As the field of artificial intelligence continues to advance, it's no surprise that it is being applied to a wide range of fields, including theology. The use of AI in theology can provide valuable insights and assist in the study of religious texts and beliefs. In this blog post, we will explore how AI is being used in theology and discuss the potential benefits and challenges of this technology.
Guess what, I did not write a single sentence of that opening paragraph.
All I did was input a prompt: “write an introduction about the use of AI in theological studies” and out came the above paragraph. Also, that weird picture you see above? I didn’t draw it. And you know what’s crazy? Besides the fact that this is even possible! This image cannot be cited - at least not yet - because it does not technically have an artist. Further, the AI-generated paragraph cannot be either. And even further, I could actually have the AI write this entire blog for me, just by putting in the title, and you probably would not even know. Do you know now if I wrote this paragraph? What about the next one?
I’m just kidding. I did write the above paragraph. And I’ll be writing the rest of this post because I’ve spent the last couple of days fiddling around with multiple AI websites and Apps and I’ve been blown away (and terrified) by how incredible the service is. But this got me thinking, especially as an adjunct professor at a Bible school, about how this will affect sermons and theological studies. Are we approaching a digital Tower of Babel?
Sermons
Let me start with just an absolutely crazy example of the power of AI. On ChatGPT, I typed into the input field: “Sermon on Romans 1:25”. Three seconds later the following paragraph popped out:
Now, obviously, this sermon needs some work. Actually, it’s missing quite a bit (like the gospel). So it definitely needs a human (Holy Spirit even) touch. But, an AI was able to understand what a sermon was, what a passage of Scripture actually said, analyze it on a rudimentary level, and provide a brief outline. Just think of the potential present here! For pastors who have to create sermons weekly, an AI could easily give you a basic outline to work from while cutting down the prep time. But also think of the absolutely terrifying possibilities here. Like that an AI was able to create sermons and without any input from the Holy Spirit. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of scary. Where did the AI get this interpretation? What data did it pull from? Do we kill the Spirit’s movement by using such tools? Should pastors even use AI?
Sermon Illustrations
After trying out all kinds of different AI word generators I went to the next logical place. Art. How would AI put passages of Scripture into art? And if it succeeds, could this be a viable tool to help illustrations in sermons without the risk of copyright? Not so sure it will be a lot of help. Here’s what I got.
Baptized in the Holy Spirit
Speaking in Tongues
Jesus Coming on the Clouds
Christ on a Throne
Theological Studies
After spending all of this time in the AI world, I told my wife that for this upcoming semester, I will be adding to my syllabus a section on AI-generated work. I have been a New Testament professor for over 7 years now and when I saw what these AI sites could do I knew right away I’d be facing the theological question of how God uses AI. Or, more appropriately, how do we use AI in our pursuit of God? Will I allow my students to use it? And if so, what that is going to look like? I know I have to add something to the syllabus about this, but I don’t even know how you cite AI-generated content? Can you cite it?
Babel?
“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…” Genesis 11:4
The men and women who built the tower of Babel did so out of pride and rebellion against the command of God to spread throughout the world. They thought by building up into the heavens they could make a name for themselves. Look at their ability, their knowledge, and their greatness! It’s like God’s! But God was watching and came down amongst the people and when He saw their pride and hubris He confused their languages and caused them to scatter throughout the world, just as He originally had commanded earlier in Genesis.
Are we in danger of committing the same sins? Are AI tools the new digital Babel? Well, it’s definitely yes, but also no? First, let me explain what I mean by yes. I can’t help but notice that AI tools seem to be playing the job of the Holy Spirit in preparation time. Stuck in a text? Go to the AI! I cannot tell you how many times that has happened to me, but when I went to the Lord in prayer, the Holy Spirit broke through that wall. AI could very easily become a sort of antiSpirit.
But at the same time, I don’t think AI is a digital Babel because I can’t help but think of the incredible possibilities here. What makes AI any different than consulting a commentary or getting sermon outlines from other pastors who have preached on the text? It’s pretty much the same thing, except maybe faster. Further, if I can input a Biblical text into an AI and get original art (admittedly there is some debate if that is true) with no copyright restrictions then the creative possibilities are quite endless. But, at the same time, can AI art actually be art since it’s derivative? Are we as pastors bypassing the body of Christ and her spiritual gifts and talents for a computer?
After this week or so of diving into this new technology, I couldn’t help but feel like I was starting to see the Tower’s foundations being put into place on the horizon. But, I’m not sure yet. And perhaps that confusion shows maybe we have been in Babel all along.