Description: Explores the intricate relationships that the universe of Frank Herbert's Dune portrays between faith, prophecy, and spirituality.
Brief description: JERRY S. PIVEN teaches at the New School for Social Research and New York University, where his courses focus on the psychology of death, evil, and religion.
Review Quotes:
"Though the Dune series was launched in 1965, Frank Hebert's world-building offers prophetic wisdom for the world we are building in 2025. This excellent collection of essays draws out that wisdom with sophistication and sensitivity, highlighting key religious ideas and theological themes embedded in Herbert's novels. As a new generation of film adaptations engage a new generation of audiences, this volume ensures that we do not miss some of Herbert's most prescient messages about how humanity, society, and power are affected by religion, machines, and artificial intelligence. And while they playfully examine the storyworld of Dune, these writers pack a scholarly punch in their areas of expertise, using angles in popular culture to shed new light on some of the knotty theological questions of our day." --Andrew J. Byers, Tutor in New Testament at Ridley Hall Cambridge and Co-Editor of Religion, Theology, and Stranger Things: Studies from the Upside Down on Evil, Ethics, Horror, and Hope
"Theology, Religion, and the Universe of Dune offers us-I dare say-a prescient look at themes of religion, power, human limits, and identity explored in Herbert's world and woven throughout our current political landscape. This timely and richly engaging volume makes the seemingly distant world of Dune feel closer than ever, as it brings Herbert's reflections on prophecy, power, and technology to bear upon our own, slightly less worm-filled, world." --D. T. Everhart, lecturer in Theology, London School of Theology "Porter's achievement is as rich as the sands of Arrakis, and as thrilling as the vast universe it inhabits. Theology and religion, formerly underexplored elements of the Dune universe, come into clear and brilliant focus as a result of this excellent work." --Scott Harrower, Research Affiliate, Monash University "There is no rival to the worldbuilding in Frank Herbert's Dune when it comes to religion, and thus it will delight not only scholars but fans of the series that this collection of essays engages with religion, theology, and the Dune universe and mythos in a way that brings its depths and richness to light, and shows the relevance of Herbert's fictional opus to pressing issues in our own time." --James F. McGrath, Clarence L. Goodwin Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Butler University