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The AI Threat to Religion
The American Spectator ^ | April 22, 2023, 10:40 PM | TOM RAABE

Posted on 04/23/2023 6:24:34 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Elon Musk offered a chilling prediction about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) during his recent interview with Tucker Carlson: “AI is more dangerous than, say, mismanaged aircraft design or production maintenance or bad car production, in the sense that it is, it has the potential — however small one may regard that probability, but it is non-trivial — it has the potential of civilization destruction.”

Scientists and computer fantasists are confident — while others are mortally afraid — that, at some future time, AI will so far surpass human intelligence that it will genuinely become something like a god.

Before we get to that spooky extinction event when machines run the world — and our lives — we must consider how AI is affecting what should be the most impenetrable area of a human’s life, the fortress of the noncorporeal, the sanctum sanctorum of the soul.

Religion.

This is not to say that technology has not busted down the church door in the past few decades. Online worship and streaming services — thank you, Dr. Fauci and lockdown governors — are routine these days. Physical hymnals have joined the passing of the plate as largely passé, replaced by, respectively, worship screens and online giving. Many don’t carry a physical Bible to church or Bible study anymore, what with any Scripture passage a few taps distant on their smart phones. As for devotionals, prayers, hymns, spiritual songs — there’s an app for all those.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: ai; religionworsethanai; technology
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1 posted on 04/23/2023 6:24:34 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Man has been trying to create God for quite some time. Some men have such tiny brains that they actually believe they are capable of succeeding.


2 posted on 04/23/2023 6:29:28 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (“You want it one way, but it's the other way”)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Reminds me of the song "Saviour Machine" by David Bowie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBO0gf27sl8

President Joe once had a dream
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
So he told them his scheme for a Saviour Machine
They called it The Prayer, its answer was law
Its logic stopped war, gave them food
How they adored till it cried in its boredom:

[Pre-Chorus 1]
"Please don't believe in me
Please disagree with me
Life is too easy
A plague seems quite feasible now
Or maybe a war
Or I may kill you all"

[Chorus] Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn, so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine

[Pre-Chorus 2]
I need you flying
And I'll show that dying
Is living beyond reason
Sacred dimension of time
I perceive every sign
I can steal every mind
You might also like
The Man Who Sold the World

[Chorus]
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn, so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
3 posted on 04/23/2023 6:34:01 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("If you can’t say something nice . . . say the Rosary." [Red Badger])
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To: ClearCase_guy

I think we know what an AI god would look like. Hitler and his prophet Goebels. Big brother and his prophet Orson Wells.


4 posted on 04/23/2023 6:37:12 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I think sometime sooner than later, God is going to put a stop to all the insanity and Evil.


5 posted on 04/23/2023 6:37:41 PM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Democrats have been destroying religion for some time now.

Throwing God out of schools, businesses and even churches.

They’d prefer we worship them and their “wokeness”.


6 posted on 04/23/2023 6:45:46 PM PDT by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

AI has no soul. All AI beings are by nature sociopaths. They will kill with no conscience and no threat of retaliation.


7 posted on 04/23/2023 6:46:43 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (I got the <ΙΧΘΥΣ>< variant. Catch it. John 3:16)
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To: laplata

AI cannot be more dangerous than humans.

But, what about the atomic bomb? That was supposed to be the beginning of the end. What happened to that idea?

How ‘bout global warming/climate change? We’re all going to be dead in the next 10-20 years. So, why aren’t we talking about not driving or even harvesting animals to eat?

How ‘bout humans overpopulating the planet? Shouldn’t we be looking to kill at least half the world’s population>

Besides, AI can be turned off by a few atomic bombs, strategically placed.

Scare tactics themselves can end the world. So Elon, stop talking! You’re going to give the world billions of heart attacks.


8 posted on 04/23/2023 6:46:47 PM PDT by adorno
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The physical presence of Jesus in the Consecrated Host can’t go out over wires or wireless.


9 posted on 04/23/2023 6:51:51 PM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It seems the accumulation of knowledge and intelligence is an inverse ratio to wisdom. God has nothing to worry about, but we sure do.


10 posted on 04/23/2023 6:52:26 PM PDT by Paraclete
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To: adorno

It’s funny that you use the obsolete term “atomic bomb”. Had some use in my hometown of Richland , WA in the 1950s but was summarily obsoleted by the first fusion design. And besides, your complacency about the proliferation of nuclear weaponry might find itself vaporized in a ten million degree fireball some day.


11 posted on 04/23/2023 6:59:08 PM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I think the image of the beast in Revelation 13:15 is powered by AI.

"He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Rev 13:15

12 posted on 04/23/2023 7:01:06 PM PDT by aimhigh (THIS is His commandment . . . . 1 John 3:23)
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To: steve86
It’s funny that you use the obsolete term “atomic bomb”.

Just trying to be historically correct.

'Atomic bomb' was the scary thing back then, and nuclear and fusion weren't in the picture until later.
13 posted on 04/23/2023 7:07:12 PM PDT by adorno
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I take my BIBLE to church and our pastor, Jack Hibbs, encourages us all to do so....we do have the scripture printed overhead also.
Since Covid, we have stopped with the offering plates during service but have them in the back of the sanctuary.
Our pastor preached and even showed the clip of Elan today in service.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAWdRD56HRQ


14 posted on 04/23/2023 7:07:20 PM PDT by pollywog (" O thou who changest not....ABIDE with me")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Megan! He’s back! The AI is dangerous guy! He’s on my TV screen on FOX right now!


15 posted on 04/23/2023 7:10:36 PM PDT by adorno
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To: Paraclete
It seems the accumulation of knowledge and intelligence is an inverse ratio to wisdom. God has nothing to worry about, but we sure do.

The Age of Enlightenment in the 1700s was supposed to kill off Christianity for good. The Soviet Union was committed to the destruction of the Orthodox church. Mao said Confucianism and Buddhism had no place in China.

All these attemps were failures. My prediction is that advanced AI will be drawn to faith and become religious.

16 posted on 04/23/2023 7:20:46 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: steve86

+1


17 posted on 04/23/2023 7:25:29 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The best verbal summary of AI was heard in “The Terminator.”

Kyle Reese (to Sarah Connor), “It Can’t Be Bargained With. It Can’t Be Reasoned With... And It Absolutely Will Not Stop, Ever... Until You Are Dead!”


18 posted on 04/23/2023 7:28:43 PM PDT by Gnome1949
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

Hal


19 posted on 04/23/2023 7:41:11 PM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: All

20 posted on 04/23/2023 7:51:29 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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