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6 - Artificial Intelligence and Christianity

Friends or Foes?

from Part I - Religions and AI

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2024

By
Marius Dorobantu
Edited by
Beth Singler  and
Fraser Watts
Beth Singler
Affiliation:
Universität Zürich
Fraser Watts
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

This chapter examines the various trajectories of Christian reflection on current and potential developments in artificial intelligence (AI). It reviews the theological questions generated by the emergence of intelligent machines and explores some of the most interesting solutions proposed in response to these quandaries. The first part is dedicated to inquiries about hypothetical AI developments and their potential implications for Christian theology. Could intelligent machines become authentic selves? If so, could they also partake in the image of God? Could the Christian imaginary envisage a future where robots develop their own religiosity and robotheologies? Could robots also aspire to be saved? The second section adopts a theological anthropological angle of inquiry, considering how insights gained from AI may contribute to refining this approach. What do our fascination with AI and our deep desire to create an intelligent other reveal about human nature? How would our theological self-understanding change if intelligent machines became ubiquitous?

Keywords

theological anthropologyrobotheologyChristian theologyimago Deireligious robotssouls
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to Religion and Artificial Intelligence , pp. 88 - 108
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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References

Bibliography

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Further Reading

Balle, Simon. 2022. “Theological Dimensions of Humanlike Robots: A Roadmap for Theological Inquiry.” Theology and Science 21(1), 132–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bjork, Russell C. 2008. “Artificial Intelligence and the Soul.” Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 60(2), 95–102.Google Scholar
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Dorobantu, Marius, and Wilks, Yorick. 2019. “Moral Orthoses: A New Approach to Human and Machine Ethics.” Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science 54(4), 1004–1021.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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