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12/26/24 07:33:47 [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4 ]

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Date Posted: 00:42:43 06/17/03 Tue
Author: IDAHO
Subject: It symbolic of opressed cultures
In reply to: chairdog 's message, "buddislam" on 13:58:52 06/16/03 Mon

I think Frank chose Buddislam as an amalgamation of two Eastern philosophies for the Fremen because it was in contrast to the Western Philosophies of the Imperium and the Orange Catholic Bible.
The Fremen substitute for the ultimate oppressed people. In our world with Western Imperialism and Colonialism, by a twist of fate it was the Western world's technologies and philosophies that dominated and subjugated Eastern philosophies and culture in many instances. If Dune and the Fremen are allegorical to our own world, would it not make sense that their philosophies were of Eastern origin as well?

Many religions have similar philosophies, for example the golden rule was supposedly espoused by Jesus Christ as well as Siddhartha Gautima.
Of course Buddhism and Islam have some different beliefs, but Frank was writing in a created world, not one that was exact to our own.
But I do think Frank was combining the philosophies for allegory as well as to give the Fremen culture a grounding in our real world. I think the "eastern" religions and philosophy have a so called mystique for westerners, especially at the time that Frank was writing the novels. And I think that added to the other worldliness of Dune while not bringing it out of the realm of humanity totally.

As for the prequels, I think they are pretty much trying to stick to plot as opposed to philosophy. It is much easier to extrapolate plot and history from a persons notes than a personal philosophy and ideas on religion. So while Buddhislam was Frank's creation, I doubt it will be explained more than in a cursory manner in the prequels.

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