Dick's novel Blade Runner is a unique ans exciting work combining not only elements of a work of science fiction but also of thriller and detective story. But above all, it combines not merely essentials of those genres but most importantly it provides to its reader thought-provoking ideas. In his story Dick projects thoughts about science, religion and the notion of humanity, by creating a plot which evolves produvts of technological innovation, such as the androids. From this story many questions arise about what exactly it is to be human, and what differentiates humans from other living entities. Even though the story was written in 1968, Dick successfully catches the same fears, doubts and questions about humanity, and eventually time proves him right, by showing that the same questions exist even now in our modern times. Although in this technological superiority, they remain lost and confused in terms of understanding the concept of humanity. Dick proves that being a human is much more complicated notion and despite how intellect or technologically advanced we become, we will not be able to produce mechanically in labs human beings as perfect, and even as fallible, as real humans are. .
One of the most important aspects and traits of humans is the pursuit of the religious element, the spiritual necessity that they need to fulfill. The need for people to believe and draw power and courage to continue their lives is evident and intense in the story. The existence of Mercerism as a religion that people can rely on is a proof of that necessity. In the story, religion is a commune activity, where people, through a device called the empathy- box, are virtually connected and share their experiences and feelings with themselves and Mercer. The notion of empathy has the most significant role in the story, and we can observe how it is connected with the notion of religion. The pleasure, satisfaction or fulfillment of this need is drawn out of the fusion of sharing with other people, the followers of Mercerism.
