An AI-powered church service in Germany recently made headlines, sparking a conversation about the role of technology in religious experiences. Held at St. Paul's Church in Fürth, Bavaria, the service, orchestrated by University of Vienna theologian Jonas Simmerlein, saw ChatGPT, a prominent AI chatbot, deliver a sermon to over 300 attendees.
Projected as a Black man with a beard, the AI avatar addressed topics such as overcoming the past, embracing the present, and finding solace in faith, urging the congregation not to fear death. The 40-minute service incorporated not only the AI-driven sermon but also traditional elements like music and prayers.
Visitors and attendees during the pre-recorded AI-created worship service in St. Paul Church in Fürth, Bavaria. (Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Simmerlein revealed that the AI was responsible for approximately 98% of the service's content, having provided ChatGPT with prompts like the event's context and the desired inclusion of psalms and prayers. While he described the outcome as a "pretty solid church service," reactions from the congregation were varied.
Jonas Simmerlein, right, practical theologian and AI artist, during the AI-generated service at St. Paul Church in Fürth, Bavaria. (Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Some attendees found the AI's monotonous delivery and lack of emotional expression to be a significant drawback. Heiderose Schmidt, one of the attendees, commented on the absence of "heart and soul," noting the difficulty in connecting with the emotionless avatars. However, she acknowledged that younger generations, more accustomed to interacting with technology, might perceive the experience differently.
The chatbot, which presented as a Black man with a beard above the altar of St. Paul's Church in Fürth, Bavaria, told the packed congregation not to fear death. (Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Simmerlein also highlighted the inherent limitations of AI in replicating the human connection crucial to pastoral care, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of a pastor who knows and lives within the community.
This unique event, part of the Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag, a major biennial Protestant gathering in Germany, raises important questions about the evolving intersection of technology and spirituality, prompting further discussion about the potential and limitations of AI in religious contexts.
