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Artificial Intelligence (AI), a collection of technologies programmed into computers to execute various tasks, has the capability to comprehend and translate both spoken and written languages, analyze data, offer valuable suggestions, and facilitate the organization of Zoom meetings and TikTok videos.
AI also conducts research on various subjects, aiding numerous students and supporting many professional organizations in executing their tasks efficiently and accurately.
Thus, how can religious leaders utilize the benefits provided by AI to enhance their sermon preparation, teachings, and alleviate stress while fulfilling their religious duties more effectively?
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Stephen Adegbite, asserts that since God has endowed humanity with the wisdom to develop AI, the church can use it positively to spread the gospel.
However, he criticized the misuse of AI, warning that any church or minister who employs it selfishly for personal gain will face repercussions.
“If you wish for AI to assist you, including sermon preparation, it will do so, but you must verify its output to avoid mistakes. There is no human creation that can be flawless except for that which comes from God, and therefore, we depend entirely on God for sustainability.
We need God's guidance, as the Bible remains our primary constitution and resource. No technology exists that isn't encompassed within the Bible, which is why we refer to the Bible as the Book, or, as it is called, Biblia," Adegbite expressed.
He highlighted a personal experience where he attempted to send a message, but it was interrupted, prompting AI to suggest: “you could have phrased it differently.”
Adegbite stated, “There was a time I was composing a message to someone, and it was cut off, with AI stating to me, ‘you could have phrased it differently.’ I reviewed it and found it was indeed a better suggestion, yet I disregarded it and sent what I initially wrote. AI can be beneficial in some respects, but especially for our youth, we must ensure that its use does not undermine God's power and capability, which should not be encouraged. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere, which is why He is omnipotent and omniscient.”
He elaborated: “AI can assist us in numerous ways. For instance, we can use it to create sermons, prepare Bible study outlines, and enhance counseling approaches, as inputting a topic yields thousands of results, allowing us to execute our work more efficiently.
However, students using it for assignments must still engage in proper studying to defend their qualifications, for possessing a degree is one thing, but being capable of substantiating that degree is another. It is regrettable if you hold a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree but cannot convincingly prove that you are indeed the owner of that certificate.”
The Chief Imam of the University of Lagos, Community Mosque, Prof. Ismail Musa, remarked on how AI has elevated humanity's knowledge base: “AI has revolutionized our knowledge capital and is bound to surpass current levels. It has also enriched individuals' spiritual capital and that of the clergy, improved access to scriptural knowledge, enhanced devotional practices, and elevated the quality and scope of sermons, among its many positive impacts on our spirituality and morality. Additionally, it has broadly expanded our religious experiences, although there are negative aspects when AI is misused by malevolent individuals and factions.”
He denounced the inappropriate application of AI in fostering crime, corruption, exploitation, and oppression.
Musa urged for guidelines in AI usage to preserve its value, stating: “This signifies that the ongoing advancement and implementation of AI technologies necessitate ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks.
Achieving this is feasible if we remain steadfast in our understanding that we are all accountable to God for our actions and that AI should be viewed as a divine blessing of this era, for which our generation will be accountable. Ultimately, one will be questioned regarding how they appropriated the blessings and pleasures of this world (Quran 102:8).”
In a similar vein, the founder of Christian Central Chapel International (City of Testimonies), Archbishop Emmah Isong, recognized that AI and various forms of information technology are fundamentally products of Biblical prophecy, underscoring its potential to aid the church in spreading the gospel.
He articulated that, to fulfill the Biblical mandate to reach every creature, preachers cannot physically traverse the landscapes, especially now that Nigeria’s cost of living has impacted transportation by air and land, whereas AI can effectively accomplish this while one remains at home.
Isong stated, “There are three ways to capitalize on technology. All innovations are from God; they are prophetic gifts from Him. It will expedite the spread of the gospel. For example, after I completed my book, my publisher merely needed to feed the content into AI, which corrected grammar, punctuation, and organized pagination and chapters, returning it to me in two days. The speed is remarkable! Typically, a book could take six months to process, but not anymore.”
