Book Review: AI Goes to Church

This week's review is on AI Goes to Church by Todd Korpi. 

There is a clear need for our religious leaders to think deeply about AI and its role in ministry, institutions, and society - especially in its contrast to human nature. Todd Korpi, a protestant professor and church leader, seeks to do so in AI Goes to Church. Korpi struggles to engage directly with deeper theological or philosophical issues; focusing on a pastoral response.

Korpi proceeds systematically, establishing a basic understanding of what AI is, its impact, and connections with a scripturally-based understanding of technology. The latter chapters then look at the intersection of AI with theological concepts, mission, social justice, work, pastoral care, higher education, and ministry. I found the earlier chapters lacking in a richness of depth, that mirrors my Catholic-bias for a longer theological and magisterially-based conversation on such topics; while later chapters struggle due to the avoidance of concrete, time-sensitive suggestions and tips.

Meh.

Korpi's beginning analysis of technology rightly points out the relentless pace of advancement and its associated "white noise effect" (2). This is linked to efforts throughout (Protestant) church history of technology being used for evangelization from Paul's epistles and "modern" travel to the use of internet and bible-based apps. This presents a challenge as well: "the widespread adoption of AI tools is dramatically outpacing our careful reflection and discourse on the subject...technology is not acultural [sic], neutral in its orientation, or immune from pitfalls that can harm vulnerable populations" (6-7). This mission and a solid, brief overview of key terms and concepts associated with AI in chapter 2 forms the basis of the text.

Aspects of this are essential to the conversation that both Korpi and I feel we need to have. His examination of the role of work in scripture and mankind's society in light of a future where AI does all the work is a solid insight. Using scripture to address this issue is key to his (and the Protestant) approach and checking it with a sense that what we read is both timeless and timely (35-37). Korpi likewise highlights the impact AI has when we look at anthropology, creation, sin, culpability, and complicity. I found Korpi wanting to take a Catholic approach (he even cites the Council of Jerusalem as a model) to this complex question: debate, discussion, and then a clear path forward.

I found chapter 4 to be the best and most essential - "AI and the Image of God." If Christians are to take a serious approach to the role of AI in our current culture and civilization, we must do so by understanding what it means to be human and contrast it with what is artificial. Korpi, naturally, grounds this in an examination of Genesis. Korpi's understanding is that humanness are created to reflect the image of God and are sustained by Him. AI thus cannot be human; humanness is bequeathed by God not by man. AI is thus a creation of man, should be stewarded responsibly (shout to Aquinas' discussion of the treatment of animals), Korpi then proceeds to the intersections of AI with various aspects of Christian practice.

A couple of highlights of this intersection, as your mileage will vary on these particular chapters and Korpi's own perspective on each. Much of his approach is rooted in a Protestant, more progressive understanding of pastoral care and ministry. For each of these, he roots his framework in (77-88):

1. The image of God. We must keep humanity at the center for we are made in the image of God.

2. The goodness of creation. We must steward and care appropriately.

3. The mission of God. God seeks to reconcile us.

4. Inaugurated eschatological hope. Christ and his Resurrection signal a new era and a future new era.

5. Power and the kingdom. Being in the world and not of it.

6. Human connection and cultural care. Here, Korpi references and lists Wendell Berry's rules for technology.

7. Additional principles which aren't as key.

Highlights:

• AI can't replace human mission but can assist with translation, accessibility, customer service, et al.

• A human-centered approach to AI requires small levels of action

• We must resist AI's optimization increasing work to the neglect of what is meaningful; churches should model this.

• Pastoral AI can be an emergency stand-in but not a replacement for humans

• Christan education must move from information-collecting, competency, teacher-centered, and controlling to wisdom-rooted, virtue-forming, dialogue-based and low-controlling.

The book ends with some examples of apps and workflows; but seems lacking in those concrete steps that would have advanced his theological framework to implementation.

 AI Goes to Church by Todd Korpi. 

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Good For: Pastorally-centered advice for more liberally-bent Christian institutions.

Best nugget: AI cannot be truly human.

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