South Korean Christians are turning to chatbots and AI technology for their religious needs. Online church services using AI are becoming increasingly popular in South Korea, where Christianity is the largest religion. Local start-ups have launched AI bible study and prayer apps that are attracting young Protestants. These services provide spiritual guidance, interpretations of the Bible, and prayers. Pastors appreciate the time-saving aspect of AI technology, which allows them to take care of their followers. However, they also emphasize the importance of maintaining the human touch in religious activities.
One of the popular chatbot services is called Meadow, formerly known as Ask Jesus. It has attracted around 50,000 users, including those from Muslim countries and the US. Meadow responds to inquiries with bible verses, interpretations, and prayers. It has even caught the attention of churches and pastors who use the AI-driven WeBible web service to write sermons. The aim of these services is to save pastors time so they can better care for their followers.
While AI technology can generate sermons and provide ideas, some pastors believe that the spiritual aspect of preaching cannot be replicated by AI. There is a concern about relying too heavily on technology and losing the soulfulness of religious teaching. Nevertheless, many pastors find AI technology useful in generating ideas and inspiration for their sermons.
In addition to chatbots, there is an AI-backed audio Bible platform called Biblely. It allows users to listen to audio bibles recorded with pastors from various churches. The recordings are generated using generative AI technology trained on each pastor’s voice. This platform saw a surge in demand during the Covid pandemic when large-scale religious services were suspended. Many churchgoers believe that their pastor personally recorded the audio bibles.
While AI technology provides convenience and accessibility to religious teachings, there are concerns about the spiritual fulfillment that comes from personal interactions with pastors. Preaching is seen as a job that cannot be replaced by AI because it involves dealing with people on a personal and spiritual level.
In conclusion, AI technology is revolutionizing the way South Korean Christians practice their faith. Chatbots and AI-driven services are providing spiritual guidance and freeing up time for pastors to care for their followers. However, it is important to strike a balance between utilizing technology and preserving the personal and soulful nature of religious activities.
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