Search Results (6)

This article examines aspects of the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and religion, challenging Western Christian perspectives that warn against playing God and ascribing human and God-like characteristics to AI. Instead of a theistic emphasis, East Asian religious perspectives emphasize concern for the potential implications of AI on communities and relationships. This article argues for the inclusion of perspectives from Chinese and Korean traditions in the growing discourse on AI and religion to adequately address the potential social impacts of AI technologies. First, we describe some of the questions and concerns being posed regarding AI and consider how certain normative interpretations of Western Christianity may influence some of these issues. Second, we discuss the contributions of Asian philosophies and religious traditions, which emphasize relationality and fluidity, to provide alternative approaches to AI. Third, we outline the discussion of AI from Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist traditions, which see the cosmos as an interwoven whole and both humans and the cosmos as evolving. Lastly, we introduce the example of digital resurrection (e.g., deadbots) and consider how the philosophical and theological Korean concept of Jeong might refocus our understanding of the potential impacts of this AI technology. Full article

Potential spiritual impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven Assistive Technologies (AT) for older adults are absent in most ethics conversations. Intelligent Assistive Technology (IAT) is the term used to describe the spectrum of Assistive Technologies that use AI. In this theoretical essay, I begin by introducing examples of AT and IAT for older adults with age-related disabilities. I argue that spirituality is a marginalized value in ethics that must be considered if IAT ethics is to address the whole person. Some of the potential spiritual impacts of IATs will be suggested through engagement with three core spiritual needs. I ask how IAT might impact these three core spiritual needs. This is not meant to be an exhaustive study of the spiritual impacts of AT. Through the engagement of one approach to spiritual needs, this article proposes that IAT ethics issues intersect with the spiritual needs of aging adults and, therefore, that potential spiritual impacts ought to be addressed as part of IAT ethics for older adults. Full article

The three authors of this article explore the intersection of moral enhancement, ethics, and Christianity. Trothen reviews the meaning and potential of moral enhancements, considering some of the risks and limitations. Trothen identifies three broad ethical questions, which all three authors agree upon, that arise from a Christian theological perspective: what it means to be human, choice, and social justice. Trothen concludes that respect for human dignity and social justice requires rejecting a reductive view of moral improvement as purely biochemical. Buttrey then argues that biomedical moral enhancement (BME) is simply one in a series of attempts to morally improve human beings and can be compared to other efforts such as neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics. He argues that BME cannot be simultaneously more reliable than moral education in virtue and no more restrictive of human freedom. He concludes by suggesting that tensions between BME and Thomistic virtue are even stronger due to Christian conceptions of martyrdom and radical self-denial. Finally, McQueen argues that Christianity emphasizes the common good and social justice as essential for human flourishing. Building on the foundation established by Trothen and Buttrey, McQueen insists that accurate cognitive knowledge is needed to make good conscience decisions, but emphasizes that right human action also requires the exercise of the will, which can be undermined by AI, automation, and perhaps also BME. She concludes by encouraging further attention to the true nature of human agency, human freedom, and wisdom in debates over AI and biomedical enhancement. The authors conclude that BMEs, if they become medically safe, may be theologically justifiable and helpful as a supplement to moral improvement. Full article

The potential spiritual impacts of AI are an under-researched ethics concern. In this theoretical essay, I introduce the established spiritual assessment tool, the Spiritual Assessment and Intervention Model (Spiritual AIM). Next, I discuss some existing and probable AI technologies, such as immersive tech and bots that have impacts on spiritual health, including the chat-bot Replika. The three core spiritual needs outlined in the Spiritual AIM are then engaged in relation to Replika—(1) meaning and direction, (2) self-worth/belonging to community, and (3) to love and be loved/reconciliation. These core spiritual needs are used to explore the potential impacts of the chat-bot Replika on human spiritual needs. I conclude that Replika may be helpful only as a supplement to address some spiritual needs but only if this chat-bot is not used to replace human contact and spiritual expertise. Full article

Sport, religion, and spirituality intersect in diverse ways. As the body of interdisciplinary scholarly work addressing these intersections increases, more questions and insights are being generated, as evidenced in this collection. Five themes that arise in this Special Issue of Religions are identified and explored. Examples from each article are used to develop these themes. To whet the reader’s appetite, thought-provoking reflections are offered in this introduction to “Sport, Spirituality, and Religion: New Intersections and Global Challenges.” Full article

This article begins with a brief interrogation of the meanings of moral and virtue. Next, an intersectional Christian theo-ethical lens focusing on humans as divine image-bearers is used to generate critical insights regarding the influence of extreme individualism on approaches to moral bioenhancement. This alternative lens emphasizes the interdependence of life, and the contextual character of moral dispositions. The questions of what it means to be creatures bearing the imago dei and making moral choices, is at the center of this exploration. The author concludes that while there may be justifiable exceptions, for now moral bioenhancements are unwarranted. Moral improvement will be better achieved through more effective educational strategies, and possibly spiritual enhancements, that are geared toward appreciation for the interdependence of all life. Full article