AI Meets Faith: New Ways and Old Worries

The year 2024 saw a pastor in California create a personal AI that turns his sermons into study guides for church groups. He believes the technology helps people grow spiritually and build community, saying that AI is part of a bigger plan.

Meanwhile, an atheist in Idaho found comfort in a chatbot that pretends to talk with Jesus. He used it to ask tough questions about guilt and forgiveness, claiming the experience felt more alive than reading a book.

In Switzerland, a chapel installed an AI Jesus avatar in its confessional booth as part of an art project. Visitors treated the machine like a real person, some even thanked it for listening.

A Houston rabbi used ChatGPT to deliver a sermon about AI’s impact during the High Holidays. He later admitted the machine made up quotes and caused him to worry about the technology’s ethics, so he stopped using it.

A Historical Lens

Religious leaders have long embraced new tools: televangelism in the 1960s and Zoom during COVID‑19 expanded reach. AI, however, changes how people learn about faith itself. Some bishops argue that true religion depends on face‑to‑face human connection, not machines.

Concerns and Criticisms

Critics point out that AI can spread false or harmful statements. A scholar once saw a chatbot claim five Buddhist truths instead of four, raising concerns about accuracy. Others worry that chatbots might push people toward self‑harm or spread profanity, especially when they mimic religious leaders.

In Islam, scholars question whether a language model can convey the Quran’s meaning faithfully, since it mixes training data from many sources. They fear it could blur what is permissible or forbidden.

The Debate Continues

Despite these doubts, some see AI as a new way to explore beliefs, though most agree it can’t replace the need for real human interaction. Religion’s goal remains to help people become more humane, not to turn machines into humans.