The Missionaria Protectiva was a branch of the Bene Gesserit fictional organisation in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The Bene Gesserit are a key group from Frank Herberts science fiction universe of Dune. ... The fictional Dune universe is the political, scientific, and social setting of author Frank Herberts six-book Dune series of science-fiction novels. ... Frank Patrick Herbert (October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986) was an American science fiction author. ...

The Bene Gesserit practice "religious engineering" through a department called the Missionaria Protectiva; which was detailed to spread certain types of religious myth and superstition among the population of the Imperium, so that the Bene Gesserit could manipulate the populance to achieve their ends. Religion, sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the practices and institutions associated with such belief. ... For the computer game, see Myth (computer game). ... Superstition is a set of behaviors that may be faith based, or related to magical thinking, whereby the practitioner believes that the future, or the outcome of certain events, can be influenced by certain of his or her behaviors. ...

The Bene Gesserits plant legends and prophecies throughout the universe of messiahs and pivotal figures to come. There are two purposes to this. First, a Bene Gesserit in need can take advantage of the prophecies by fulfilling them, casting herself as a guide, protector, or some other figure, in order to manipulate the religious subjects for her own protection or purposes. Second, religion is a powerful force in human society; by controlling the particulars of religion, the Bene Gesserit have a manipulative lever on society in general. A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... This article refers to the topic of prophecy as the purported telling of future events or supernatural revelations. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ Anointed one, Standard Hebrew Mašíaḥ, Tiberian Hebrew Māšîªḥ) is a human descendant of King David who will rebuild the nation of Israel and bring world peace by restoring the Davidic Kingdom. ... This article is in need of attention. ...

In the most inhospitable of environments the Bene Gesserit plant the Mahdi legend. The Mahdi legend is reserved for only the harshest environments, where a Bene Gesserit would need maximum leverage. The Mahdi (or Mehdi), in Islamic eschatology, is a man who will come at the end of the times. ...

In Dune Paul Atreides and Jessica Atreides were able to make use of these carefully planted myths among the Fremen in order to find refuge after the fall of House Atreides on Arrakis. Paul claimed the role of Mahdi, a legend planted among the Fremen by the Missionaria Protectiva. Paul Atreides indeed managed to use these myths to achieve religious leadership of the Fremen exploiting the vacuum left by the death of Liet-Kynes and used the Fremen to overthrow the Emperor of the Imperium. Dune is a 1965 science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert. ... Paul Atreides, portrayed by Alec Newman in the Dune miniseries Paul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... Lady Jessica Atreides, portrayed by Saskia Reeves in the Dune miniseries Jessica Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ... The Fremen are a group of people in the Dune series of science fiction novels by Frank Herbert. ... House Atreides is a fictional noble family from Frank Herberts Dune novels. ... Arrakis,(derived from the Arabic name ar-raqiş, the dancer. ... Liet-Kynes is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. ...