Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Until recently, religions had a monopoly on heaven. But religion has a new competitor: dataism. The belief that ultimately everything, including life itself, is nothing more than data.
The promise is a programmable paradise, where artificial intelligence can give us eternal life, happiness and beauty.
What does dataism mean for the future of religion and spirituality? And can it offer us, in addition to numerous practical blessings, meaning? Filmmaker Hans Busstra, who left the church as a reformed minister's son, searches for meaning and spirituality in the tech age.
VPRO, August 2020
Director: Hans Busstra
Research: William de Bruijn
Production: Olivier Schuringa
Editing: Paul Delput
Final editing: Doke Romeijn and Geert Rozinga
VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
Until recently, religions had a monopoly on heaven. But religion has a new competitor: dataism. The belief that ultimately everything, including life itself, is nothing more than data.
The promise is a programmable paradise, where artificial intelligence can give us eternal life, happiness and beauty.
What does dataism mean for the future of religion and spirituality? And can it offer us, in addition to numerous practical blessings, meaning? Filmmaker Hans Busstra, who left the church as a reformed minister's son, searches for meaning and spirituality in the tech age.
VPRO, August 2020
Director: Hans Busstra
Research: William de Bruijn
Production: Olivier Schuringa
Editing: Paul Delput
Final editing: Doke Romeijn and Geert Rozinga
VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at VPRObroadcast.com
