Theological Education and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

An Antagonistic or Synergistic Relationship?

Abstract

The question of whether AI can reconfigure the foundations of theological education has become a prominent topic in the dialogue between technology and theology. This intersection raises profound questions about the nature of reality, the role of humanity, and how technology impacts our spiritual experiences and understanding of God. AI has emerged as a promising tool for theological research and education, offering new possibilities for analysis, data exploration, and the construction of complex theoretical models. The encounter between the two has sparked a wide-ranging debate about the possibility of AI revolutionizing the paradigms of theological education.

While AI’s capacity to analyze large datasets and generate complex patterns offers new perspectives for theological study, it also poses ethical, epistemological, hermeneutical, and methodological challenges. The idea of effectively incorporating AI into the teaching and learning process in theology raises crucial questions about the nature of theological evidence, the role of hermeneutics, and the epistemological implications of automating certain cognitive processes.

Other controversies revolve around the potential biases in AI algorithms and their inability to comprehend suffering, hope, the mystery of grace, and the human and spiritual dimensions of the celebratory practices of faith communities.