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

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