RELIGION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Date

2018

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Tartu Ülikool

Abstract

“What will be the relationship between religion and artificial intelligence?” This was the main research question for the current study. I chose Mikael Stenmark’s multidimensional model for describing relationship between religion and science, as my theoretical framework to help figure out the answer. Considering the novel and hypothetical nature of the topic it was necessary to accomplish following sub goals before I could tackle the main analysis:  Establish the fact that religion is viable and growing part of the society in the future.  Demonstrate how science and religion have been intertwined through the history until modern day.  Confirm that the field of artificial intelligence is developing fast and intelligent machines will have growing presence in various areas of our lives.  Give overview of relationship between religion and AI since the emergence of the field and examine this interconnection from different perspectives. Recent theories by Jose Casanova and Pippa Norris and correlating statistical data helped to establish and confirm that despite the popularity of the traditional secularization theory the number of people who affiliate themselves with religion is on the rise. Demonstration of the enduring interconnectedness of religion and science included covering birth of the modern science from the bosom of Christianity, followed by insight to problematic relationship between Islam and science. Thereafter I presented how new technologies are accepted in the religious environments of Islamic countries and Christian Africa. Additional examples demonstrated how religion has been related to the virtual worlds and explored how advances of innovative technology are creating potential alternatives for the traditional religion in the example of Transhumanism.

Description

Keywords

religion and science, artificial intelligence, Christianity

Citation