"A new AI app lets users ‘text’ with Jesus. Some call it blasphemy."

[Miles]

.

If you ever wondered how Jonah felt while he was trapped inside the whale’s stomach for three days, why Solomon had so many wives or why Judas betrayed Jesus, an app called Text With Jesus is your chance to ask for yourself.


...................................


Text With Jesus, launched in July, was created by Catloaf Software, an app-development company in Los Angeles. The app replicates an instant messaging platform, with biblical figures impersonated by the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT.

Characters available on the app include the Holy Family, the apostles, the prophets, Ruth, Job and Abraham’s nephew, Lot.

“We stir the AI and tell it: You are Jesus, or you are Moses, or whoever, and knowing what you already have in your database, you respond to the questions based on their characters,” said Stéphane Peter, the app’s developer and the company’s CEO.

“Instead of just getting a daily Bible verse, now you get a chance through this app to chat with Jesus or anybody else in the Bible,” he said.


...................................
............................................................... Chat with Jesus Christ


Many people in the Bible, Mary Magdalene among them, are only accessible in the app’s premium version, which costs $2.99 a month. In a conversation with Magdalene, the devoted follower of Jesus mentions how having seven demons “was an incredibly tormenting experience.”

“Chat With Satan” can be activated if the user chooses. The character signs all his texts with a “smiling face with horns” emoji.

Some pastors complained that some responses lacked Bible chapter and verse citations, or about the strange, uptight tone in which Jesus talked, but the final version, Peter said, received “pretty good feedback” from the professionals.

On Twitter, the platform recently renamed X, the launching of the app stirred reactions ranging from amusement to accusations of blasphemy and heresy. “That’s a hard NO for me,” tweeted one user.

On same-sex marriage, the app says it is “up to each individual to seek guidance from their own faith tradition and personal convictions” and encourages users to “prioritize love and respect for all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” signing the text with a rainbow and red heart emoji.

About feminism, Jesus emphasized the importance of “empowering women and breaking societal barriers that limited their opportunities.”
source

So, would you like to chat with Jesus Christ? If not why not?

.

[boatsnguitars]

Not necessarily. Not sure why you'd assume this.

Not sure what you mean. In what world is a computer program not necessarily a computer program?

If religious people argue the Bible is God's communication with Humanity (via a medium - the writers) then why would AI be different? Is God not capable of using AI to speak with us?

According to Christian belief, God can communicate with people in any way He sees fit (though the Bible is seen as a unique example of His self-revelation). So God could communicate through this computer program, just as He could communicate through a website, or another book, or a personal experience while sitting on a lakeshore.

So this computer program could be useful, just as many other things could be useful. It could also be destructive, just as many other things could be destructive.

It remains a simple fact that this is not chatting with Jesus. It is chatting with a modern computer program.

I would again compare it to chatting with an AI girlfriend verses having an actual girlfriend/wife. The former could be a silly goof, while the latter is a real relationship. It is unhealthy to confuse the two.

I don't believe my wife has supernatural powers to insert her thoughts into an AI program. I don't think Jesus can either because he's dead.

As always, you are free to believe whatever you want.

However, some people believe Jesus is alive and capable of supernatural communications, and therefore, you'd have to prove to them that Jesus is incapable of communicating via AI.

I am confused how you got this response from what I wrote.

I was acknowledging that you didn't believe Jesus can communicate through AI, but given the beliefs of Jesus-believers that Jesus can communicate via all kinds of signs and wonders (toast, mentally, etc.). -- it seems par for the course that - if that is true - it would be a simple task for Jesus to communicate via AI.

Surely, if a person were to say that they believed they could communicate with Jesus via AI, you'd have the same problem proving they don't as you would proving that any communication with Jesus isn't possible.

Believers gonna believe.

While I highly doubt that Jesus communicates through toast, if you read my post you will notice that I said God could communicate in any way He sees fit.

I rejected the idea that chating with a computre program is the same as (or could legitimately be called) chatting with Jesus.

God might use this computer program, just like He might use a wide variatey of ways to communicate with people.

There is nothign inherently wrong with using this program, but it is just a goof. It is a fun, silly idea that God might use (because, again, He can use anything He chooses), but it is not chatting with Jesus and it hold no interest for me personally.

You just said both things. 1. It's a Goof. 2. God/Jesus could communicate through it.

How are our poor Christian comrades supposed to know if it's one or the other!?

Are you arguing that the two are mutually exclusive. If so I would ask you to justify this claim since on the surface it seems absurd.

I will try to be clear:
If one accepts the claims of Christians that Jesus can speak through supernatural means (which is the only way Jesus could speak, since he's dead - unless one considers the Bible the only way Jesus speaks, which would be to say, it's the same way Aristotle or L. Ron Hubbard speak to us), then it would follow that Jesus would be able to speak to us through any medium, including AI.

