One of the thematical threads running through Dune is the leading role of religion in - well, just about everything. The Bene Gesserit (not officially a religion, but who are we kidding here?) hold positions of power or are married or related to those that do right up to the Emperor Padasha. They control the "genetic line" of most or all of the royal/powerful families. Their legends are spread to every remote corner of the galaxy (even Dune!) to ensure that any Bene Gesserit who will end up there will be able to hold power.
But what most interests me is Orange Catholicism. Whereas the Bene Gesserit are not officially a religion but hold a position in the galaxial consciousness analagous to the Greek or Roman pantheon, Orange Catholicism is officially a religion, yet seems to stand in society more like an ideology or a good writer.
When Yueh gives Paul a copy of the OC Bible, he says it's because he wouldn't mind Paul having a religion. Yet Paul's reaction to the OC Bible isn't conversion or any drastic change in his beliefs; he likes it well enough, sure, but seems to rely on the book more as a book of quotations than anything else. Indeed, this seems to be the common treatment of the book: though it is quoted often in the book, I can't recall anyone ever using its precepts to justify their actions or beliefs. Contrast that to the Bene Gesserit prophencies about Mua'dib, which not only protect Paul and Jessica but thrust them to being figureheads of a jihad!
Perhaps the role of Orange Catholicism is due to its peculiar foundations: it is a religion born by committee. When I first read this in the appendix, my first reaction was to dismiss it: even in seven years, and with the continuing threat of intergalactic violence and chaos, how would it be possible to reconcile such differing religions as existed - just think of how different Buddhism and Hinduism and Christianity and Islam are!
However, I then realized that a similar feat has been performed in recorded history: the Council of Nicea in 325 AD, in which the Emperor Constantine brought representatives of all the different branches of Christianity and decided upon the Trinitarian version as the state religion and the official version of Catholicism. While this was a case of one version triumphing over others... perhaps it is plausible (as much as anything in sci fi!) that all the religions of the world could agree on one version of religion.
So, to sum up what is a rather discombobulated post: what is really the meaning of "religion" in Herbert's book? How do the Bene Gesserit ways and the OC Bible relate to the religions present in today's society - and what does that say about us?
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The question about what religion is in this book brings up an interesting point. The Fremen believe in things such as the myth about the coming of the Kwisatz Haderach, but as it is presented in the book, "dieties" are much more real and breathing than imagined. Thus, I think "religion" as it is presented here is much more tangible than religion in our society, simply because the book follows Paul's "becoming" of a man revered by the Fremen. I guess for me, religion is the belief in a higher purpose beyond that of the world. The Fremen's belief, thus, in the Mua'dib, while he may have special powers, does not seem to me to qualify as a religion. Again, I think this has mostly to do with the book following Paul and his "becoming". Hmmm...Will continue to think.
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