How To See The Theological In The Digital

James from PASTORIA

“I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”

This is the quote from a meme roaming around social media networks these days as a critique of artificial intelligence (in its current popular form).

Well, it just so happens that quite recently LG announced a robot that could pick up your dirty clothes, put it in your washing machine, and then a system that could activate the machine - all with the power of AI.

It’s called the Cloid and it was demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as part of LG’s vision for a “Zero Labor Home.” In fact, it was one of a wave of devices that exemplified what is now being called “Physical AI.”

Will it ever come to market and be seen in your home? It’s questionable - maybe some version of it will.

But, that’s not the point.

The point is that people (perhaps inadvertently) are seeking digital solutions for their digitally-induced theological (as I see it) condition which is, namely, that they are finding themselves in a state of “overwhelm.”

Specifically, digital has increased the breadth and volume of the intake of reality to an unsustainable level. For example, as our psyche’s were not made to see everything that is happening in the world through an endless stream of videos from around the world, we simply do not know what to make of it and are in a constant state of flight or fight.

This burns us out and, taking the example of the quote above, people want to be able to do things that engage their reality - like art and writing.

The Church can pay attention to the theological in the digital, like this, and start to come up with ways by which people can indeed engage their reality overwhelm in transformational ways. Here’s three ways the usual Church can act digitally:

1. Community - Yes, people should be a part of them. But, for what purpose? Well, the theological purpose would be that of engaging the overwhelm collectively and no longer alone.

2. Ritual - Yes, people should live liturgically. But, for what purpose? Well, the theological purpose would be that of integrating all that is dis-integrated in their life.

3. Vision - Yes, people need to see beyond their current realities. But, for what purpose? Well, the theological purpose would be that of being living examples of hope in what seems to be hopeless times.

When we privilege analog means of faith-making and discipleship, the temptation is to also privilege analog theological conditions.

But, ministry can be future-facing when it can adjust and apply the presumed analog means towards digitally-induced theological conditions.