Today in Sweden:

Nu kan AI skriva predikan: "Ser stora möjligheter"

[machine translation]

AI Can Now Write Sermons: "I See Great Opportunities"

Ida–Maria Brengesjö is a traveling evangelist within the Equmenia Church. She describes herself as an early adopter and does not hesitate to use AI.

– Why couldn't God use AI to give me ideas4 she asks herself.

AI is increasingly permeating our lives. Even priests and pastors are getting caught up in the development. Some are skeptical of the new—others welcome the opportunity.

– "I use AI as a sounding board, as a conversation partner before the sermon," says Ida–Maria Brengesjö."

She describes AI as a lightning–fast inspirer that provides tips and perspectives.

There Is Resistance

Not everyone is as positive. Oliver Li is a priest in the Forsa–Högs parish near Hudiksvall. Although he is doing research on AI himself, he could never imagine letting AI write his sermons.

– "No, because it's something that happens in the moment between me as a priest and the people sitting in the pews.

The resistance among many priests is not only about the risk of losing presence and contact with the congregation during the service. The very idea that AI should write a text that should be inspired by God—not a machine feels offensive, or even blasphemous.

"AI Cannot Replace God"

Ida–Maria Brengesjö understands this objection, but disagrees.

– "Many priests are probably quite technologically skeptical and think that we risk removing God's leadership in the church. So it's important to think that AI can't replace God—but that it can be a help in the work.

She adds that she herself never lets AI write the final sermon text, it has to be her own words.

Source:  SVT "News"

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 🤔   Deep thoughts…

I've had this thought for the longest time: Since the Bible provided by Equmenia Church, Church of Sweden, Swedish Bible Society and other similar institutions, in my opinion, are 'filtered' by these institutions' values. A very likely consequence then, is that many Swedes [most likely many Scandinavians] also are 'spiritually filtered' in the same way.

A language barrier prevents many Scandinavians to be able to read different versions in English.

Myself, for instance, I'm extremely sceptical regarding the Bibel provided by the above institutions. And, as much as I grasp the English language pretty good, reading old–fashioned English requires engagement from the reader.

Another thing to consider, is that these institutions [organized religion] in fact are political as well [left or right–oriented, it doesn't matter].

Maybe, if we all here in Scandinavia were given a chance to read a True Bibel, whithout any filtered words, many would perhaps come down from the fence?

All Organized Religion utilizes AI. Why wouldn't they?