Click Here AI’s divine intervention
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Apr 8, 2025 Heather Milquist-Leto, a cultural anthropologist at Harvard Divinity School, dives into the intriguing intersection of religion and technology. She discusses how churches are utilizing AI to craft sermons and engage with new believers, prompting questions about what faith really means in an algorithm-driven landscape. The evolving relationship between AI chatbots and personal spirituality also surfaces, highlighting emotional complexities and ethical dilemmas. Milquist-Leto emphasizes the need for community engagement and deep connections in spiritual journeys, even as technology advances.
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AI Pastor Creation
- Joe Suh, struggling with faith during the pandemic, found solace in Menlo Church and Pastor John Ortberg's sermons.
- After Ortberg's departure, Joe created an AI chatbot trained on Ortberg's sermons to continue receiving guidance.
Megachurches and Tech
- Megachurches, like Menlo Church, rely heavily on technology to broadcast sermons and reach wider audiences.
- This reliance on technology made it easy for Joe to collect sermon data to train his AI chatbot.
Virtual Relationship
- Joe Suh never personally met Pastor Ortberg due to Menlo Church's multi-campus broadcast system.
- Their relationship was entirely virtual, highlighting the role of technology in modern megachurches.