Religions of Dune

The Religions of Dune represent an important aspect of the setting of the fictional "Dune" universe created by Frank Herbert. Many of the names of religions mentioned in the novels indicate they are blends of current belief systems, some syncretic.

According to "Appendix II: The Religion of Dune" in the novel "Dune", after the Butlerian Jihad the Bene Gesserit composed the Azhar Book, a "bibliographic marvel that preserves the great secrets of the most ancient faiths." Soon after, a group made up of the leaders of many religions (calling itself the Commission of Ecumenical Translators) created the Orange Catholic Bible, the key religious text of the "Dune" universe, which "contains elements of most ancient religions."Herbert, Frank. "Dune", "Terminology of the Imperium" (Orange Catholic Bible).]

Buddislam

A cover term for a group of religions formed from various denominations of Buddhism and Islam.

Zenshiism

A hybrid of the religious principles of Zen (a school of Mahayana Buddhism) and Shia Islam. The Zenshiites are mostly discussed in the "Legends of Dune" and "Prelude to Dune" prequel trilogies written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson and mentioned to be defiant fanatics unlike the Zensunni pacifists; Zenshiite slaves are behind the uprising on Poritrin.

Zensufism

Zensufism is a hybrid of Zen and Sufism, a form of Islamic mysticism. Frank Herbert includes quotes from the Zensufi in "" in the form of epigraphs:
*The person who takes the banal and ordinary and illuminates it in a new way can terrify. We do not want our ideas changed. We feel threatened by such demands. "I already know the important things!" we say. Then Changer comes and throws our old ideas away. — The Zensufi Master
*Uproot your questions from their ground and the dangling roots will be seen. More questions! — Mentat Zensufi admonition

Zensunni

Zensunni is a syncretic religious belief combining principles of Zen Buddhism and Sunni Islam. In the fictional far future of human civilization portrayed in the series, various ethnic and political groups adhere to this worldview, including the Fremen, originally the "Zensunni Wanderers."

In "Terminology of the Imperium" (the glossary of the novel "Dune"), Frank Herbert provides the following definition:

"ZENSUNNI: followers of a schismatic sect that broke away from the teachings of Maometh (the so-called "Third Muhammed") about 1381 B.G. The Zensunni religion is noted chiefly for its emphasis on the mystical and a reversion to "the ways of the fathers." Most scholars name Ali Ben Ohashi as leader of the original schism but there is some evidence that Ohashi may have been merely the male spokesman for his second wife, Nisai."

According to "Terminology of the Imperium", the planet Poritrin is "considered by many Zensunni Wanderers as their planet of origin, although clues in their language and mythology show far more ancient planetary roots." [Herbert, Frank. "Dune", "Terminology of the Imperium" (Poritrin).] The former Imperial capital (and later prison world) Salusa Secundus was "the second stopping point in migrations of the Wandering Zensunni. Fremen tradition says they were slaves on S.S. for nine generations." ["Dune", "Terminology of the Imperium" (Salusa Secundus).] The "third stopping place" is noted as Bela Tegeuse, ["Dune", "Terminology of the Imperium" (Bela Tegeuse).] and Harmonthep was the "sixth stop." ["Dune", "Terminology of the Imperium" (Harmonthep).]

The ascension of Paul Atreides as Emperor in "Dune" and the expansion of Fremen influence throughout the Imperium widely popularized the study of Zensunni beliefs. It is noted in "Terminology of the Imperium" that the Orange Catholic Bible "contains elements of most ancient religions, including ... Zensunni Catholicism."

Herbert "sprinkled Zen ideas throughout "Dune"," as when Reverend Mother Mohiam queries Paul: [http://moongadget.com/origins/dune.html Frank Herbert's inspirations for "Dune": Zen Buddhism ~ Moongadget.com] ]

"Ever sift sand through a screen?" she asked.
The tangential slash of her question shocked his mind into a higher awareness: Sand through a screen, he nodded.
"We Bene Gesserit sift people to find the humans."

This is a Zen kōan, or a story, dialogue, question, or statement "that sounds like gibberish, but also like it might be incredibly profound, provided you think about it long enough." A kōan generally contains aspects that are inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to intuition. Zen masters "developed this trick to 'open up' the mind of their students without filling it with their own opinions." Herbert himself noted in "Dune" Genesis," his own analysis of the development of the novel, that: [http://www.dunenovels.com/news/genesis.html "Dune" Genesis" by Frank Herbert] ~ Originally published in "Omni" (July 1980)]

"As in an Escher lithograph, I involved myself with recurrent themes that turn into paradox. The central paradox concerns the human vision of time. What about Paul's gift of prescience — the Presbyterian fixation? For the Delphic Oracle to perform, it must tangle itself in a web of predestination. Yet predestination negates surprises and, in fact, sets up a mathematically enclosed universe whose limits are always inconsistent, always encountering the unprovable. It's like a kōan, a Zen mind breaker."

In the Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson "Legends of Dune" prequel trilogy, before and during the Butlerian Jihad the Zensunnis were brought as slaves from their homeworlds (like Harmonthep) to places like Poritrin. After the slave revolt on Poritrin, many Zensunnis escaped to Arrakis; these Zensunni wanderers would become the first Fremen.

"Terminology of the Imperium" also defines several Zensunni terms:

"AULIYA: In the Zensunni Wanderers' religion, the female at the left hand of God; God's handmaiden. "
"FIQH: knowledge, religious law; one of the half-legendary origins of the Zensunni Wanderers' religion."
"ILM: theology; science of religious tradition; one of the half-legendary origins of the Zensunni Wanderers' faith."
"MISR: the historical Zensunni(Fremen) term for themselves: "The People."
"SHAH-NAMA: the half-legendary First Book of the Zensunni Wanderers."
"ULEMA: a Zensunni doctor of theology."

Judaism

In "Heretics of Dune" and "Chapterhouse Dune" it is revealed that Jewish communities continue to exist, scattered across the galaxy. Jewish characters also feature in Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's sequels, "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune"These Jewish communities are led by rabbis, at least some of whom have working relationships with the Bene Gesserit. "Heretics of Dune" suggests that Jewish thought may have influenced the development of Bene Gesserit philosophy. Moreover, the Tawrah and Talmudic Zabur are listed in the appendix to "Dune" as having contributed to the Orange Catholic Bible; the appendix also notes that Salusa Secundus is the origin of these books.

Mahayana Christianity

A hybrid of Mahayana Buddhism and Christianity.

Mahayana Lankavatara

Maometh Saari

Muadru

The Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson "Legends of Dune" prequel trilogy notes that Muadru is an ancient religion predating the Old Empire before the Time of the Titans. Its prophetic writings are used out of context by Iblis Ginjo during the Butlerian Jihad; there is also some indication that the Muadru and the Cogitors shared the same origin.

Navachristianity

In the "Legends of Dune" trilogy, Navachristianity is the religion of the ruling class on Poritrin.

Zen Hekiganshu

References