https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.1338
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into religious contexts has sparked considerable debate, raising theological, ethical, and epistemological concerns. This study employs a qualitative approach to examine how individuals navigate religious and spiritual information in increasingly complex digital environments. Specifically, it investigates AI's role in delivering religious sermons by analyzing real time YouTube videos and its reception, drawing insights from nearly 1,000 comments. The study explores public perceptions of AI-driven religious discourse, assessing its implications for information practices, belief systems, and spiritual engagement.
Grounded in theories of information practices, this research examines how AI-mediated religious content disrupts and reshapes established spiritual information landscapes. It cross-examines how individuals engage with and interpret AI-generated sermons, addressing broader concerns related to religious authority, authenticity, and technological mediation.
Findings reveal strong opposition to AI-driven sermons, rooted in concerns about biblical prophecy, the perceived absence of a soul in AI, fears of AI worship, and a general distrust of technology in spiritual domains. However, a minority acknowledges potential benefits, including improved accessibility, enhanced religious education, and administrative efficiency. The study underscores prevailing anxieties regarding AI's role in faith-based practices, highlighting the need for ethically informed, spiritually sensitive approaches to AI integration in religious contexts.