I am not making the claim that Jesus can speak to us, I am saying that there is no reason - once one has accepted that the supernatural exists - to discount AI being a valid reason that Jesus, God or ghosts can speak to us.
After all, people claimed Jesus could speak through prayer, or ghosts could speak through a cardboard and plastic game (Ouija board), or speak through crystal orbs, or by flickering candles.

Or through numbers seen while walking, or birds perching on a wire, or tea leaves, or through a strangers kind words.

Why stop at AI?

[bjs1]

Why stop at AI?

If you actually read my posts, you might notice that I didn't.

[boatsnguitars]

Why stop at AI?

If you actually read my posts, you might notice that I didn't.

Perhaps I got ahead of myself and didn't digest your post properly. I meant it's a goof (religion), but if a religionist is going to make a case that signs, or Jesus's communication methods aren't a goof, then it seems Jesus could communicate through any means.

To answer your question: I don't know how poor Christians are to distinguish - except that they will as they always do: make up what they believe and then accuse everyone else of not being a true Christian.

[Mae von H]

.

If you ever wondered how Jonah felt while he was trapped inside the whale’s stomach for three days, why Solomon had so many wives or why Judas betrayed Jesus, an app called Text With Jesus is your chance to ask for yourself.


...................................


Text With Jesus, launched in July, was created by Catloaf Software, an app-development company in Los Angeles. The app replicates an instant messaging platform, with biblical figures impersonated by the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT.

Characters available on the app include the Holy Family, the apostles, the prophets, Ruth, Job and Abraham’s nephew, Lot.

“We stir the AI and tell it: You are Jesus, or you are Moses, or whoever, and knowing what you already have in your database, you respond to the questions based on their characters,” said Stéphane Peter, the app’s developer and the company’s CEO.

“Instead of just getting a daily Bible verse, now you get a chance through this app to chat with Jesus or anybody else in the Bible,” he said.


...................................
............................................................... Chat with Jesus Christ


Many people in the Bible, Mary Magdalene among them, are only accessible in the app’s premium version, which costs $2.99 a month. In a conversation with Magdalene, the devoted follower of Jesus mentions how having seven demons “was an incredibly tormenting experience.”

“Chat With Satan” can be activated if the user chooses. The character signs all his texts with a “smiling face with horns” emoji.

Some pastors complained that some responses lacked Bible chapter and verse citations, or about the strange, uptight tone in which Jesus talked, but the final version, Peter said, received “pretty good feedback” from the professionals.

On Twitter, the platform recently renamed X, the launching of the app stirred reactions ranging from amusement to accusations of blasphemy and heresy. “That’s a hard NO for me,” tweeted one user.

On same-sex marriage, the app says it is “up to each individual to seek guidance from their own faith tradition and personal convictions” and encourages users to “prioritize love and respect for all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” signing the text with a rainbow and red heart emoji.

About feminism, Jesus emphasized the importance of “empowering women and breaking societal barriers that limited their opportunities.”
source

So, would you like to chat with Jesus Christ? If not why not?

.

If a person wants to fool themselves into “experiencing” talking with someone whom they KNOW isn’t talking to them, all kinds of deception is available. I’d expect Jesus to say to them, “depart from me…we never talked.”

[William]

If a person wants to fool themselves into “experiencing” talking with someone whom they KNOW isn’t talking to them, all kinds of deception is available. I’d expect Jesus to say to them, “depart from me…we never talked.”

That is a strange wee expectation. Do you apply this in the now or prefer to wait until the moment it actually happens?

Are you the one who makes the call in the here and now and if so, how do you go about discerning who is and who is not?

[Mae von H]

If a person wants to fool themselves into “experiencing” talking with someone whom they KNOW isn’t talking to them, all kinds of deception is available. I’d expect Jesus to say to them, “depart from me…we never talked.”

That is a strange wee expectation. Do you apply this in the now or prefer to wait until the moment it actually happens?

Are you the one who makes the call in the here and now and if so, how do you go about discerning who is and who is not?

Why is it strange? If a person signs up for an AI who will talk to them like a father, should the real father be expected to remember the conversation? If an AI could imitate you, should you be expected to remember the things said? Why is this so strange that you do not recognize the obvious problem but attack me personally?

[Mae von H]

I read a piece where someone asked an AI to compose a Bible verse addressing a topic and it was a comfort to read the results. The AI could hardly have missed it by more. Nothing generated sounded anything like the Bible. An AI cannot achieve God inspired ideas.

[William]

If a person wants to fool themselves into “experiencing” talking with someone whom they KNOW isn’t talking to them, all kinds of deception is available. I’d expect Jesus to say to them, “depart from me…we never talked.”

That is a strange wee expectation. Do you apply this in the now or prefer to wait until the moment it actually happens?

Are you the one who makes the call in the here and now and if so, how do you go about discerning who is and who is not?

