Recent survey findings have shown that the Christian community hold varying opinions about artificial intelligence on a personal level, but the majority disagree that AI technology is good for the church.
During the survey conducted by Barna, 30% of 1,500 US adults polled strongly disagreed with the statement that “AI is good for the Christian Church.” Another 21% said they somewhat disagreed, while 27% had no opinion.
“Forty-three percent of respondents admitted to feeling uncomfortable or anxious about AI being used in churches, and one in four went so far as to say the Church should resist or condemn the use of AI,” said Savannah Kimberlin, associate vice president at Barna Group.
Most Ministry Leaders Rarely Use AI
Only a few people polled believed AI was good for the church. According to the report, 6% of Christians agreed with the statement, while 16% said they somewhat agreed. “One in three enthusiastically shared they believe AI will improve their efficiency or effectiveness,” said Kimberlin.
The same findings hold true even for the ministry leaders. In a separate survey published earlier this by Gloo, the majority of the leaders (54%) expressed extreme concern about ethical or moral issues associated with using AI in the Church.
While 32% said they used AI occasionally, weekly or daily basis, the majority (62%) said they rarely or never have used AI technology in their work.
The Problem With AI?
There are a number of reasons why some Christians may be concerned about AI. Some worry that AI could lead to the loss of jobs, while others fear that it could be used to create autonomous weapons that could harm or kill humans. Still, others are concerned that AI could be used to manipulate or control people, among other ethical concerns.
The issue also comes down to the level of understanding of the individuals and sentiments because, according to Barna’s survey report, the majority of the respondents were still getting familiar with AI, with only 10% saying they have used AI for professional and personal work.
Also, 29% said they “don’t trust it,” another 35% said they are “curious about it,” while only 21% said they are “fascinated by it.”
A pastor, Jay Cooper, who experimented with AI, also noted why the idea of AI in church service is strongly opposed.
“In short, it was boring,” said Cooper. “It is a program that we have created, and it’s doing what we’ve programmed it to do,” he said. “Therefore, in many ways, what it generates is a reflection of who we are, meaning it’s often wrong, misguided, prejudiced, and broken.”
