Can something written/edited by AI be considered the inspired word of a God ?

[RedTagAlan]

I am atheist, ex-born again Christian, and in a recent thread there appears to have been a fair bit of AI "tidying up" going on with a Christians posts.

I am making no accusations of course, nor commenting on the rights and wrongs, but it sure got me thinking about theists using AI for religious matters.

If a Vicar/Minister/Priest/Iman/ Theist etc uses AI, and considers that AI output to possibly be "inspired by God", and if AI can fake it, then, then do Theists believe their God can influence AI ?

It's a rather big can of worms when one thinks about it.

Personally, I wouldnt bother with any religious text touched up by AI. Bad enough what people have done with their interpretations and ways of "spreading the Word", let alone an AI 😂

For sure. But if someone was using it for religious reasons, I reckon that would be unethical, given that writing it is supposed to be spiritual.

Especially given the ethical issue debates around people using AI for normal writings, is it not absolutely dishonest to use it for religion?

What is AI tidying up?

I can tell you the thread itself where I posted information directly I didn't tend to use AI myself but other sources. When others asked me a question though I might use it but read it first and I needed to agree with the information and sometimes they pointed to trusted sources to. I don't have to search a lot of academic sources to reply to others questions all the time.

The sermons were not written by AI I presume. I know of these ministers who took them and I don't think that they do that. Try and see more of the good in the world than picking for holes in peoples work. They may use it to check, but I have never heard a sermon which seems to be written from AI.

I think it's possible, but less likely than through interpersonal relationship.

"What is AI tidying up?".

I don't know. I don't use AI myself, but a person I was debating used the term when a suspicion was raised that they were using AI.

If a minister does use AI to check a sermon, is that not being dishonest to those who will be "sermonized" ? Because if AI is used, then how can that be guided from a God ?

@RedTagAlan Can something written/edited by AI be considered the inspired word of a God ?

A god? No!

I can only give a Christian perspectiive:

If a writer is claiming their own words are from the LORD, I cannot see a problem with using AI to improve grammar or punctuation, provided the essence of the words/message is not changed. However, Christian believers would always need to read using the Spirit of discernment ... do the words used align with the Bible? Always be mindful of the Biblical warnings about false preachers/teachers and wolves in sheep's clothing.

Interesting from a Christian point of view. To use AI to check grammar etc. Because Moses was not a good communicator.

Exo 4:10-11 " And Moses says to YHWH, "O my Lord, I [am] not a man of words, either yesterday, or before, or since Your speaking to Your servant, for I [am] slow of mouth, and slow of tongue." And YHWH says to him, "Who appointed a mouth for man? Or who appoints the mute, or deaf, or open, or blind? Is it not I, YHWH?" (LSV)

That is the reason given in Exodus for Aaron being appointed to do the talking.

So from a theocratic point of view, should the abilities given by God not be what matters ?

And that of course leads to the consideration of AI as being produced/ influenced by God. But surely that would need a directive from the Churches to state as much ? Because AI might be the work of Satan.

Every business uses AI - a church minister is no different. It’s an easy and efficient way to work.

I suppose that depends if they are writing a sermon on the narrow or wide gate.

Mat 7:13 -14 "Go in through the narrow gate, because wide [is] the gate and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it; how narrow [is] the gate and compressed the way that is leading to life, and few are those finding it!" (LSV).

I would have thought any Minister using AI to use on their calling would be considered to be using the wide gate.

I think a church minister is different from a business though.

Doubt it - it’s a message to a stakeholder - no different from a business

If you go the Westminster catherdal Youtube page, if they have one. You may see sermons there or from the Church of England may be a place to look to. I will say as well St Magreats church which is well known for online things might be place to look as well. Now if you go to the sermon and if you look around i you may be able to find a transcript of it written to read yourself or to share with others. This is not AI when they are shared, but through transcript of a sermon usually on Youtube.

Now I have read for the church most recently, but not have done a sermon in a church. I am not a church minister. Now say if someone is covering a sermon they have done multiple of times they may not pray may be about it but know it so well and trust themselves that they know the truth in the Bible. Such a person could still pray before they do this. Some might pray still before if more new to the post if they write if they need to be led by the Spirit.

It so happens recently long term minister who have never used AI they said before, used it in one sermon and stated so. I could see that their experience had guided them. They were mature in the job. I don't know what made them look on AI for the 1st time. May be they wanted to see what the real world is saying out there to contrast

At times the spirit can inspire someone, but they may still need to look for references themslves. The first part for example may be inspired or all. If it is a part that is inspired. They still to write the rest in truth that reflects the Bible.

Quote :"May be they wanted to see what the real world is saying out there to contrast"

Are you saying that AI is the real world ?

Re reading published "man made" sermons, I don't see the issue. Because written by man, and after all:

Gen 1:27 And God creates the man in His image; in the image of God He created him, a male and a female He created them.(LSV)

If God made AI in his image, then surely there are implications from that ?

Well if a church minister is seeing it that way then they need to reassess their vocation.

I don’t see it any different from a business preparing a sales pitch to clients.

When that is the case, then my previous point stands.

helps that I don’t put a church minister on a pedestal

I can certainly agree with that!

However, you can't lump all church ministers together; they are very different from each other.

I don't see why God can't nudge artificial intelligence in the same way he nudges us.

Actually I think it would be him nudging us on how to make best use of AI.

That reminds me of the Yes Minister episode, the Bishops Gambit.

"Sir Humphrey - The Church wants to maintain the balance.

Hacker - What balance? Between those who believe in God and those who don't. Is there anyone in the Church who doesn't?

Sir Humphrey - Oh, yes. Most of the bishops."

So AI would be ok for Clergy who don't believe in God.

I mean there were no Adam and Eve just suddenly created in god's image that we're all descended from (think of the inbreeding!), that's just what people thought when they didn't know we'd all evolved over millennia at the time when it was written.

If AI is going to make life easier then people are often going to choose to use it -no matter what their job is. AI is just regurgitating stuff other people have written, it's not thinking for itself or channeling it's inner god. If it's regurgitating other people's sermons to make new ones maybe you're ok with that? I don't know.

But really you can blame anything on god or say god is responsible for anything because there's no proof either way. So if you want AI to be 'god's will' then it can be - or it can be the work of Satan. It's just people making it all up based on what's best for them either way.

An an occasional lay preacher, I wouldn't use AI to write sermons - that would feel dishonest to me. I also wouldn't use it to write prayers. I think both prayers and sermons need to be slightly tailored to the audience - you always have to be aware of how something will 'land' with a congregation, and AI can't do that. There's also the personal element to the sermon or prayers - not that you talk about yourself in either - but as the person that's done the reading / thinking / praying about the sermon or prayers, they've gone through a human / personal 'filter' and that's lost using AI. Every sermon is someone's opinion or interpretation on a piece of scripture, even if it's presented 'neutrally' and I think that's important. Two people writing a sermon on the same piece of scripture will come up with two different sermons.... I'm not sure AI would do that.
That human / personal / spiritual element is particularly important when in a vocation dealing with people and the bigger questions of life and faith.

Some ministers do not use may be online very much and may do not know that the AI is scoffed at by some people as coming from artificial intelligence if they mention they checked what it was saying as well on a subject. It may be good for some of them to know.
I showed a minister a post on another forum that was quite difficult and they could not believe it and told me to rest myself with it. I could tell that they may not read forums much or at all.

Some of our parents may not know where AI came from.

Why would using AI be dishonest - everywhere is using it now. Its output can be targeted to different audiences using different language. It’s just material which is already out there. No different from time consuming manual research and editing. The results are the same.