The field of Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving, offering the ability to artificially generate art, stories, and even sermons1
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that pastors should be allowed to use AI to write sermons, and if so, should they disclose that to their congregation?
There is currently no research that suggest that consciousness could develop in a machine (and research into this field has a difficult time even understanding human consciousness), let alone a soul (there are plenty of blogs about this, but no first rate resources that provide solid evidence that machines or AI could ever have one)
Group Discussion Question: This being said, do you believe that in the future there would be a chance that machines could gain consciousness and a soul?
Group Discussion Question: Could God fill a machine with a soul if he do desires, and if so, can that machine come to salvation?
Group Discussion Question: If we artificially use genetic engineering to create a human from 100% scratch (i.e., literally developed from individual carbon atoms and not from an acquired sperm or egg), would that human have a soul? What if that artificially created human reproduced with a naturally created human… would their offspring have a soul?
Inter-solar travel
The concept of inter-solar travel involves travelling beyond our local solar system, primarily for exploration and colonization of the universe
Per MIT Technology Review, with today’s current technology it would take 6,300 years to reach the nearest star (Proxima Centauri, which is 4.2 light years away from Earth), and would require at least 98 settlers (49 breeding pairs) in order to successfully arrive after a multi-generational journey2
Per NASA, inter-solar travel has a variety of challenges that affect the human body, spacecraft, agriculture, and life-support systems, including cosmic radiation, resource extraction, waste reuse and disposal, motion sickness, bone loss, psychological impacts of cramped quarters, ect.3
Group Discussion Question: Considering the current challenges of inter-solar travel and zero-gravity habitation, should humanity aspire to explore and colonize the universe?
Group Discussion Question: Does God’s command to humanity to “be fruitful and increase in number” (Genesis 1:28) apply beyond the Earth?
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that spiritual beings exist beyond the Earth, and have we or could we encounter them on other moons or planets?
Aliens
While the Bible offers a surprising amount of examples of spiritual beings that appear to be conscious, intelligent, and non-human, there are no verifiable references of physically-embodied entities that originate from beyond Earth (this being said, the Bible also does not eliminate the possibility of there being aliens that exist beyond Earth and separate from humans)
Group Discussion Question: Do you believe that aliens could exist, and why or why not?
Group Discussion Question: If aliens do exist (and are conscious, intelligence, and able to communicate with humans), do you believe that salvation would be available to them?
One item to consider: Dr. Michael Heiser explains in his book ‘Unseen Realm’ that when ‘heavenly bodies’ are discussed in the Bible, it often signifies spiritual beings (often Elohim)4
Group Discussion Question: Even if the ‘traditional’ aliens don’t exist, do you believe that we will ever be able to scientifically detect and communicate with spiritual beings, and should this be something that we desire to work toward?
Government
The Bible at no point endorses or suggest that Christians should strive toward the creation of a theocratic state (one where the religious leadership is synonymous with the government leadership) based around Christianity (the only one today that exists is Vatican City)5
Group Discussion Question: With this consideration, do you believe that Christians should strive (as a primary goal) to develop a Christian-base theocratic government, that subject all citizens to Christian-centric rules and regulations?
Group Discussion Question: Since we (as Americans) live in a federal democratic republic, how should we as Christians vote (i.e., what should our priorities be in choosing our representation: a candidate’s personal values, historical actions, fruits of the spirit, or political platforms)?
When speaking of government and Christian responses to government, Romans 13 is often brought up, stating that “every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”6
Christians should understand that this chapter is not to be taken in a vacuum though, as Acts 5:29 states that believers should “obey God rather than men” and there are several events in the Bible where individuals disobey the local ruling authorities, including Moses’s mother in Exodus 2, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3:18, and even Jesus (healing on the Sabbath) in Matthew 12:11-137,8,9,10
Matt Whitman provides a compelling explanation on his YouTube channel for times in history when it is not only appropriate to defy the government, but the best possible Christian action, including in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia11
Group Discussion Question: When do you feel it’s appropriate to disregard government laws, and when is it appropriate to actively rebel against a government?
Week 10 References:
Whitman, M. (2023, January 5). I had CHATGPT write a short sermon about matthew 11 & I wrote one too. can you tell the difference?. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXdPaX8uCBU
