An Update of Superheroes Have Religious Beliefs

 I have just posted an extensive update of Superheroes Have Religious Beliefs which was first posted 13 November 2009. To view the post, search for comic book religion in the search box at the top of this page.

What does the Bible say about artificial intelligence?

AI (artificial intelligence) is merely a useful tool. It does not know anything in the way that we do. AI may sound like a person, but it cannot bear the image of God. It is a computer program which follows instructions which it has been taught. Properly utilized, it can find information in seconds which would take the user days or weeks to find. Where AI is weak is in areas which require opinions. The opinions AI gives may very well (I would say probably do) at least partially reflect the worldviews of its teachers. The teachers would insist that this is not so or that, if bias is present, it is unintentional.

The Bible was written many centuries before computers existed. The first device that can be considered to be a modern computer appeared in 1941 in Germany, unless you consider the handheld abacus, a calculating device which appeared in Sumeria ca 2700 to 2300 BC/BCE. The abacus could be used to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Hand held electronic calculators first showed up in the 1980’s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/computer

The Bible makes no mention of artificial intelligence since it was written many centuries before the idea of modern computers was even conceived. It does, however give us principles for the use of computer technology.

The Bible warns about the danger of idolatry. AI can become an idol when it is trusted more than God's promises. If it is used to exploit, deceive, or defraud others it becomes evil. If the use of AI becomes obsessive, that can distract from devotion to God.

The strongest and most appropriate use of AI is to dramatically speed up information searches, speech or textual translation, and mathematical calculations. These activities become almost instantaneous.

Definition: Apocrypha

 Apocrypha: Books which are considered to be useful for study but which are not considered to be part of the scriptural canon. There is significant disagreement among the various denominations as to which books are in each group.

Most of the books create a bridge across the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. There are a few other individual books only accepted by one or two religious traditions. The books are primarily of Jewish origin but some Christian groups also accept other books of a Christian origin.

Protestants generally deny the canonicity of the books and either include them in a separate section of the Bible or omit them entirely. 

Update of the About this Blog page

 On today, 18 July 2026, I have updated the About This Blog page.

Should Christians Fear Artificial Intelligence?

 AI is a computer program that looks at patterns in data. It has no emotions or personal identity, even though the most advanced programs can carry on a conversation with you and refer to themselves as I.

AI can find obscure information almost instantly, translate between numerous languages simultaneously, whether they are spoken or written, and can create lifelike voices and images in seconds. Many people have begun to use it to enhance their Bible study. Tilly Norwood is a completely computer-generated actress who is now beginning to appear in motion pictures. Yes, AI can be a powerful tool.

We should not fear AI itself. It is not a conscious being, but is actually just numerous extremely fast computer programs which have been trained to mimic human behavior and speech. That is one of the concerns: it was trained by humans. You know about humans.

Rather than fear the computer programs, we need to be careful and wise about them. They can be used by criminals or malevolent persons to create fake videos, spread lies, or steal data. Some evil persons have created pornographic videos featuring the faces of innocent persons to whom they wish to cause embarrassment and harm. Some evil persons have used AI to mine and steal other peoples personal financial or private data. Some actors are afraid that their images and voices may be used to produce films in which they were not actually involved, costing them money, career choices, and personal reputation. Faked videos could conceivably be used to implicate innocent persons in crimes.

Just pay attention. Be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove.

Secular Work as a Christian Ministry

 Christians should insist on excellence because their work is   ultimately done for God and can be seen as an act of worship. An      example from history of a Christian person who understood this is    Brother Lawrence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Lawrence

 

The insistence for excellence, however, has to be tempered with humility so that it never tips over into toxic arrogant perfectionism. That becomes the sin of elevation of the self above God.

 

Biblical passages which exhibit this idea include Colossians 3:23-24, Proverbs 22:29, and Philippians 4:8.

 

The modern trend is to let things slide, to get by on less, on giving less effort and personal involvement to a situation, not allowing a responsibility to interfere too much with our personal interests. This is sometimes called quiet quitting, doing just enough to not be unpleasantly noticed. This happens even in our churches.

 

The cafeteria in the hospital where I worked before my retirement started exhibiting a symptom of the times in which we live. Suddenly one day, everything was gone: coffee creamer, sweeteners, salt, pepper, ketchup (catsup if you insist), mayonnaise, and mustard.

The cafeteria said that customers could still have these items

but would have to specifically ask for them. Some of the “less sophisticated” (patronizingly read “old” or “rural”) customers seemed to be totally bewildered by this.

 

The hospital cafeteria is a contract service with a commercial restaurant chain which seems to have lost sight of the traditional service provider-customer relationship. Until recently, even though the cafeteria long ago quit washing dishes and began using only plastic plates and utensils, they still seemed to realize that the strict bottom line was ranked lower than providing quality customer service. Condiments, spices, sauces, and other items were understood to be included in the price of the food items being sold.

Yes, I saw some people abusing their customer rights and stuffing things like ketchup packages and napkins into their purses and pockets, but petty theft by an unscrupulous few isn’t enough justification to punish the many who play by the rules.

The only reason the cafeteria doesn’t suffer a customer backlash is that the client base is transient and, at the same time, captive. The choices are leave the hospital to get food, order from a delivery service, eat in the the cafeteria, or resort to the cracker and peanut machines.

At least plastic plates and cutlery are still provided. It would be really messy to eat spaghetti with your fingers.     

Biblical Sources of Common English Language Phrases: In Your Mind’s Eye

 

 

 

I am one of the 1% to 4% of the world’s population who experience aphantasia, the complete inability to voluntarily visualize mental images. We cannot see a cat or our child’s face in our mind’s eye. We see only a blank mental screen. We do know what a cat looks like. Most people with the condition do not even realize that they have it. I was in my 70’s before I became aware of my condition.

 

Aphantasia is a condition of neurodivergence but is not considered to be a disability or disease. The condition can be congenital (from birth) or acquired after a brain injury.

 

While the condition is not normative, it does not interfere with normal activities, even the production of artworks. Persons with aphantasia may exhibit enhanced verbal skills, conceptual thought, and an enhanced and very accurate spatial memory.

 

The phrase, in my mind’s eye, sounds like it could be from the Bible, but it is not. Ephesians 1:18 speaks of the eyes of your heart and Matthew 6:22 speaks of your focused inner eye. These seem to be speaking of spiritual discernment and not of visualizing mental images.

 

The first known appearance of the phrase in the English language is seen from Geoffrey Chaucer in 1390 as the eyen of his mynde. Not until 1577 does it appear as mind’s eye. By 1620, the phrase was in common use as is shown when William Shakespeare used it in his play, Hamlet.