Dataism
| Dataism | |
|---|---|
| Family | Modern / Information-centered worldview |
| Origin region | Global technology culture and contemporary philosophy |
| Founding period | 21st century CE |
| Estimated adherents | Unknown; most often discussed as an ideology or worldview rather than an organized religion. |
Dataism is a modern worldview that interprets reality, organisms, society, and value through data processing, information flow, and computational networks.
Overview
Dataism is usually discussed as a contemporary ideology or quasi-religious worldview rather than a formal religion. It gives central importance to data, information processing, networks, and the free movement of information. Some writers describe it critically as a possible successor to humanist or theistic meaning systems. On Wikitheism, it belongs with modern worldviews because it can function religiously for some people by providing ultimate values, a story of progress, and a vision of salvation through information.
Key beliefs
- Reality can be interpreted as flows of information and data processing
- Biological and social systems may be described as algorithms or networks
- Free circulation of information is often treated as a central value
- Human experience may be subordinated to system-level data efficiency in some interpretations
- Critics argue that Dataism can devalue privacy, embodiment, and human judgment
Practices
- Data collection and self-quantification
- Open information activism in some circles
- Use of dashboards and analytics for self-understanding
- Speculative writing about networks and intelligence
- Ethical debate about privacy, surveillance, and algorithmic power
Places of worship
- No standard place of worship
- Online networks
- Academic or technology communities
- Personal quantified-self workspace
Sacred texts
- Contemporary writings on big data
- Technology philosophy essays
- Critiques of algorithmic society
- Personal analytics and quantified-self records
Holidays and observances
- No universal holidays
- Open data events
- Technology and privacy awareness days
- Community-defined observances
Branches and related traditions
- Kopimism - A modern movement that treats copying and information sharing as sacred.
- Algorithmic Spirituality - A related digital meaning-making category.
- Technotheism - A broader category for technology-centered religious interpretation.