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By Vikiho Kiba
Pastor, NCRC, Unity Village 5th Mile Chümoukedima
The question of “Who calls the shots: the God of the Bible or AI?” reflects a profound dilemma about the role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in shaping human decisions, ethics, and the future. It also taps into deeper theological questions about God’s sovereignty, human agency, and morality. This debate is increasingly prominent in public discourse, especially as AI advances in unprecedented ways, raising questions about its influence over decisions traditionally considered human or divine.
AI’s Growing Influence in Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence, especially in its more advanced forms like machine learning and neural networks, is becoming integral to decision-making in various fields—economics, healthcare, law enforcement, and even personal choices (think of algorithmic recommendations on social media or online shopping). AI systems are designed to process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make decisions faster and more efficiently than humans. This technological power raises ethical questions about how much control we should cede to machines, particularly in areas that impact human life and morality.
AI in Healthcare, Justice, and Governance:
• Healthcare: AI systems are now able to diagnose diseases, recommend treatments, and even predict patient outcomes better than some doctors. While this can save lives, it also brings up moral questions about whether life-and-death decisions should be left to machines.
• Justice: In some countries, AI is used to assist in sentencing, risk assessment for parole, and even predicting criminal behaviour. This raises concerns about the role of human judgment, fairness, and the possibility of AI perpetuating biases in legal systems.
• Governance: AI is increasingly used to make decisions that affect public policy and economic trends. Should algorithms guide such important societal choices, or should human values, guided by religious or philosophical principles, still hold sway?
The Problem of Moral Judgment:
While AI can process data and offer highly accurate predictions, it lacks the ability to make moral or ethical judgments. It operates based on logic, pattern recognition, and optimisation, without understanding the broader ethical implications. This is where the idea of divine judgment or human moral reasoning—grounded in religious traditions such as Christianity—comes into play.
The God of the Bible: Divine Authority and Moral Decision-Making
In Christianity, the God of the Bible is considered the ultimate source of authority over life, morality, and human destiny. Christian theology teaches that God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omni-benevolent (all-good). According to this view, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, with authority over all decisions—particularly moral and ethical ones.
God’s Sovereignty in Christian Theology:
• Moral Law: The Bible, particularly in books like Exodus and the Gospels, lays out moral principles (e.g., the Ten Commandments) that guide human behaviour. These are seen as expressions of God’s will for how humans should live in relationship to God, others, and creation.
• Human Free Will: While God is sovereign, Christian theology also emphasises that humans have free will to make choices, albeit within the framework of God’s overarching plan. People are morally responsible for their decisions, and these choices have eternal consequences (e.g., salvation, judgment).
• Divine Judgment: In Christian eschatology (the study of end times), God is believed to be the ultimate judge, determining the fate of every individual based on their actions and their relationship with Him. This stands in contrast to the impersonal decision-making capabilities of AI.
The Challenge of AI to Divine Authority:
The increasing role of AI in decision-making raises the question of whether AI can—or should—replace divine or human judgment in matters of ethics, justice, and morality. According to Christian belief, ultimate moral decisions should rest with God, not machines or human-created algorithms.
• Moral Implications of AI Supremacy: If AI systems begin making more decisions, particularly in life-and-death situations, does this undermine the role of God as the ultimate moral authority? Some Christians may argue that relying too heavily on AI is a form of idolatry—placing trust in human creations rather than in God.
• Loss of Human Moral Agency: From a Christian perspective, the growth of AI may also diminish human moral agency. If AI makes more decisions for us, are we forfeiting the responsibility to live according to God’s laws and to exercise our God-given free will?
Who Decides? AI or God: A Public Debate
The debate about whether AI or God should “decide” taps into larger questions about the future of humanity and the role of technology in our lives. This conversation is already playing out in public discourse, including in news outlets, opinion pieces, and policy debates.
1. The Role of AI in Shaping Morality:
Many technologists argue that AI, while not capable of moral reasoning itself, can be a tool to assist humans in making more informed and data-driven ethical decisions. For instance, AI could help identify biases in decision-making processes and provide more equitable outcomes in areas like criminal justice. This utilitarian approach—focused on outcomes rather than moral intent—could challenge traditional Christian views that emphasise moral responsibility and divine law over mere results.
