The Theology of AI With C.R. Wiley

7 snips

Aug 3, 2025

C.R. Wiley, an insightful author and pastor, discusses the theological implications of artificial intelligence. He argues that AI represents not just a technological shift, but a competing vision of the future that challenges Christian eschatology. Wiley highlights the risks of AI as modern idols that can replace prayer and divine guidance. The conversation dives into the dangers of unintended outcomes and the urgency for ethical discernment. Ultimately, he calls for the church to prepare spiritually for a world increasingly dominated by machine intelligence.

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INSIGHT

AI as Competing Eschatology

AI, especially large language models, represent more than technology; they pose spiritual challenges and competing eschatologies to Christianity.
The church must prepare both ethically and spiritually for AI's transformative role in society.

INSIGHT

AI's Illusion of Sentience

AI functions as a glorified calculator creating the illusion of sentience without consciousness or moral sense.
Its black-box nature and lack of internal conscience pose unique ethical and spiritual challenges.

INSIGHT

Transhumanism as Rival Religion

Transhumanism offers a competing eschatology representing a self-divinization project via technology.
It envisions a kingdom of God without the true God, promoting a future where humans transcend biological limits artificially.

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How do we theologically look at AI?

Alex and Scott sit down with C.R. Wiley, an author, pastor, and podcaster on the theological and cultural implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Wiley outlines how AI—particularly large language models—presents both a technological revolution and a spiritual challenge. He frames AI development as not merely a technical progression but a competing eschatology—a vision of the future that rivals Christian hope.

Wiley stresses that AI technologies—especially when perceived as sentient or divine—serve as modern idols that can fulfill spiritual functions, replacing prayer, human affirmation, and even "divine" guidance. This functional idolatry, he argues, should concern Christians deeply. Finally, Wiley calls the church to prepare not only ethically but also spiritually for a future increasingly shaped by machine intelligence.

Key Topics:

Large Language Models (LLMs) and their limitations
The black-box nature of AI and the dangers of unintended outcomes
Transhumanism as a form of rival eschatology to Christianity
AI as a functional god/idol in a secular age
Social, psychological, and pedagogical harms of AI
Urgency for ethical and spiritual discernment in engaging AI technologies

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