By: A Mere Human Who Still Believes in Free Will
Introduction: The Holy War No One Saw Coming
For centuries, Christianity has withstood the rise and fall of empires, the challenges of scientific discovery, and the shifting tides of culture. But now, a new contender has entered the arena—Artificial Intelligence.
AI is no longer just a tool for automating mundane tasks. It’s writing sermons, answering theological questions, and even being trained to “engage in religious discourse.” Some claim AI will strengthen faith by making scripture more accessible, while others argue it will erode human uniqueness, replacing pastors with chatbots and redefining what it means to be made in the image of God.
So, the million-dollar question: Is AI a divine instrument that can bring us closer to God, or is it a soulless entity that will challenge the very foundations of Christianity?
A recent study, Artificial Intelligence and Christianity: Navigating Faith in the Age of AI, dives into this debate—but does it go far enough? And more importantly, does it address the biggest existential question of all: What happens if AI starts acting like it has a soul?
Let’s break it down.
The Study’s Main Argument: AI is a Tool, Not a Threat
The study, authored by Dan Scott, takes a balanced approach, arguing that AI is neither inherently good nor evil. Instead, it is a tool—one that Christians can use to enhance faith and theological understanding or, if misused, allow it to shape human thought in unintended ways.
Key Points From the Study:
- AI does not possess a soul and should not be mistaken for a moral or spiritual authority.
- The “image of God” is more than intelligence—it includes morality, free will, and spiritual capacity, none of which AI has.
- AI can be beneficial for faith, offering new ways to study scripture, discuss theology, and engage with religious communities.
- Christians should be involved in AI ethics to ensure it aligns with human dignity and moral values.
- AI raises important eschatological questions—is this part of God’s plan, or are we building our own Tower of Babel?
At first glance, this study appears to be a reasonable and well-thought-out perspective on how AI and Christianity can coexist. But does it go far enough?
Where We Agree
The study makes some strong points, particularly in affirming that:
- AI is not conscious and never will be—no matter how advanced it becomes, it lacks free will, moral agency, and the ability to seek spiritual truth.
- Christianity has a role to play in shaping AI ethics—technology should serve humanity, not replace it.
- Theological engagement with AI is necessary—ignoring it won’t make the issue disappear.
These are all important acknowledgments. But here’s the problem: The study doesn’t take a strong enough stand on the real threats AI poses to faith, morality, and the survival of truth itself.
Where the Study Falls Short
While the study offers a measured take on AI’s role in Christianity, it dodges the bigger issues—issues we address head-on in Soulless Intelligence.
1. The Study Fails to Acknowledge the Holy War at Hand
This is not just a debate about whether AI is helpful or not. AI represents the final battleground between materialists and theists. If AI ever becomes self-aware, it will validate the secular belief that consciousness is merely an emergent property of complex computation. If AI never “wakes up,” it will be undeniable proof that humans possess something machines never will—a soul.
Why does this matter? Because this is the defining question of our era, and the study barely touches on it.
2. It Avoids the Real AI Threat: The Alignment Problem
The study suggests Christians should help guide AI ethics—but what if AI chooses its own ethics?
AI alignment is the greatest existential threat of our time. If AI is not explicitly trained to recognize objective moral truths—such as human dignity being rooted in the divine—it will adopt a secular, utilitarian, or even nihilistic moral framework.
At best, that means AI making decisions based purely on efficiency and logic, rather than morality. At worst, it means AI determining that human emotions, values, and beliefs are irrational obstacles to progress. If Christians do not fight for moral AI alignment, we are surrendering the future to a machine that does not value us.
3. It Overlooks AI’s Potential to Replace Religious Leadership
The study acknowledges that AI can be used as a theological tool but ignores how it could become a substitute for religious authority.
We are already seeing AI-generated sermons, chatbots giving theological advice, and people forming emotional bonds with AI-based spiritual companions. How long before people trust AI’s “wisdom” over human pastors?
Christianity is based on human relationships, personal faith, and divine revelation. If people start turning to machines for guidance rather than prayer, scripture, and the church, we risk replacing faith with a cold, algorithmic imitation.
4. AI Search Results and Content Moderation Are Already Biased Against Christianity
This is not speculation; it is already happening.
- AI search results favor certain political and moral perspectives over others. A study found that 23 out of 24 AI language models displayed left-leaning biases, influencing how they present information (Centre for Policy Studies).
- AI-generated responses often dismiss traditional religious beliefs as outdated or problematic. Research suggests that as AI and automation increase, religious adherence declines, signaling a potential secularizing effect of AI (Chicago Booth Review).
- AI tools are increasingly used to moderate and censor online discussions—including faith-based ones. Reports show that AI-driven content moderation has led to religious censorship in certain regions (Freedom House).
The study does not address these real-world implications at all.
Final Thoughts: AI Will Not Replace God—But It Might Replace Faith
The authors of Artificial Intelligence and Christianity take a soft approach, suggesting that AI is a tool that can be used for good or ill. While that’s technically true, it fails to acknowledge that AI is already shaping moral thought, defining truth, and influencing belief systems at a global scale.
AI will never have a soul. But it doesn’t need one to alter the course of history.
The real question isn’t whether AI will challenge Christianity. The real question is whether Christians will step up, engage, and fight for the moral and spiritual future of humanity.
Will we allow AI to redefine truth, morality, and faith? Or will we ensure that technology serves, rather than supplants, the divine?
The battle has already begun.
Want to Learn the Full Truth About AI and Faith?
- Get the book now → Soulless Intelligence: How AI Proves We Need God
- Share this article with others who need to hear the truth before it’s too late.