Despite acknowledging the positive aspects of AI, Archbishop Isong promptly warned that it is artificial and could dilute spirituality, diminish genuine spiritual engagement, and is contrary to authentic faith.
He remarked: “AI can contradict human nature as it lacks the essence of life; it does not possess human conscience—spirit, soul, or body—hence it can dehumanize individuals and compromise the sincerity of the gospel. AI, despite its advantages, is also susceptible to manipulation by third parties.
In communication, if our church has 10,000 branches in Nigeria and wants to convene an urgent meeting, there is no need for travel; we can simply call a Zoom meeting, demonstrating how it aids the gospel while reducing crime.”
Similarly, Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, the Chief Missioner of Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatin Society (NASFAT), characterized AI as a double-edged sword with various benefits and disadvantages.
He urged religious leaders and followers of different faiths to become literate in Artificial Intelligence to discern fact from fiction amid information overload, manipulative tendencies, distortion of facts, unreliable information, challenges in validating sources, diminished physical social interactions, and insufficient comprehension of religious concepts and principles among some AI users, which may cultivate a reliance on AI over human beings, among other issues.
Acknowledging the advancements brought about by AI, Onike stated, “The surprises from AI should not be unexpected for Muslims, as greater scientific breakthroughs await us, as Allah (SWT) states, ‘We will show them Our Signs in the universe and in themselves until it becomes evident to them that this (the Quran) is the truth’ (Fussilat 41:53). The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) remarked: ‘Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Final Hour will not arrive until people compete with one another in constructing their buildings.”’
Onike emphasized that this Hadith is often interpreted as forewarning the modern trend towards skyscrapers and urbanization, where cities vie to erect the tallest structures, as illustrated by examples from Dubai, New York, and other major urban centers.
He urged other clerics and religious scholars to embrace the new frontiers of Da’wah (evangelism) and explore questions such as: what has changed? Where do you see it? Are they relevant and real? among others.
The NASFAT Chief Missioner, who recognized that AI has become a fixture accompanied by both advantages and challenges, mentioned that his organization, in collaboration with entities like the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria/Islamic Education Trust in Minna, Niger State, has been conducting periodic training to update members on AI and IT developments.
He said some of their members are currently enrolled in an online training program offered by Albalagh Academy titled, “Mastering Chat GPT and AI for Islamic Education.”
“As much as AI is replete with benefits, being adept at prompting it, knowing what information to pursue, and understanding how to validate such information are crucial skills that both clerics and adherents of faith must cultivate.
“Given that AI can be a double-edged sword, particularly ChatGPT, it has made significant contributions to research and academia. Nonetheless, it has negative aspects as highlighted by a BBC report on an AI-powered app that reportedly incited an individual to commit murder against the Queen.”
However, Onike concluded that NASFAT is committed to ensuring its members are well-informed about the pros and cons of AI, stating, “Indeed, we have organized several well-attended webinars on this topic in recent times.”
Moreover, the former Chaplain of the National Ecumenical Centre (CAN) headquarters in Abuja and Archbishop of the African Church Province of the North/Abuja, Dr. Peter Ogunmuyiwa, called upon the church to harness the advantages of AI to foster evangelism growth. He defined AI as the simulation of human intelligence in machines, which enables learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and interaction.
“I see this innovation as a beneficial development in the advancement of technology, providing easy access to information across almost all aspects of human existence. The church must also leverage its potential to enhance evangelism. We should concentrate on utilizing information that adds value to the gospel while discarding any immoral or unhealthy information found within it,” he remarked.
Emphasizing the significance of AI, Ogunmuyiwa stated: “Artificial intelligence (AI) has explored numerous topics, including theology and church doctrines. It provides adequate information concerning soteriology, relating to systematic Theology (salvation). Therefore, it is essential for church leaders to tap into the reservoir of AI, as needed.
“However, we must discourage our congregation from allowing AI to negatively impact their moral behavior. The scriptures mandate Christians not to conform with worldly ways but to embody the salt and light of the world.”