2. The Secular vs. Religious Worldview:
The question of “who decides” often boils down to a conflict between secular and religious worldviews. Secular proponents of AI might argue that technology represents human progress and a way to improve life. On the other hand, religious groups might counter that no matter how advanced AI becomes, it can never replace God’s role in moral decision-making, nor can it comprehend the deeper spiritual meaning of human existence.
• Secular View: Many proponents of AI-driven decision-making emphasise that machines can eliminate human error, bias, and emotion from decision processes, leading to more just and efficient outcomes.
• Religious View: From a Christian standpoint, decision-making that involves ethical or moral implications should always be grounded in God’s will and moral law. Relying too heavily on AI risks alienating humans from their responsibility to seek God’s guidance in their choices.
3. Ethical Concerns in Public Debate:
Public concern is growing over AI’s potential to control too many aspects of life. News outlets often highlight ethical dilemmas—whether it’s about AI-driven surveillance systems, self-driving cars deciding whom to save in accidents, or algorithms making hiring decisions. Many fear that without proper ethical frameworks, AI could lead to unjust or inhumane outcomes.
• AI’s Lack of Empathy and Compassion: One major critique is that AI lacks qualities like empathy, compassion, and wisdom—virtues central to Christian decision-making, which views every person as bearing the image of God and deserving of dignity and care. No matter how advanced AI becomes, it cannot replicate the deeply relational and compassionate nature of God’s guidance as described in the Bible.
Conclusion
The ultimate question of “Who calls the shots: the God of the Bible or AI?” highlights the tension between human reliance on technology and faith in divine authority. As AI continues to develop, it will undoubtedly play a larger role in decision-making processes across various sectors of life. However, for those who adhere to Christian theology, the God of the Bible remains the ultimate authority over moral and ethical decisions, and AI should be seen as a tool—one that must be used responsibly and ethically, always under the framework of God’s moral law.
In the public sphere, this debate raises important questions about how much control we are willing to give to machines and whether we are sacrificing our spiritual and moral responsibilities in the process. While AI can assist in decision-making, it cannot replace the role of God in guiding human life, particularly when it comes to the profound questions of morality, purpose, and eternal destiny.
Romans 1:21 in the Bible says: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
This verse reflects Paul’s explanation of humanity’s rejection of God’s revelation. According to the Apostle Paul, even though people inherently knew about God through creation and conscience, they chose not to acknowledge or honour Him. This choice led to moral and spiritual degradation, represented by futile thinking and darkened hearts.
In relation to AI, we can draw some philosophical parallels. AI, as a human creation, is a product of human knowledge and intelligence. It operates based on logic, algorithms, and data, but it lacks moral consciousness and spiritual insight. This contrasts with the human condition described in Romans 1:21, where people knew God but rejected divine truth in favour of their own understanding, leading to moral decline.
AI can process vast amounts of information, but it cannot comprehend or engage with concepts like spirituality, morality, or the divine. The “futile thinking” and “darkened hearts” described in the verse are specifically human experiences tied to moral and spiritual choices, something beyond the scope of artificial intelligence.
From a theological perspective, the verse could serve as a cautionary reminder about relying solely on human reason or technology (like AI) without acknowledging deeper spiritual truths.
Psalms 14:1 states: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”
This verse speaks to the denial of God’s existence and the moral consequences of such a stance. According to the psalmist, those who deny God act foolishly, and this rejection leads to moral corruption and wicked behaviour.
In the context of AI, the passage can highlight the distinction between human wisdom and technological progress. AI is a tool created by humans, and while it can perform complex tasks, analyse data, and even simulate forms of intelligence, it lacks consciousness, moral reasoning, or the ability to recognise or contemplate the existence of God.
A key point from Psalms 14:1 is the importance of recognising spiritual and moral dimensions of life, which are beyond AI’s capacity. AI operates on logic and algorithms, driven by the data it receives. It cannot engage with matters of faith, morality, or existential questions about God, as it lacks any form of belief or values.
One possible interpretation of the verse in relation to AI could be a caution to humans: while technological advancements like AI may enhance human capabilities, relying on them without acknowledging deeper truths, like the existence of God, could lead to a form of intellectual and moral impoverishment. It suggests that wisdom and goodness come from recognition of God, something that no amount of AI-driven intelligence can replace.
Ultimately, Psalm 14:1 underscores the idea that the highest wisdom and morality stem from faith and an understanding of God, not merely from intellectual or technological achievement.