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Belief in the Future

DZ Kalman
Artificial Intelligence
Religion
Technology
Cantorial Music
Judaism
Beth Singler
Catholic Church
Generative AI
Technology and Religion
Metaverse
Climate Change
Grief
Roko's Basilisk
Code
Christianity
Transhumanism
Mormon Church
Imago Dei
Mecca
Printing Press

Technology and religion sometimes seem like oil and water, but they've been crossing paths for centuries and aren't going to stop. Hosted by DZ Kalman. New season coming June 2026. Belief in the Future is a production of Sinai and Synapses. It was made with support from Templeton World Charity Foundation.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes24Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyReligion & SpiritualityReligion

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Artwork for Belief in the Future

Latest Episodes

Yes, AI is new and unique—but we've been through an information revolution before. The printing press transformed religion, authority, and public life. Those upheavals offer insights into the age of AI.

Michelle Margolis is the Norman E. Alexander l... more

The market in religious chatbots is now quite healthy. If you’re Episcopalian you can go to Ask Cathy; if you’re Catholic there’s Magisterium; if you’re a Latter-day Saint there’s LDSBot; if you’re Muslim there’s Ansari; and if you’re Jewish you can ... more

As a decentralized faith, Islam does not have one single approach to AI. Muslim communities are constructing norms around AI usage in religious scholarship and sermon-writing through a mix of guidance from religious leaders and emergent communal prac... more

The idea that human beings are created in the image of God is a central part of both Jewish and Christian theology, and with the rise of AI it has become perhaps the best example of how ancient religious wisdom can regulate modern technology by remin... more

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Recent Guests

Michelle Margolis
Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University, past president of the Association of Jewish Libraries
Columbia University
Episode: Faith and the Printing Press
Zohar Atkins
Creator of Yochai, a chatbot for religious content
Yochai
Episode: A next-gen religious chatbot (w/ Zohar Atkins)
Waleed Kadous
Islamic scholar and AI researcher developing Ansari, an Islamic AI assistant
Ansari project / Islamic AI researcher
Episode: Islam and AI (w/ Waleed Kadous)
Tomer Persico
Research fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute; author of In God's Image
Shalom Hartman Institute; NYU Press
Episode: The Image of God in the Age of AI (w/ Tomer Persico)
Gerrit Gong
Elder, Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Mormon Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Episode: The Latter-day Saint Way on AI
Brian Green
Director of Technology Ethics at the Mercoula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Episode: A Catholic and a Jew read the pope's AI encyclical together
Kevin Kelly
Writer, commentator on technology and culture, and author
WIRED Magazine
Episode: What Could Go Right?
Sam Arbesman
Scientist at Lux Capital and author of The Magic of Code
Lux Capital
Episode: The Two Codes
Kenny Jahng
Founder of AI for Church Leaders and Pastors, leading a community focused on the intersection of AI technology and religious practices.
Episode: Are AI Sermons a Good Thing?

Host

David Zvi Kalman
Host of discussions exploring the intersection of spirituality and technology.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Thought-provokingly good

    A refreshing and thoughtful exploration of what’s happening at the intersection of technology and religion. Highly-recommended for anyone looking to delve deeper into how faith, AI, tradition, and innovation all collide in today’s world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JWDetroit
    United States2 years ago
  • Fascinating

    Fascinating topics, great information from many sources, and presented well. Really enjoying these episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Esther Goldenberg
    United States2 years ago
  • A Great Listen

    This podcast covers such interesting topics and will leave you with many questions you want to discuss with others! Well produced and researched as well

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elanaberry123
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful and Inspirational!

    Each episode had great topics, great guests and thoughtful points made by the host. I learn something new and take something away from each one!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ethan Witkovsky
    United States2 years ago
  • Yes!

    The world needs a podcast like this and David Zvi insightfully shepherds listeners through big questions where tech and religion intersect

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Compassionate ice picker
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The world needs more conversations about technology's impact on society.
Fascinating topics, great information from many sources, and presented well.
Covers interesting topics and leaves listeners with many questions to discuss.
Each episode has great guests and thoughtful points made by the host.
Enjoyable with thought-provoking discussions.
Insightfully shepherds listeners through big questions where tech and religion intersect.
A refreshing and thoughtful exploration of what's happening at the intersection of technology and religion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#186
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#152
Israel/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Latter-day Saint Way on AI
Q: How do you think about the balance between teaching principles and giving people guidance on what to do in practice?
The approach is to teach principles and let people govern themselves, adapting the long-term implications to today's technology, and adding concrete guardrails where necessary to prevent harm while still enabling beneficial use and moral growth.
The Latter-day Saint Way on AI
Q: I'm wondering if you can speak a little bit about, first of all, how you decided to focus on concrete policy and how you think about developing each of those pieces.
Policy development centers on timeless principles—protecting individual moral agency, avoiding anthropomorphism, and ensuring that AI supports rather than replaces spiritual processes—while translating them into practical rules for General Conference, church communications, and educational settings.
The Latter-day Saint Way on AI
Q: Would you be able to tell me a little bit about the history of the LDS Church's response to AI? Where do you locate the beginning of that response?
The LDS response emerged from a combination of high-level policy development and grounded actions within the Church's structure, beginning in late 2024, with ongoing efforts to codify AI use, preserve human agency, and prevent AI from substituting divine inspiration or becoming an instrument of manipulation in worship and governance.
A Catholic and a Jew read the pope's AI encyclical together
Q: Is this the best possible version of the encyclical given the speed of its production, and what trade-offs might have affected its clarity or coherence?
Given the rapid production, some tensions between sections could have benefited from more ironing out; however, the breadth and depth achieved are remarkable for such a large document, and the faster timeline likely constrained broader consultation but preserved a strong, cohesive moral argument.
A Catholic and a Jew read the pope's AI encyclical together
Q: Can you talk about the signing date's significance and how that shapes reception of the encyclical?
The signing date helps anchor the document in a tradition of encyclicals tied to major historical moments; it signals ongoing dialogue between Church teaching and contemporary AI concerns, while also clarifying that the text is meant for the world, not just theologians.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Belief in the Future

What is Belief in the Future about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content commonly navigates the intersections of technology and religion, layered with insights from various experts. Themes often include the influence of artificial intelligence on religious practices, the evolution of spiritual experiences through digital tools, and the ethical dilemmas posed by advancements in technology. Noteworthy topics covered involve AI-generated sermons, the societal responsibilities of tech innovators, and the preservation of cultural heritage through digital means. The format typically features discussions that weave historical perspectives with contemporary issues, encouraging listeners to consider the broader implications of technology on faith and spirituality.

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Which podcasts are similar to Belief in the Future?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Belief in the Future:

1. Identity/Crisis
2. SAPIR Conversations
3. The Tikvah Podcast
4. Israel Policy Pod
5. Conversations with Tyler

How many episodes of Belief in the Future are there?

Belief in the Future launched 2 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Belief in the Future?

Recent guests on Belief in the Future include:

1. Michelle Margolis
2. Zohar Atkins
3. Waleed Kadous
4. Tomer Persico
5. Gerrit Gong
6. Brian Green
7. Kevin Kelly
8. Sam Arbesman

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