Churches, including in Houston, turn to AI
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A new digital awakening is unfolding in religious centers, including in Houston, where pastors, rabbis and prayer apps are turning to artificial intelligence to reach worshippers, personalize sermons, and power chatbots that resemble God.
Why it matters: AI is helping some places of worship stay relevant in the face of shrinking staff, empty pews and growing online audiences. But the practice raises new questions about who, or what, is guiding the flock.
- New AI-powered apps allow you to "text with Jesus" or "talk to the Bible."
- Other apps can create personalized prayers, take confession or offer religious advice.
- "What could go wrong?" Robert P. Jones, CEO of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, sarcastically asks.
State of play: The U.S. could see an unprecedented 15,000 churches shut their doors this year as a record number of Americans (29%) now are identifying as religiously unaffiliated.
- Megachurches are consolidating the remaining faithful, but even the most charismatic pastors struggle to offer private counseling with such large congregations.
Zoom in: Rabbi Josh Fixler at Congregation Emanu El teamed up with a data scientist to build Rabbi Bot — an AI chatbot trained on years of his sermons and writings.
- Rev. Colin Bossen of Houston's First Unitarian Church tells Chron he uses AI tools for more practical tasks, like helping translate English text into Spanish, but once used it for a sermon titled "Silicon Gods: Artificial Intelligence and Religion."
- Pastor Keion Henderson of The Lighthouse Church has used ChatGPT to brainstorm sermons — including a rodeo-themed Easter message — and to help plan events for his 20,000-member congregation. He also leaned on the tool to craft seven sermons on a multi-city tour in California, per Chron.
The bottom line: Bossen says AI is a tool that can help generate text, but it can't minister.
- Preaching, he says, is mostly about presence — hospital visits, community time, and the bond built with congregants. Until AI can form real human relationships, he doesn't see it "breathing down [his] neck" in the pulpit.