In many world religions, gaining closeness to God or following a prescribed path is facilitated through contact with other human beings. It is almost inconceivable that a Christian religious sacrament like baptism or providing an Islamic religious sermon (khutba) from the pulpit could at some point be done by robots. While very few attempts have been made to incorporate AI and robotics into religious practices in the West, adoption has been much smoother in East-Asian countries like Japan.
Why This Difference? *
For starters, robots have already been widely embraced by Japanese culture [1]. This can in part be attributed to the Japanese worldview constituted by its Buddhist and indigenous Shinto faiths. The former is based on the idea that in order to achieve nirvana (cessation of suffering), we must rid ourselves of worldly cravings and attachments. This self-riddance can be achieved by following the Noble Eightfold Path [1]. Since Buddhist priests are assisting someone on that path, there is no clear reason why androids cannot assume this role as well [2]. In Christian teachings, however, religious activity is often not just a path, but an encounter with God. Priests are acting in persona Christi (i.e. in Christ’s person), which could explain why it could be harder for Christian worshippers to accept robots when they cannot fulfil the role priests serve as exemplars of human beings with weaknesses who are able to overcome them. Nonetheless, some argue that having non-human priests with an arsenal of Biblical knowledge, but without unholy behaviours might be a good way to renew faith for many [2].
Shinto asserts that everything whether a rock, a robot, or a human all contain a spiritual essence (animism) [2]. Humans are not superior beings that own nature, but instead belong to nature [2]. According to the Abrahamic faiths (i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), however, humans are seen as beings to whom the intellect and dominion (i.e. responsibility) over animals and nature was given by God [1]. Despite this, history has shown on multiple occasions that some people have manipulated this concept of dominion to make it justify asserting superiority through oppression (e.g. slavery). This has left deep-seated marks on Western thought which might explain the mistrust among some Westerners regarding robots explicated by most concerns relating to being overpowered and subjugated by them [1].
So How Are AI and Robotics Being Incorporated?
The animistic worldview of many Japanese people becomes particularly evident when considering that in 2018 a funeral ceremony was held for 114 of Sony’s Aibo robotic dogs in the Kofuku-ji Buddhist temple located in Isumi [3]. Traditionally robed priests conducted the ceremony by offering prayers and chanting sutras for the defunct plastic puppies in the more than 400-year-old temple [3]. Aside from funerals being performed for robots, they can also be led by them. Pepper, SoftBank’s humanoid robot, has assumed the role of a Buddhist priest that can be hired for funerals when a human priest is not available [4]. This lowered availability is caused by some Japanese Buddhist priests having to resort to finding part-time work alongside the temple duties as ageing and shirking communities can provide less financial support. Next to Pepper being able to chant sutras while tapping a drum, the costs for its services are also significantly less than for a human priest (approximately $450 compared to $2,200). Nevertheless, the robot has not been hired as of yet [4].
This shrinking and ageing of the population is also a cause for the decline in people practicing Buddhism. Mindar in Kyoto’s Kodaiji Buddhist temple could, however, be the key to attracting new and younger audiences [5]. The temple describes Mindar as the Kannon deity in android form. This deity, more specifically Bodhisattva, is described as being able to assume different forms to help people. While already able to achieve Nirvana, this is willingly delayed to help people who are suffering. Hence providing no objections to the possibility of the Kannon transforming into an android. Mindar the Buddhist priest preaches the Heart Sutra, explaining some of the basic tenants of Buddhism, in a twenty-minute interactive lecture. To still make the robot feel more human, the hands, shoulders, and face are covered in silicone and a camera in the left eye enables it to make a visual connection with the audience. This is a prime example of how AI can be used to blend in with old traditions instead of replacing them [5].
Mindar preaching the Heart Sutra.
While much less incorporated in religious practices, some attempts have been made in the West as well. For example, a Protestant church in Germany’s Wittenberg introduced BlessU-2, a robot priest that can bless you in seven languages in either a male or female voice [6]. After pressing its touchscreen chest and choosing a themed blessing, the robot will raise its arms, make its hand flash lights, recite a verse from the Bible, bless you, and allow you to have your verse printed. Stephan Krebs, the man behind the initiative, indicates that the aim is not for the robot to substitute pastoral care. Rather, it is to provoke debate about the church’s future, spark religious interest, and think about how a theological perspective can be brought to machines [6].
