Artificial Intelligence as a Way to Hierofania

 

Introduction

In discerning how technological advancement affects society, now is the time to engage in it and to explore how these innovations can contribute to human flourishing. Discussing this topic can also be expressed in different aspects especially in view of the Church and her mission. Since the primary mission of the Church is to evangelize, it is important to consider this in order to navigate her identity.

Artificial Intelligence can be described as a result of statistical data and logical mathematical algorithms that ultimately came from human intelligence translated in machine mechanisms. The Church expresses that all of the technological inventions including AI must serve the human person specifically for the service of human dignity and the common good. However, due to the various effects of these evolving mechanisms, people tend to make something new out of it without foreseeing the implications that could disrupt the nobility of the human person. 

Human intelligence, in its deepest sense, is not simply a product of mechanical logic, but a creative force that engages with the world in profound, subjective ways. It is through this creativity that humanity can expand perspectives, foster compassion, and experience a deeper connection with the divine. AI, when approached with the right ethical framework, can contribute to these creative expressions. However, it is critical to ensure that this technology enhances, not diminishes, the sacred nature of human intelligence, especially in the realm of spiritual encounters and religious experiences.

This exploration, then, focuses on understanding how AI can serve as a tool in the Church’s evangelization efforts, while recognizing the need for discernment in how these tools interact with human subjectivity and the divine. Through this lens, we examine the potential for AI to act as a modern form of hierophany, a medium through which the divine can be encountered in a digital age, bringing sacred experiences to a new generation in a way that maintains reverence, truth, and the spiritual integrity of the human person.

Thus, the question becomes not only how AI can contribute to the mission of the Church but also how the Church can ensure that these innovations enhance rather than distort the human person’s experience of the sacred. The possibilities are vast, but so too are the ethical considerations that must guide this new chapter in spiritual and technological evolution.

Understanding Hierophany

Philosopher and religious historian Mircea Eliade (1959) describes hierophany as the moment when the sacred breaks into the profane, giving man the opportunity to encounter the divine in ordinary and mundane experiences. The term hierophany comes from the Greek words hieros (sacred) and phainein (to reveal or to bring to light), that essentially mean a manifestation of the divine in the mundane world. Hierophanies can be found in religious rituals, sacred spaces, art, nature, and even in everyday human experiences. 

Eliade also noted that human persons have an innate longing for the sacred, and they seek it through symbols, myths, and rituals. Sacred objects or locations such as church, relics, nature become points of openness where people can encounter something that is transcendent. In line with this, this paper explores whether AI, as a modern technological phenomenon, can be a way as a hierophany that could facilitate encounters with the divine through digital and virtual experiences. 

Understanding the Topic

On this topic there are things I would like to clarify because there are possibilities  problem will come about the topic first: how the artificial intelligence would be object of religious experience if the framework of it is from gathering of data and the system will organize it and that plate give it to the subject therefore the answer that given is a piece of information is not already a coming from divine because in digital world everything is mechanical and systemize and that will be put to question how does it that part a religious experience that problem specifically in ChatGPT but there are things that i need to introduce first the view of subjectivity, subjectivity is important on one existence because individual has its own reason towards view on his reality for example a subject see an AI of picture of Saint Joseph and the child and surprisingly he experience religious experience that remind him of even though he is attached on reality of world of digital the reality of God also existed on the that reality he is the light that assist us towards liberation of attachment. Second, through subjectivity we cannot deny that even AI can be a door towards religious experience. We cannot limit experience in church, paintings, any type of art or even in nature but also religious experience can be experienced even in the artificiality. There are robots that can actually remind us about our humanity. For example, Bay Max in the movie reminds its viewers pain is part of being human. Maybe Bay Max if ever he becomes really a robot in our world he may be a model that we need to bring back to humanize and also become a religious experience. 

Again, I emphasize the subjectivity because it may lead to object what I would like to stress is that we cannot limit ourselves of experiences even that object is controversial  for example a heterosexual have a sense of religious experience towards LGBT I don't think there's wrong about it we are the one  who invalid the presence of those community even to the artificial intelligence they may become the object of religious experience. 

The Scope of Artificial Intelligence

At the first place, when discussing the topic about artificial intelligence, the first thing that came into mind is ChatGpt and other AI-driven chatbots. However, AI extends far beyond conversational applications. It includes data analysis, machine learning, and robotics. For instance, Youtube is not AI itself but it heavily relies on AI technologies such as algorithms, content moderation, speech recognition, subtitles, search, ranking, advertising and monetization. Also, from automated systems in healthcare to AI-driven innovations in art and music, this technology is shaping human life in outstanding ways. The question that needed to be answered is whether AI can be harnessed to serve divine purposes and aid in encountering God in the modern world.

Primacy of Human Intelligence

As early as in the time of Plato, he noted the role of logos or reason as the highest faculty of the soul which guides people towards the good and the truth. Thomas Aquinas also emphasizes that human intelligence is rooted in both rationality and the divine image of God. In that sense, it is embedded in our nature that we have this capacity to think for our own and because of this, it is also open for creativity which allows us to make something new for ourselves and the society as a whole. 

The Use of Artificial Intelligence 

AI is already integrated into many facets of society, including education, medicine, finance, and entertainment. However, its use in the realm of faith and spirituality is particularly intriguing. The Catholic Church has historically embraced new technological advancements, from the printing press that enabled the dissemination of the Bible to the use of radio and television for evangelization. AI presents another opportunity for the Church to engage with technology in ways that enhance the faith experience and reveal divine truths.

