Religion Quotes in Dune

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

They were all caught up in the need of their race to renew its scattered inheritance, to cross and mingle and infuse their bloodlines in a great new pooling of genes. And the race knew only one sure way for this—the ancient way, the tried and certain way that rolled over everything in its path: jihad. (22.198)

Dune connects religion and evolution in a way that we've never heard before. Basically, it's saying that the selfish gene and jihad are one and the same. One urge; two different outlets.

Quote #5

Paul said: "You have a legend of the Lisan al-Gaib here, the Voice from the Outer World, the one who will lead the Fremen to paradise. Your men have—"

"Superstition!" Kynes said.

"Perhaps," Paul agreed. "Yet perhaps not. Superstitions sometimes have strange roots and stranger branchings." (25.84-86)

Paul's plans to make superstition a reality are revealed here. But is it still a superstition if someone consciously makes it a reality? We'll leave that one to you.

Quote #6

"Religion and law among our masses must be one and the same," [Kynes's] father said. "An act of disobedience must be a sin and require religious penalties. This will have the dual benefit of bringing both greater obedience and greater bravery. We must depend not so much on the bravery of individuals, you see, as upon the bravery of a whole population." (30.63)

Wow, Kynes's ghost-father just went to a seriously dark place. The idea is that the population will only obey a mere law because it's enforced by people like you and me. But if disobedience is a sin, then the law is enforced by God—and, buddy, you don't mess with a deity. So, if you want people to obey—well, you get the idea. Like we said: dark place.