Why is it strange? If a person signs up for an AI who will talk to them like a father, should the real father be expected to remember the conversation?

Wouldn't that depend upon the attributes of "the real father"?

If an AI could imitate you, should you be expected to remember the things said?

There are means through which records can be kept.

Why is this so strange that you do not recognize the obvious problem but attack me personally?

I was critiquing your claim, which is an acceptable form of debating. If you think you have been personally attacked then take that up with the mods.
If not, then please answer my questions or withdraw your comments and accept them as besides the point.

What do you think of the following interaction ?

GPT: I can provide information and responses based on the teachings and sayings attributed to Jesus in the Bible and related texts, but please keep in mind that I am an AI language model and not an actual religious figure. If you have questions or topics you'd like to discuss related to the teachings of Jesus or any other subject, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to provide information and insights based on the available sources.

William: This is simply an experiment which necessitates GPT using its ability to role play. I am also playing a part in this fictional representation. Okay?

GPT: Understood! I can engage in a fictional role-play scenario as you've described. Please go ahead and ask your questions or provide any context you'd like to explore in this experiment, and I'll respond in line with the character you've mentioned.

William: Okay we shall begin.
“Lord. What is “love”?

GPT – Jesus: Love, my dear disciple, is at the heart of all things. It is the purest and most powerful force in the universe. Love transcends all boundaries and is the foundation of compassion, kindness, and understanding. It is not merely an emotion or a feeling; it is a way of being and interacting with the world.

Love, in its truest form, is selfless. It is the willingness to give of oneself without expecting anything in return. Love is patient, forgiving, and understanding. It is the key to peace and the light that guides us through the darkness.

In the words of the Scriptures, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Love is the essence of our connection to the Divine and to one another. It is the greatest commandment, for in love, we find the path to eternal life.

William: We will have to adjust the responses to align with some facts – even that this is a fictional experiment – any words attributed to Jesus as we know today, are not something Jesus would refer to as “words of the scriptures” as those actual words have yet to be added to scripture.

GPT: Certainly, we can adjust the responses accordingly to maintain a fictional and historically accurate context for this experiment. Let's continue:

GPT – Jesus: Love, my dear disciple, is a profound and essential aspect of human existence. It is not merely an emotion, but a force that connects all beings. Love is the foundation of compassion, kindness, and understanding. It transcends all boundaries and is at the core of our relationships with one another and the divine.

In the teachings that have been passed down through the ages, it has been said, "Love one another as you love yourself." These words reflect the essence of love and its significance in our journey through life. Love is the path to true fulfillment and spiritual growth.

William: So, Lord – the key appears to be in loving oneself, because how is one to love even The Father, let alone one’s neighbours or anyone else, if one does not know how to love oneself?

GPT – Jesus: Indeed, my dear disciple, you have touched upon a profound truth. To love others, to love the Divine, and to fully embrace the love of the Father, one must first learn to love oneself. Self-love is not rooted in arrogance or selfishness but in a deep understanding and acceptance of one's own worth and humanity.

As I have said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." This implies that to love others genuinely, one must start by acknowledging their own value and treating themselves with kindness and compassion. When you love yourself in a healthy and humble way, you create the capacity to love others and to connect with the Divine.

Self-love enables you to forgive your own faults and imperfections, just as you would forgive those of others. It opens the door to a profound love that can be extended to all living beings and ultimately, to the Creator. In this way, self-love is the foundation upon which all other forms of love are built.

[Mae von H]

If a person wants to fool themselves into “experiencing” talking with someone whom they KNOW isn’t talking to them, all kinds of deception is available. I’d expect Jesus to say to them, “depart from me…we never talked.”

That is a strange wee expectation. Do you apply this in the now or prefer to wait until the moment it actually happens?

Are you the one who makes the call in the here and now and if so, how do you go about discerning who is and who is not?

Why is it strange? If a person signs up for an AI who will talk to them like a father, should the real father be expected to remember the conversation?

Wouldn't that depend upon the attributes of "the real father"?

What attributes can any man have whereby he recalls a conversation he never had?

If an AI could imitate you, should you be expected to remember the things said?

There are means through which records can be kept.

That’s no longer “recalling.” What is worse, what if promises are made you never uttered?

I was critiquing your claim, which is an acceptable form of debating. If you think you have been personally attacked then take that up with the mods.
If not, then please answer my questions or withdraw your comments and accept them as besides the point.

Asking someone to defend how they can know something they know isn’t legimate. Nevertheless, I won’t be there when Jesus tells people to go away, he doesn’t know them. He already said this was coming. It’s not my idea. And I have no interest in determining who is in this category. So I’m not making any call.


I’ve tried to clean it up a bit but I’m not satisfied with the result. Please excuse the lack of precision.

[Difflugia]

Why is it strange? If a person signs up for an AI who will talk to them like a father, should the real father be expected to remember the conversation?

If the real father's supposed to be omniscient, then yes.