Integration of AI in Church Structures

AI has begun to influence various aspects of church life, from organizational structures to interactions with parishioners. A key example is the use of AI-driven systems to manage and streamline administrative tasks within the Church. AI algorithms can assist with scheduling, resource allocation, and managing large-scale events like masses, festivals, and conferences. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are being used to guide people through religious services, answer frequently asked questions about faith, and assist with the overall management of parish websites and digital platforms. This integration ensures that the Church is able to engage with both traditional and tech-savvy audiences.

How the Church Uses AI to Propagate

AI is helping the Church to spread its teachings in creative and modern ways. Digital evangelization has become a primary focus in recent years, and AI tools are amplifying this effort. AI-generated sermons and theological teachings are now available in the form of podcasts, chatbots, and virtual assistants that can provide spiritual guidance. These tools can offer personalized responses to questions about faith, deliver daily reflections, or even help users prepare for sacraments such as confession or communion.

AI is also being used to translate and disseminate sacred texts in multiple languages, breaking down language barriers and helping spread the Gospel more widely. This allows the Church to reach people across different cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds. In some instances, AI is even creating interactive experiences that can be used in virtual reality spaces to present religious stories or historical narratives, making it easier for people to engage with the faith in an immersive, modern context.

Online Games as Evangelization Tools

The gaming world, especially platforms like Roblox, has become a new frontier for evangelization. Games are becoming platforms for not only entertainment but also education and spiritual formation. The Church is exploring how it can use platforms like Roblox to create virtual spaces where young people can engage with faith-based content, such as Bible stories, moral lessons, and interactive prayer sessions. 

During the pandemic, this some content creators initiated to make virtual church events like Traslacion and Grand Marian Procession In these virtual environments, users can experience religious stories firsthand, attend virtual masses, or even interact with other members of the faith community. AI helps in the creation of these immersive experiences by enabling real-time character interactions, environment modifications, and even the generation of custom content, such as religious trivia or Bible challenges.

AI and Religious Art: The Beauty of Stained Glass 

AI is being utilized to enrich the creation of religious art, such as stained glass windows, an integral element of the Church’s visual language. Traditionally, stained glass windows told biblical stories and teachings through colorful depictions. Today, AI is contributing to the creation of modern stained-glass designs, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.

For instance, AI-assisted design tools can generate intricate patterns or suggest color schemes that reflect theological themes, making the art accessible for modern worship spaces while retaining traditional meaning. Through AI, the Church can generate sacred art that speaks to contemporary experiences, facilitating an emotional connection between the faithful and the divine.

Church Websites and Digital Evangelization

The Church's online presence is a vital part of its modern evangelization efforts. Church websites now feature AI-powered tools for parishioners to engage with the faith. These tools can range from interactive Bible studies to virtual prayer groups and digital reflections. AI-driven systems help curate relevant content based on a user’s interests, making the online religious experience personalized and deeply engaging.

Moreover, Church websites are employing AI algorithms to create tailored experiences for visitors, guiding them through liturgical calendars, sacramental preparation, and spiritual resources. For example, personalized notifications or reminders can be sent based on a user’s participation in certain activities, like mass attendance or prayer routines.

Vatican’s AI-Powered Mapping of the Basilica

The Vatican is utilizing AI to create detailed, virtual maps and views of important religious sites, such as St. Peter’s Basilica. By using AI-powered mapping and 3D rendering technology, these virtual experiences allow individuals from all over the world to explore the sacred spaces of the Church without physically being there. These maps can be used as a form of virtual pilgrimage or as an educational tool for those studying the history and architecture of the Vatican.

Way to Show Forth Goodness

AI’s ability to show forth goodness can be contextualized within the Church’s mission of evangelization and spiritual formation. In light of Thomistic thought, goodness is understood as a divine attribute which is part of his being as God. Similarly, in the modern world, AI can help to bring this goodness into tangible expressions, even in ways previously unimaginable. Since the source of the data on AI originated from the knowledge of man, we can consider some of its aspects as part of God’s plan for humanity. Furthermore, the mere invention of AI is drafted from the human intelligence of man, we can see though dimly, how God can work through this object. 

Way to Show Forth Truth

Truth is central to religious belief and is often revealed through sacred texts, teachings, and encounters with the divine. In the context of AI as a tool for Hierophany, it serves as an intermediary for deepening one’s understanding of truth. Through AI’s ability to process vast amounts of information, it can assist individuals in accessing theological insights, historical contexts, and interpretations of sacred texts. In the context of Hierophany, this serves as a means for truth to be revealed more clearly and widely. For example, the AI-driven analysis of biblical texts, or the ability to listen to diverse interpretations of faith from around the world, can make the Gospel's truths manifest in different cultural contexts. By utilizing AI’s capabilities to foster informed theological discourse, the Church can ensure that the divine truth reaches all corners of the earth.

Way to Showing Forth Beauty

Beauty or “pulchrum” is one of the transcendental properties of being which indicates attractiveness or that which is pleasing. Since it is transcendental, everything, as long as it is–a being, is beautiful. This includes art, paintings, images, infrastructure, etc. AI has the ability to produce these things instantaneously. Thus, the Church can utilize Artificial Intelligence in order to attract people expeditiously. It may be in the form of religious arts, establishments, and anything that could be a window to the divine. Pope St. John Paul II in his letter to artists said that “Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. It is an invitation to savor life and to dream of the future”. And whether we like it or not, AI is part of the “dream of the future”. Thus, the Church, in light of being up to date “aggiornamento”, must maximize AI to show forth that which is a “key to the mystery” namely, beauty.

Conclusions

Artificial Intelligence, when properly guided by ethical and theological principles, has the potential to serve as a form of hierophany, an avenue where the sacred can manifest in the digital age. While AI must not replace human intelligence and spiritual discernment, it can enhance evangelization, facilitate artistic expression, and deepen faith experiences when used responsibly. The Church must remain proactive in ensuring that AI aligns with its mission of upholding human dignity, the common good, and the pursuit of truth.

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