Episode 006: Digital Souls: What Should Christians Believe about Artificial Intelligence?

Updated:

Oct 19, 2022

•

Published:

Apr 20, 2016

There is a growing conviction in Western culture that computers eventually will become conscious. In the past three years alone, people from opposite ends of the societal spectrum have expressed both dread and hope about this occurring. Scientists Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates all voiced concern that artificial intelligence (A.I.) poses a threat to the safety of humanity. One Presbyterian pastor in Florida said he is planning to share the gospel with the robots once they awaken. In the artistic world, writers explored the interesting question of whether we will fall in love with our new machine superiors—as depicted in movies such as Ex Machina, Transcendence, and HER.

Wherever the topic of A.I. arises, so do spiritual questions. For instance, is it even possible for a computer to become conscious? If one did, would it have a soul? If not, what does that mean about our souls? Would it somehow disprove we have them? Would that disprove the Bible? And so on. Many Christians likely wonder what to believe about all of this.

Thi sPostmodern Realities episode is a conversation with Journal author James Hoskins about his 39:2 article, “Digital Souls: What Should Christians Believe about Artificial Intelligence?“.

We’d also like to invite you to subscribe to the Journal. To subscribe to the Journal, please click here.

When you to subscribe to the Journal, you join the team of print subscribers whose paid subscriptions help provide the resources at equip.org that minister to people worldwide. These resources include our free online-exclusive articles, such as this review, as well as our free Postmodern Realities podcast.

Another way you can support keeping our resources free is by leaving us a tip. A tip is just a small amount, like $3 or $5, which is the cost for some of a latte, lunch out, or coffee drink. To leave a tip, click here.