The Impact of AI on Christian Spiritual Growth

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how Christians approach spiritual development, raising profound questions about faith and humanity. In a recent episode of Dallas Theological Seminary’s podcast, “The Table,” John Dyer, the seminary’s vice president for enrollment, and Drew Dickens, founder of the ministry Encountering Peace, discussed the impact of AI on Christian practices like prayer, Bible study, and pastoral care.

Dickens highlighted how AI challenges traditional spiritual habits, such as memorizing Scripture or meditating on God’s Word, by offering tools that can automate these tasks. For instance, AI provides round-the-clock access to theological insights and personalized responses, potentially changing the nature of personal prayer and spiritual connection.

Bill Hendricks, the podcast co-host, raised concerns about AI fostering a dependency that could subtly diminish human identity. While some fear AI might become destructive, Hendricks warned of a quieter erosion where humans become overly reliant on machines for creativity and problem-solving, losing touch with their spiritual and relational core.

Dickens emphasized the importance of mindfulness when using AI. He urged believers to assess how technology influences their spiritual lives and to engage in open discussions within their communities and families about these effects.

AI’s role in churches is already growing, with applications ranging from sermon preparation to chatbots like “Cathy,” created by the Episcopal Church to answer faith-related questions. However, Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija of TryTank Research Institute emphasized that tools like Cathy are meant to complement, not replace, human interaction in spiritual contexts.

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