The basic assumption of the secular society is that modernity overcomes religion.

To play June I had an immediate connect with her background and culture. We grew up with the same religion and shared a lot of the same values of family and spirituality. But I was really so inspired by what a modern woman she was.

You can't write about the past and ignore religion. It was such a fundamental mind-shaping driving force for pre-modern societies. I'm very interested in what religion does to us - its capacity to create love and empathy or hatred and violence.

Most modern science fiction went to school on 'Dune.' Even 'Harry Potter' with its 'boy protagonist who has not yet grown into his destiny' shares a common theme. When I read it for the first time I felt like I had learned another language mastered a new culture adopted a new religion.

My mother was a modern woman with a limited interest in religion. When the sun set and the fast of the Day of Atonement ended she shot from the synagogue like a rocket to dance the Charleston.

Religion always remains higher than everyday life. In order to make the elevation towards religion easier for people religion must be able to alter its forms in relation to the consciousness of modern man.

Well right now I'm very fascinated with 1920s Berlin. I mean probably the more interesting thing would be to go to the beginning of civilization or precivilization - like polytheistic times. It would be interesting to see what came before modern religion and culture - what circumstances created the environment or the need for it.

All theory of modernity in sociology suggests that the more modernity there is the less religion. In my theory we can realize that this is wrong: atheism is only one belief system among many.

You might sooner get lightning out of incense smoke than true action or passion out of your modern English religion.

Having had that experience... I think what modern culture wants to see is the relationship with the woman. I don't think you can tell a story on film nowadays where the woman simply is there for the man when he decides to settle down.