As Americans grapple with the fast-emerging technology of AI that is transforming the country, they are also remaining skeptical about its application to faith, religion, and morality.
While some church leaders are keen to stay on top of AI, Americans overwhelmingly feel that AI cannot assist humans in moral and spiritual pursuits.
Embracing AI
Recently, religious leaders, including the Catholic Pope, have expressed an interest in being a part of the conversation on how AI develops. The pope will soon speak at an upcoming G7 conference about his thoughts on AI.
Religious leaders around the world have also been meeting with AI programmers to discuss the ethical implications of the technology.
Not if but How
In a book released in December called “The Ultimate Guide to AI, Pastors, and the Church,” authors Carey Nieuwhof and Kenny Jahn argue it’s no longer a question of “if” church leaders will embrace AI, but “how.”
“The question for church leaders becomes not whether the church will embrace AI, but how the church will embrace AI,” Nieuwhof and Jahng wrote. “History would tell us that ignoring technological revolutions probably isn’t the wisest choice and AI is no exception. Leaders who ignore the future have a hard time doing ministry in the future.”
AI Priest
Recently, the group Catholic Answers created an AI priest called Father Justin to answer common questions about the faith, though it was taken down shortly for a rework after it started giving wonky responses.
The AI priest reportedly answered questions incorrectly and even suggested to questioners that Gatorade would be a suitable substitute for holy water.
State of the Bible
The American Bible Society (ABS) recently released a report called “State of the Bible” which researched attitudes of American Christians on a number of different topics, including AI.
In their survey data, they found that 68% of Americans don’t believe AI can be useful as a way to enhance spiritual practices. 58% don’t think technology can aid in moral reasoning and 57% said they don’t think an AI can write a sermon as well as a pastor.
Fear Outweighing Hope
John Farquhar Plake, ABS chief program officer and State of the Bible editor-in-chief felt the survey results reflect that fear is winning out over hope.
“Americans are more fearful than hopeful about Artificial Intelligence, but our survey also shows a great deal of uncertainty,” said Plake.
Christians Less Hopeful
Research from Barna in 2023 backs up the assertion that Christians are more likely than non-Christians to distrust AI.
In a survey of 1,500 US adults, Christians were less likely than non-Christians to say “I am hopeful [AI] can do positive things in the world.”
Uneasy About Change
Plake asserts that both the religious and non-religious feel similarly about AI, but people with a stronger connection to faith feel this uneasiness about AI technology more profoundly.
“People just don’t know how AI will change the culture, but they’re mildly uneasy about it. And how do people of faith feel? The same way – uncertain, uneasy – but more so,” Plake said.
Religious Universities Embrace AI
While most people are hesitant to hear an AI-generated sermon, religious institutions and universities are increasingly embracing AI as a teaching tool for students.
Inside Higher Ed reported in April that religious institutions are using generative AI to help students think critically about moral questions, going further in including its use in academia than even secular institutions.
AI as a Tool
Because religious education is more about forming a foundation as a person rather than just acquiring a set of skills, some religious professors feel like exploring AI in a faith setting is the best way to do it.
“Secular education has an implicit or explicit utilitarian approach of, ‘You go to college to gain a skill and to get a job,’” said Jonathan Askonas, assistant professor of Politics at the Catholic University of America, about AI. “We don’t want you to use it to the extent you’ll be shortcutting your formation as a person. And not just Catholic, but religiously influenced institutions, will be able to articulate this kind of logic in a way secular institutions will struggle to do.”
Cautious Contemplation
Research director Jordan Quaglia at the Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education at Naropa University feels it’s important for people to approach AI with the right attitude and not be too keen to avoid it.
“In Buddhism, it’s very much encouraged to use your own experience to not just take another person’s word for what it is but explore it for what it is,” Quaglia said. “If fear and caution is guiding someone to avoid these technologies, that approach is less likely to succeed, versus an approach of trial and error, and showing students ways to skillfully and not skillfully utilize it,” Quaglia said.
Churches Are Increasing Digital
The shift towards a reliance on technology in major religious institutions like churches has been increasing in recent years. A Lifeway Research report from 2020 amidst the pandemic found that 97% of churches were putting services online and another 67% were live streaming them directly to church viewers.
Since the pandemic ended, in-person attendance has slightly rebounded but online digital worshippers are now a permanent fixture of many congregations.
