Religion in Science Fiction

There are many people today who would argue against  the positive effects of science fiction provides  say that Science Fiction portrays religion in a bad light. Religion is often shown as an explainable phenomenon that people are duped into believing, in works of science fiction.  Some science fiction books do not write about religion even though it plays a major role in our life today. 
           It is true that much of science fiction does not contain religion.  Many authors may not want to include religion, because people may disagree with what they say about religion.  The author is writing a science fiction novel and may not want religion to dominate it.  There are several possible reasons for religion being portrayed in a "bad light". One would be that science and religion are often viewed as conflicting forces.  Religion requires faith whereas science looks for proof.   Most science fiction focuses on humanity and what it can accomplish.  In order for this forward-looking view to work humanity must solve its own problems, and it cannot rely on a god or religion to solve them for it. Science fiction sometimes shows religious myths as tricks with scientific explanations.  Take for example the Star Trek episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?".  In this episode the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise encounter a powerful being who calls himself Apollo.  They learn that he is in fact the god Apollo from Greek mythology, and he demands that they worship him.  They refuse however, because as Timothy Bagwell says in  Intersections: Fantasy and Science Fiction "Apollo's power is based on technology, on a machine that can be rendered inoperative by a well-placed shot from the Enterprise's phaser banks."[1]
          One part of religion that is seen more often in science fiction is mysticism.  Mysticism is defined by dictionary.com as "A belief in the existence of realities beyond perceptual or intellectual apprehension that are central to being and directly accessible by subjective experience". This mind over matter idea is sometimes seen in science fiction.  In works that contain mysticism the people who practice mysticism often have amazing powers, which result from it.  Another religious theme found in Science Fiction is that of a messiah or superhero.  Both of these issues are clearly seen in Frank Herbert’s Dune.  In his book Herbert examines how messiah figures are created.  First, the Bene Gesserit a secret organization of women sows myths of a messiah who will transform the desert planet of Dune into a paradise into the native culture.  They do this for their own mysterious purposes.   "Through the Bene Gesserit, Herbert analyzes the role of the unconscious in human affairs and the potential for its manipulation by the knowledgeable and unscrupulous. Most people are only half-awake--they react to external stimuli without really knowing why they respond the way they do. By contrast, the Bene Gesserit have schooled themselves to understand and master their own unconscious reflexes. This is graphically demonstrated in the test of the gom jabbar, as well as in other fantastic feats of psychological and physiological control, which are described throughout the book."[2]  Then Paul Atreides who is a charismatic noble trained in ruling the masses he also has the special training of the Bene Gesserit from his mother and thus you have your messiah.  Herbert shows us that "The Fremen do not follow Paul for logical reasons, but precisely because logic is not enough for comfort in a hostile world. Unconscious needs for security and belonging play a much larger role in a messianic upheaval than the conscious content that masquerades as the cause".[2]  The Fremen religion is combination of Islam and many eastern religions.  this makes them even more susceptible to the rise of a Messiah.  Although the view of how messiahs are created may not flatter religion it raises awareness on how such things could occur.
       Like the example from Star Trek above Herbert seeks to dispel the supernatural aspect of the messiah.  He wants to dispel the blind faith in the messiah figure.  Science fiction encourages us to question religion and shows us the simplicity with which we are deceived.  Science fiction  "is looking forward to a time when all men might be heroes...and solidarity will not be the solidarity of leaders and followers, but of all men as equal dreamers of the infinite". [3]  Whether these men are under gods or not will be up to society to decide. 

1. Bowman, Robert M. "Strange New Worlds  The HumanistPhilosophy of Star Trek." Christian Research
Institute Journal. Aug. 1994. n. pag. Christian Research Institute. 16 Dec. 2004. http://iclnet93.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-  
         jrnl/web/crj0147a.html
2.O'Reilly, Tim. "Chapter 3: From Concept to Fable: The
         Evolution of Dune." Frank Herbert. Ed. Tim O'Reilly.
         New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing.1981. (out of
         print) available at
         http://tim.oreilly.com/scifi/herbert/ch03.html
3.O'Reilly, Tim. "Chapter 9: How It All Begins Again." Frank
         Herbert. Ed. Tim O'Reilly. New York: Frederick
         Ungar Publishing.1981. (out of print) available at
         http://tim.oreilly.com/sci-fi/herbert/ch09.html

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