Cultural Resilience, Religious Faith and the intersection of Generative and Agentic Artificial Intelligence

Project Overview

Religious faith remains a cornerstone of identity and resilience, especially within marginalised communities, in the UK.

However, the rapid advancement of generative and agentic AI has profound ethical, pastoral, and theological implications for religious practice, spirituality, and cultural resilience. Recent advances include immersive, personalised simulations of religious experiences, digital simulations of deceased persons, and AI models able to speak in “the voice of God”.

Such innovations raise profound questions about religious experience, the soul, consciousness, personhood, and omniscience. AI can challenge faith but also presents new ways to discuss and disseminate religious concepts. This can resource progressive and reactionary spiritualities, impacting human security. AI could be used to analyse religious texts and generate new interpretations of scripture, leading to deeper understanding.

However, it could also be used to foment conflict and hatred towards religious communities. A detailed study of the ethical and pastoral potential of AI in relation to religion is vital. AI’s potential to displace jobs will also impact the pastoral responsibilities of religious institutions and their commitment to the marginalised.

Project Objectives

This project will conduct interviews with UK leaders of the world's six major religious traditions to begin to fill this gap. It will be guided by the following questions:

1. To what extent is AI impacting and challenging foundational religious teachings or practices?
2. How are religious leaders and communities engaging with, or rejecting, AI?
3. What impact will AI have on pastoral responsibilities of religious institutions in light of its potential to disrupt millions of jobs?
4. How do different religious doctrines and cultural contexts shape attitudes towards AI?
5. What ethical frameworks and safeguards can guide the development and use of AI in religious institutions?

The project aligns with the UKRI’s focus on building a secure and resilient world by promoting a proactive approach to engaging with technologies impacting cultural resilience, anticipating disruption, and responding by developing policy and recommendations.

Impact

The project will break new ground within UK research into both AI and the role of faith in British society, representing the first interdisciplinary study of its kind and empirical extent. The research has the potential to generate multidisciplinary academic impact in the following fields – security studies, theology and religious studies, ethics, the sociology of religion, cultural studies, AI governance, and studies of social cohesion. Beyond the academy the project has the potential to impact on the understanding and work of policymakers and that of faith leaders and communities at local, regional and national levels through the development of a multimedia range of outputs and publicly available resources.

In the short-term the project will deliver new knowledge, policy and awareness of the impacts of AI on religious doctrines and practices. In the long-term it will contribute to robust cultural resilience, ethical AI, and social cohesion. Public funding is required as this is an overlooked area of vital public interest which is currently under-researched. This project will lay the groundwork for future research, policy development, and community engagement. Outputs (publications, policy brief, workshop) will ensure continued impact beyond the project's lifespan, fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration between academia, religious institutions, and policymakers.