"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. In this age of rapid technological advancement, we are surrounded by the marvels of AI. While technology can enhance our lives, we must remember that it is a tool, not a substitute for God's divine wisdom.

"Let us guard against technology replacing the divine in our hearts. While AI can mimic intelligence, it cannot replicate the soul's depth. Let our innovations be guided by the moral compass of God's Word. Amen."

It is a moving sermonA talk on a religious subject. on technology's ability to mediateAct as a go-between. our relationship with faith. What may not be immediately apparent is that this speech was written by an AI chatbot.¹

It is an increasingly popular phenomenon. In South Korea, where around one fifth of the population of 52 million is Christian, artificial intelligence is experiencing a boom among churchgoers.

A new Christian chatbot app named "Meadow" claimed to have attracted 50,000 users within three days of its recent launch, 10,000 of which came from outside Korea. Responding to spiritual inquiries and queries about Bible passages, the AI model has been trained with a huge theological database and is frequently reviewed by pastorsA minister in charge of a Christian church. to ensure that it generates accurate answers.

However, the app's designers have warned against viewing the Chatbot as a direct mouthpiece for God. "AI is just a technology," they have cautioned - in this case, a kind of "digital missionaryA person who travels to spread a religion. tool" which will allow pastors to reach a wider audience.²

Even pastors and ministers are using AI to create shortcuts in their work. A recent survey by the Ministry Data Institute found that around 20% of Korea's Protestant ministers have used ChatGPT to create sermons.³

It will not be the first time that science and technology have challenged the religious establishment. From Galileo's discovery of heliocentrismThe belief that the Sun is at the centre of the solar system. in the 1600s to Darwin's theory of natural selection more than 200 years later, many of our historic empirical discoveries have threatened biblical teachings.

Some, however, view this as uniquely blasphemous. Sermons, Bible readings and conversations with your local pastor are supposed to constitute a form of rich spiritual nourishment. They start at the core of what it means to be human - to experience existentialRelating to the state of human existence. Existential dread can refer to grappling with your own experiences of responsibility and death. anxiety, grief, fear, uncertainty - none of which plague AI in the same way they plague humans.

"AI will never be able to preach a decent sermon. Why? Because the gospel is more than words. It is the evidence of a changed life," asserts one preacher.⁴ Others have asserted that since AI was made by humans and not God, it could never be considered one of God's children, and should thus be banned from participating in spiritual dialogues.

It is one of just many fields being uprooted. Due to particularly lenientLighter or more merciful treatment than expected. technology laws, South Korea has become a world leader in experimental AI. The company Pulse9 has created a series of high-profile virtual human newsreaders, virtual influencers and virtual sales agents - all using hardly perceptible deepfake technology. AI humans have even enrolled at universities and interned at huge companies, beating out their human competitors.⁵

Yes: When you communicate with a pastor or religious leader, Christians believe it is the Word of God speaking through them as His children. As AI is not one of God's children, it cannot be spoken through. It is mere imitation.

No: Pastors are using AI in order to reach more people, not to outsource faith altogether. It is just as valid to get interpretations of Bible passages or spiritual advice from a machine.

Or... The app "Meadow" brings us one step closer to getting rid of an entire religious profession which upholds the role of faith in many societies.