NEBRASKA CITY  - The independent journalism website The Conversation is reporting on artificial intelligence and religion including chatbot pastors, AI generated confessions and avatar-given sermons.

An article says a TikTok profile is giving viewers an AI generated Jesus who offers worldly comforts for those who listen to content, like or share videos.

Daily Believer’s TikTok posts have over 22.2 million subscribers with a computer-generated Jesus that says if viewers actually believe in God the must share the videos.

Unlike a prosperity gospel that uses Deuteronomy 28 to promise abundance for those who believe, the promise of good luck and fortune comes from the AI-generated Jesus whether the person agrees to believe or not. They need only click like or share to receive a divine blessing.

The use of artificial intelligence in a confessional experience at a Swiss Catholic Church is being described as a temporary art project and way to interact with visitors in a non-sacramental way.

The two-month project includes an AI animation of Jesus and opportunities for visitors to ask questions with the AI Jesus behind a latticework screen that looks like a traditional confessional.

The Catholic Council of Trent in 1551 stressed the importance of private confessions of sins to ordained priests who forgive in Christ’s name.

According to The Conversation, the church’s official stance is that AI can hear a confession, but it can not authentically absolve human sins.

A Lutheran Church in Bavaria, Germany is using AI to choose hymns, select prayers, compose and deliver sermons by an avatar on a big screen.

 News Channel Nebraska asked the AI chatbot Chatgpt what is AI's role in the church. AI answered that "Its  effectiveness depends on how it's implemented to support -- not replace -- the spiritual and communal mission of the church."

NCN asked Artificial intelligence to write a sermon about replacing God with AI. This is the result in 15 seconds.

  

Introduction:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We live in a world of rapid technological change. In our daily lives, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a far-off dream—it is a reality. From personal assistants like Siri and Alexa to self-driving cars and healthcare innovations, AI touches every part of our lives. But this technological progress raises an important and profound question: What happens when human beings begin to replace God with artificial intelligence?

Today, we will reflect on the potential dangers of turning to AI in ways that displace our need for God—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. As we navigate this age of innovation, we must ask ourselves: Are we replacing God with human-made systems, and what might this mean for our faith and our future?

  1. The Temptation to Replace God with Our Own Creations:

In Isaiah 44, the prophet describes a people who, despite knowing the truth of the one true God, turn to idols—things they have made with their own hands. The irony is staggering: the same hands that form the idol are the ones that worship it. God speaks through Isaiah, saying:

"I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me?" (Isaiah 44:6)

In our age, AI can feel like a modern version of this idolatry. We create machines that mimic intelligence and perform tasks once thought exclusive to human beings. We train these machines to solve problems, predict our needs, and even make decisions for us. But in doing so, we must ask: Are we placing our trust in something we have made, rather than the living God who made us?

Like the Israelites in Isaiah’s time, we may look to AI to provide the answers, to predict the future, or to solve the problems that seem too big for us. But just as idols made of wood and stone could never replace the living God, neither can the tools of AI take the place of our Creator.

  1. The Danger of Replacing God with AI:

In Romans 1:21-25, Paul speaks about how people, having rejected the knowledge of God, turn to worship the created things rather than the Creator. He says:

"They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." (Romans 1:25)

This passage can easily be applied to the ways we are beginning to elevate AI to an almost divine status. We are witnessing the rise of "techno-utopianism," a belief that AI will solve all of humanity's problems—poverty, disease, inequality, and even death. AI is being promoted as the answer to human suffering, as if it holds the ultimate wisdom.

But this is where we must be careful. While technology can be a great gift and a tool for good, it was never meant to replace God. We must remember that our deepest needs—our need for love, meaning, purpose, and salvation—cannot be fulfilled by machines. Only the Creator, the one who knows us intimately and loves us unconditionally, can provide what our hearts truly long for.

  1. The Role of AI in God's Plan:

While AI and technology are tools that can be used for good, we must always remember that they are still created things, not the Creator. The book of Matthew recounts the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where Satan offers Him all the kingdoms of the world if He will just bow down and worship him. Jesus responds, saying:

"Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" (Matthew 4:10)

Jesus teaches us here the importance of devotion and worship that belongs to God alone. AI may be a tool that can help us with daily tasks, provide new insights, or assist in solving complex problems, but it must never become the object of our worship. If we begin to place our trust in technology, thinking it will provide what only God can, we risk losing our relationship with the one who is the source of all life.

  1. The Call to Return to God:

As we reflect on these things, I urge you not to fear technological advancement, but rather to use it with wisdom and discernment. We are called to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given us, including the gift of knowledge and innovation. However, we must also be vigilant, always aware of the temptation to place our trust in something other than God.

In Psalm 115, the psalmist reminds us that idols—whether made of stone, metal, or silicon—are powerless. "Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see… Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." (Psalm 115:4-8)

Rather than placing our trust in AI, we must keep our eyes on the Creator. Let us not be deceived by the promises of technology, but instead recognize that true wisdom, true power, and true life come only from God.

Conclusion:

In closing, let us return to the words of Isaiah: "I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6) AI may be able to assist us in many ways, but it cannot replace the eternal and unchanging God. As we continue to explore the potential of artificial intelligence, let us remember that we are created in the image of God, and it is He who has the ultimate wisdom and understanding.

May we not worship the creation, but rather worship the Creator, who alone holds the answers to the deepest questions of the human heart. Let us be faithful stewards of the technology we have been given, but never allow it to take the place of the God who has called us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.

Amen.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of technology and the wisdom that You have given to humanity. We recognize the potential for good that AI and other innovations hold, but we also acknowledge the danger of placing our trust in them above You. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, the Creator of all things, and never allow the created to replace the Creator in our hearts and minds.

Lord, guide us as we navigate this ever-changing world. Give us discernment to use the gifts You have given us for Your glory and for the good of others. Protect us from the temptation to seek fulfillment in things that cannot satisfy, and remind us daily that our true purpose is found in You alone.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Chat GPT sermon

 

https://theconversation.com/ai-jesus-might-listen-to-your-confession-but-it-cant-absolve-your-sins-a-scholar-of-catholicism-explains-244468

https://theconversation.com/can-chatbots-write-inspirational-and-wise-sermons-208825

https://theconversation.com/a-tiktok-jesus-promises-divine-blessings-and-many-worldly-comforts-213130