manipulative tool. The Bene Gesserit planted mythical propaganda all over different worlds simply so that those who were Bene Gesserits would be able to have more power and be revered in the future. I really enjoyed what I consider to be Herbert's commentary on the manipulative power of religion.