Dune, The Matrix, Star Wars - all stories of a "Messiah", but what does Dune teach us about the Messiah? Subconsciously, we're all deeply touched by these stories (hence the popularity). But why? Are there any clues in psychology or science? Is it compelling because the idea of the Messiah is Truth?
What Dune Teaches Us About the Messiah
Dune: Part Two was recently released in cinemas, concluding the 1965 cult classic novel Dune by Frank Herbert. It is the story of a messiah Paul Atreides, a holy war, and the uniting of the universe.
This story of a messiah who saves and unites humanity is one that resonates deep within our being, reflected in every culture and religion, and many wait for the messiah that matches their conceptions.
For example, in the bible it speaks of the messiah as:
Isaiah 42:1,4: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations . . . He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth…”
The Psychology and the Science of the Messiah
Could it be that the Universe has hardwired us with "feel good" emotions to direct us in our search for a Messiah?
If you are into Jungian psychology, this is the "Hero" archetype, and deeply impacts our "psyche" (collective consciousness).
From a scientific perspective, everything is just emptiness and what we perceive as our "physical body" is made up of more than than 99.9% emptiness. We are quite literally made up energy and emptiness, and therefore it is within us - the "Spirit of God".
Through personal experience, it is my belief that this "energy" and "emptiness" that makes up everything in existence is the creator, aka the "mother" and "father". For me, it seems very logical that given everything in existence has a "mother" and a "father" that the Universe itself is also our collective "mother" and "father".
Dune also is one of the few stories where there is a very prominent male and female figure.
What the Prophecies say about the Messiah
A prophecy is a projection into the future.
Interestingly, the Koreans have many books of prophecy that predict the messiah will come from outside the established religions (like Jesus) and as the Male and Female aspects of "God".
Revelation 19:12-13: "And bearing a new name that no one knew ... and his name was the Word of God. "
John in the Book of Revelations also had a very well documented prophecy.
Revelation 21:23-24: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it…”
When the messiah comes, the work that the messiah does is to save, and this work will be carried out through the power of the Spirit that unites humanity.
What Will the Messiah Do?
Just as in all the stories, including Dune, there will be great destruction through the path of salvation.
The Kyuk Am Yu Rok, a Korean book of prophecy states that there will be an end of the world. In a world on the brink of WW3, I often wonder if we are closer than we expect.
The messiah, with twelve godly men, will stop the war overnight through the power of God.
Interestingly, the book of revelations also speaks of twelve:
Revelation 22:2: “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
When Will the Messiah Come and What Does Dune Teach Us?
I believe, just like everything in nature, the coming of the messiah is a process, like a tree that bears fruit over time.
But first there needs to be a seed.
Just like a flower that reaches out to the sun, humans will be drawn to the Spirit through the Spirit within them. Thus, movies like Dune will continue to shine their light into our hearts to spark the Spirit into searching for the Truth.
And if your heart is touched, it leaves a clue as to where you can look to find the messiah.
My favourite line in the movie was when Zendaya said of Paul Atreides:
"He's Different to Other Strangers... He's Sincere"
What Dune teaches us is that sincerity is Truth, and I believe those who give themselves totally and completely - with no expectations of anything in return (just like Paul Atreides) - are the ones we must look for in order to get closer to the messiah.
