Issue 40 AI and the churchBlog | Artificial Intelligence (AI) – essential reading for preachers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – essential reading for preachers
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 13.09.24
The AI debate is bringing back memories of all the many heated church meetings I attended, where topical trends and technological innovations were on the agenda.
As the youth representative at my first church, I was exceedingly frustrated at the amount of time spent battling over new technology versus the old. The pressing issue of the day was: doorknocker or doorbell? Later, as a student, I remember meeting people who were vociferously opposed to preachers using overhead projector slides, or services involving guitars. I also waded through the myriad of books explaining that the New Age Movement and Post Modernism were the biggest threats to the church and western culture. Over the decades the issues have changed, but the fundamental question has stayed the same: is this a change to be embraced or resisted? And can we talk about it wisely and kindly?
We should be wary about literature that catastrophises or glorifies AI, as well as those that stoke divisions. But as a visible and invisible influencer of our world, AI is already impacting our preaching and it is good to think it through. Below is a broad spectrum of books that I believe can help us to see the bigger picture, promote authentic intelligence, and tackle thorny issues with grace, hope and wisdom.
