LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER: Artificial Religion
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is today’s buzzword. AI refers to the ability of computers to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence to recognize patterns and make predictions.
Although AI is somewhat new, Artificial Religion (AR) is not. AR is a man-made attempt (with great effort) to imitate, pretend and suggest what is true, what is best for humanity and, most importantly, it is from some “higher power.” AI might be able to assist humanity with math, art and literature, but AR cannot provide humankind with peace with God, harmony with neighbor and self, or the way to Heaven.
AR has its foundation in the human spirit and has the appearance of being true. It serves an egocentric end and is in opposition to the Word of God (some comments integrated from Gerald Kellar’s In His Service, published on Amazon). AR usually takes one of the following forms or combinations of philosophies the world has known for centuries — and they are still inaccurate and unreliable:
• Stoicism — All is beyond my control and left to fate or chance. Human beings must create their own path with a moral code that changes behavior. That is in direct opposition to the personal God who cares deeply for His children. He is a God who controls His creation and is at work in history even today through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Cynicism — All standards are ridiculous, and humans have unlimited personal freedom to rebel against the accepted norms. However, the Scriptures teach us a positive and productive way of life that shows us the model of Jesus.
• Skepticism — All truth is my own truth, and personal experience alone is valid for existence. But in fact, truth is rooted in Jesus and His disclosure of God — not simply in self alone.
From the Christian perspective, the antidote, remedy and cure for AR is found in the New Testament:
• “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” (I Cor. 15:3-4 HCSB).
• “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matt. 11:28-29).
• “‘…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household’” (Acts 16:30-31).
• “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10).
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Dr. Tony Cleaver
Dr. Tony Cleaver pens a column titled, Leave It To Cleaver, in which he talks about a wide variety of topics relevant to the modern church and BMA Baptists.
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