What We Studied

We analyzed thousands of public comments on YouTube videos showing AI-led worship services. These included:

• An AI-generated sermon in Germany
• A Texas church that used AI to create a Sunday service
• And media coverage by outlets like Fox News and TRT World

Our goal was simple: to understand how people interpret, accept, or reject AI’s role in spiritual communication. Using qualitative and thematic analysis, we categorized comments into major themes and emotional tones—ranging from curiosity to fear.

What We Found

Most people expressed strong opposition to AI in religious settings. Their concerns fell into a few clear categories:

1. Prophetic Fear: Some viewed AI in churches as a sign of the biblical “End Times,” referencing Revelation’s “Beast” prophecy.
2. Absence of a Soul: Many said AI cannot preach because it lacks spiritual essence or divine inspiration.
3. Fear of Idolization: Others worried that AI might become an object of worship, shifting devotion from God to technology.
4. Distrust of Control: A number of commenters linked AI in churches to surveillance or political manipulation.

Still, a small group saw potential benefits. They noted that AI could:

• Translate sermons for multilingual audiences
• Assist people with disabilities
• Streamline administrative tasks
• Help religious leaders prepare and manage sermons

Yet, the dominant tone was cautious. For most, AI symbolized human overreach, not divine progress.

Beyond the Church Walls

This debate reflects a larger cultural question: What makes human experience sacred?

If AI can simulate empathy, quote scripture, and speak with flawless logic, does that make it a spiritual guide—or just an echo of one? Faith communities, in this way, mirror broader societal anxieties about automation, authenticity, and moral responsibility.

Implications for Information Science

Our findings extend the study of information practices into the realm of spirituality. Religious rituals, sermons, and prayers are all forms of information exchange—shaped by language, context, and belief.

By understanding how people react to AI-mediated sermons, we uncover how digital systems influence meaning, authority, and connection in spiritual life. This bridges the gap between information science and the lived experience of faith.

A Path Forward

AI doesn’t need to replace faith—it can support it. For instance:

• Religious organizations can use AI for translation, research, and outreach.
• Developers can embed ethical and spiritual guidelines in design.
• Faith leaders can engage communities in open discussions about AI’s role.
• Technology should enhance, not replace, human-led spirituality.

In the End

Whether viewed as a threat, tool, or transformation, AI in sacred spaces reminds us that technology is never neutral. It shapes how people seek truth, meaning, and connection. The challenge now is ensuring that innovation coexists with empathy, and that progress never overshadows the human spirit that gives faith its life.

Read the full study: AI in the House of God: Threat, Tool or Transformation? (https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.1338)
Presented at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), 2025.