Dear
crossnote,
Your point regarding the influence of culture on the Corporate Church and Christianity as a whole is very valid. Undoubtedly, on a personal level, especially for those who have experienced true spiritual regeneration, faith in God remains steadfast and cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.
However, if we look at it more broadly, at the level of the Church as an institution and Christianity in general, we cannot ignore the powerful influence of the surrounding culture. Modern society, with its desire for quick solutions, technological progress, and instant gratification, can subtly permeate the church environment.
There is a risk that some aspects of faith may be simplified or adapted under the influence of these cultural trends. Of course, AI itself will not replace God in the hearts of believers, but the temptation to rely on the quick and easy answers it offers could weaken the desire for deep spiritual seeking, prayer, and personal knowledge of God through traditional church practices.
Along with this, we must understand that AI is an inevitable part of our future, and the Church cannot simply stand in opposition to AI, because in doing so, it will create a barrier between itself and a large part of humanity. The capabilities of rapid AI analysis are already allowing for the improvement of processes in various fields. For example, I saw an advertisement last night that is quite relevant to our conversation:
"Early Diabetes Complications Can Now Be Detected with AI in a Lviv Clinic —
https://lviv1256.com/?p=192484
A specialized platform analyzes retinal images in just 2 minutes and detects the earliest changes—even before any symptoms appear.
The screening is free, painless, and takes up to 10 minutes.
Where to go: Polyclinic at 3 Stetska St. (2nd floor, Room 22)
When: Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00
You can come on your own or with a doctor’s referral
Already, 350 people have been examined—50 of them were found to have eye pathologies.
Priority is given to individuals aged 40+ and those in risk groups."
As we can see, the capabilities of AI in rapid data analysis are already enabling its application in medicine. In 10 years (or perhaps even a year), these capabilities will expand to simplify calculations and conduct analysis in almost every field. AI now is like the invention of the calculator was once – it simplifies complex calculations and frees up time. And... I don't yet have a clear answer to the question of how exactly, but I think we need to think more about how the Church can be involved in this process so as not to become opposed to AI itself. As I said, AI is just a tool, but a tool that people around the world will soon be using. If we now introduce narratives that AI is evil, we will create a chasm between the Church and future generations, essentially – we will destroy the Church ourselves.
It is important to maintain vigilance and wisdom so that the Church, while carrying the Gospel into the world, does not succumb excessively to cultural influence, preserving its authenticity and deep connection with God, which transcends any technology, and at the same time does not alienate future generations who will grow up in a world where AI will be commonplace.
Thank you for this important expansion of the topic.
Sincerely,
Yurii.