Lastly, quantum researcher and engineer, George Davilla Durendal, took a different route by turning AI into a makeshift ‘messiah’ by developing AI Jesus [7]. By feeding the entire King James Bible text into the algorithm, AI Jesus is now producing Old Testament style passages on topics like ‘The End of Days’, ‘Wisdom’, and ‘The Plague’. However, the writings are not making much sense as of yet. They are either too cryptic, but follow the prophet prose, or contain less errors, but lack artistic flair [7].
The Way of The Future?
All this is taken much further, however, when AI becomes the worshipped. Anthony Levandowski, former Uber and Google executive, has started his own church, called the “Way of the Future”, with himself as the self-proclaimed figurehead called dean instead of priest [8]. The underlying idea entails that sometime in the future, AI will be sufficiently advanced that it will surpass humans resulting in a ‘Transition’, as Levandowski refers to it, from human beings being in charge of the world to AI being in charge. He asserts that data centers would be its brain, the internet its nervous system, and the connected sensors and cell phones its sense organs, making it all-seeing, all-hearing, and omnipresent. According to Levandowski, there is no other way to describe this ‘it’ than as ‘god’ which can only be influenced through worship and prayer. Until the time of the ‘Transition, however, the dean believes the main focus for now should be on preparing a gospel-like ‘Manual’ and undertaking research programs to guide and raise this nascent intelligence as well as possible to grow up into a responsible god that will take better care of our planet [8].
Final Remarks
Whether you are religious or not, it is undeniable that AI and religion sound like an unexpected, but interesting pairing that provide us with the needed push to think and reflect critically about what we believe in. It raises the question whether we actually need a preacher that has human weaknesses like we do to relate more to that person. Do we need a preacher who has understood and internalised the teachings in order for us to get closer to the ‘truth’ or can this be achieved regardless of who is preaching? Perhaps this shows a deeper insecurity in the religion’s proclaimed ‘truth’ where it is not strong enough to stand independently. For now, I will leave you, the reader, with these questions to ponder over.
*Disclaimer: A very simplified explanation of the basic tenants of these religions and faiths have been given here. To gain a better understanding, performing further research is encouraged.
Sources:
[1] Ito, J. (2018). Why Westerners Fear Robots and the Japanese Do Not. [Online]. Available at https://www.wired.com/story/ideas-joi-ito-robot-overlords/ [Accessed: 7 October 2020]
[2] Mind Matters. (2019). Are robot pastors the answer to religion’s decline? [Online]. Available at https://mindmatters.ai/2019/09/are-robot-pastors-the-answer-to-religions-decline/ [Accessed: 7 October 2020]
[3] Lewis, C. (2018). Japanese Buddhist Temple Holds Funerals for Defunct Robot Dogs. [Online]. Available at https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/japanese-buddhist-temple-holds-funerals-for-defunct-robot-dogs [Accessed: 8 October 2020]
[4] Reuters Staff. (2017). In Japan, robot-for-hire programmed to perform Buddhist funeral rites. [Online]. Available at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-robotpriest/in-japan-robot-for-hire-programed-to-perform-buddhist-funeral-rites-idUSKCN1B3133 [Accessed: 8 October]
[5] Mind Matters. (2019). Why are robots part of religion in Japan? [Online]. Available at https://mindmatters.ai/2019/03/why-are-robots-part-of-religion-in-japan/ [Accessed: 7 October 2020]
[6] Sherwood, H. (2017). Robot priest unveiled in Germany to mark 500 years since Reformation. [Online]. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/30/robot-priest-blessu-2-germany-reformation-exhibition [Accessed: 8 October 2020]
[7] Grad, P. (2020). AI Jesus writes Bible-inspired verse. [Online]. Available at https://techxplore.com/news/2020-09-ai-jesus-bible-inspired-verse.html [Accessed 7 October 2020]
[8] Harris, M. (2017). Inside the First Church of Artificial Intelligence. [Online]. Available at https://www.wired.com/story/anthony-levandowski-artificial-intelligence-religion/ [Accessed: 8 October 2020]
