Robots and Religion

Along with the wonders of the high tech revolution comes its latest and greatest addition – AI. Artificial Intelligence promises such a transformation of culture, science, infrastructure, and military arts that the future will be a realized utopian dream. The personal robot will do our work, thinking, and driving for us. In fact, it will out-think us. Or will it?

A recent article on BBC.com asks the question: “Will AI Transform Religion?” The Atlantic magazine says, “AI may be the greatest threat to Christian theology since Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species . . . Google is developing ‘artificial moral reasoning’ so that its driverless cars can make decisions about [whose life is more valuable for saving in] potential accidents. Anthony Levandowski has founded a new church, Way of the Future, which initially believed in “the realization, acceptance, and worship of a godhead based on AI developed through computer hardware and software.”

In Japan, there is a Buddhist temple that uses a silicon covered head, face, and hands robot that moves and talks. It’s fashioned after Kannon, the goddess of mercy. It interacts with the congregants and speaks words of wisdom to them. The local monk tells us, “Robots are superior to us. They can evolve forever, thinking of the best way to do things . . . It will never die . . . It is not blasphemy. It’s a gradual process.” The Roman Catholic church has a robot named “Santo” in Italy. Born out the Covid lockdown, it is programmed with 2000 years of knowledge and is there to answer questions (incorrectly as seen in practice). The faithful weren’t impressed, but one said, “Anything that brings you closer to God is a good thing.” A rabbi was presented with a Jewish app that would propose a daily spiritual/moral challenge to encourage and direct believers. The girl who created the app asked the rabbi, do you think it will replace you? The rabbi ended the discussion by saying, “The robot will never replace a rabbi because [it] has no soul.”

So let’s answer the question, “Will AI Transform Religion?” Granted, there will be some areas that may welcome smart computers. Bible translation is one. The use of chatbots is another (something like Alexa) where questions about theology could be answered verbally on command. They could be used in catechizing or teaching Bible verses, etc. But just how soon will we see our church pastors and teachers being replaced by humanoids in the pulpit? Within 100 years say some. But how does a non-spiritual being communicate spiritual truth in all its complexities? It is God, the Holy Spirit who dispenses the gift of preaching and teaching to Spirit-filled believers. Will robots have spiritual natures? No!

Jesus said to His disciples, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13,14. Will a computer be guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit? No, but it could easily expound doctrinal error and lies. “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:11-14.

Lord, may we have discerning hearts as we navigate our present and future world and not blindly follow the musings of men – or robots. Your Word alone will be our guide and source of spiritual truth.

Old Davy