"Pastor Chat, the (Ai) Sermonator", Preached to Packed Church in Germany, Friday, 6/9/23

[Papa Smurf]

Visitors and attendees during the pre-recorded AI-created worship service in St. Paul Church in Fürth, Bavaria.
Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images© Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images

Hundreds attended a Protestant church service Friday in Germany generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence, with a sermon presented by the AI chatbot ChatGPT.

The chatbot, which presented as a Black man with a beard above the altar of St. Paul's Church in Fürth, Bavaria, told the packed congregation not to fear death, according to the Associated Press.

"Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the AI avatar said.

The service, which was attended by more than 300 people, lasted 40 minutes and featured prayers and music in addition to the sermon. University of Vienna theologian and philosopher Jonas Simmerlein, 29, used ChatGPT to craft the event, the AP reported.

"I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine," Simmerlein told the AP.

The service was part of Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag, a popular biennial event that occurs in Nuremburg and nearby Fürth and attracts tens of thousands of Christians. Issues addressed at the event this year, which lasts Wednesday to Sunday, include climate change, the war in Ukraine and AI.

"Now is the time" is the theme of this year's gathering, which Simmerlein noted was one of the phrases he gave ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to write the sermon.

"I told the artificial intelligence ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher … what would a church service look like?’" said Simmerlein, who also requested the chatbot implement psalms, prayers and a concluding blessing in the sermon.

Simmerlein said ChatGPT ended up providing "a pretty solid church service."

The chatbot's sermon reportedly focused on leaving the past behind, paying attention to the present, not being afraid of death and maintaining faith in Jesus Christ.

Four different AI avatars took turns leading the service and reportedly drew laughter at times for their monotonous, deadpan delivery.

"There was no heart and no soul," Heiderose Schmidt, 54, told the AP of the service. "The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said."

"But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this," she added.
Simmerlein noted that no human interaction was able to take place between the chatbot and the congregation.

"The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. "Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

~https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/c...lls-congregants-not-to-fear-death/ar-AA1cpj7R

 

[Papa Smurf]

It looks like it "prayed" during the service too

Pastor Chat, the Semonator

 

[Kermos]

View attachment 92
Visitors and attendees during the pre-recorded AI-created worship service in St. Paul Church in Fürth, Bavaria.
Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images© Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images

Hundreds attended a Protestant church service Friday in Germany generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence, with a sermon presented by the AI chatbot ChatGPT.

The chatbot, which presented as a Black man with a beard above the altar of St. Paul's Church in Fürth, Bavaria, told the packed congregation not to fear death, according to the Associated Press.

"Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the AI avatar said.

The service, which was attended by more than 300 people, lasted 40 minutes and featured prayers and music in addition to the sermon. University of Vienna theologian and philosopher Jonas Simmerlein, 29, used ChatGPT to craft the event, the AP reported.

"I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine," Simmerlein told the AP.

The service was part of Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag, a popular biennial event that occurs in Nuremburg and nearby Fürth and attracts tens of thousands of Christians. Issues addressed at the event this year, which lasts Wednesday to Sunday, include climate change, the war in Ukraine and AI.

"Now is the time" is the theme of this year's gathering, which Simmerlein noted was one of the phrases he gave ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to write the sermon.

"I told the artificial intelligence ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher … what would a church service look like?’" said Simmerlein, who also requested the chatbot implement psalms, prayers and a concluding blessing in the sermon.

Simmerlein said ChatGPT ended up providing "a pretty solid church service."

The chatbot's sermon reportedly focused on leaving the past behind, paying attention to the present, not being afraid of death and maintaining faith in Jesus Christ.

Four different AI avatars took turns leading the service and reportedly drew laughter at times for their monotonous, deadpan delivery.

"There was no heart and no soul," Heiderose Schmidt, 54, told the AP of the service. "The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said."

"But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this," she added.
Simmerlein noted that no human interaction was able to take place between the chatbot and the congregation.

"The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. "Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

~https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/c...lls-congregants-not-to-fear-death/ar-AA1cpj7R

I read this, and, now, I feel nauseated because I am saddened to imagine people succumbing to AI "church leaders".

Maranatha Come, O Lord Jesus, Come

 

[sawdust]

View attachment 92
Visitors and attendees during the pre-recorded AI-created worship service in St. Paul Church in Fürth, Bavaria.
Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images© Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images

Hundreds attended a Protestant church service Friday in Germany generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence, with a sermon presented by the AI chatbot ChatGPT.

The chatbot, which presented as a Black man with a beard above the altar of St. Paul's Church in Fürth, Bavaria, told the packed congregation not to fear death, according to the Associated Press.

"Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the AI avatar said.

The service, which was attended by more than 300 people, lasted 40 minutes and featured prayers and music in addition to the sermon. University of Vienna theologian and philosopher Jonas Simmerlein, 29, used ChatGPT to craft the event, the AP reported.

"I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine," Simmerlein told the AP.

The service was part of Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag, a popular biennial event that occurs in Nuremburg and nearby Fürth and attracts tens of thousands of Christians. Issues addressed at the event this year, which lasts Wednesday to Sunday, include climate change, the war in Ukraine and AI.

"Now is the time" is the theme of this year's gathering, which Simmerlein noted was one of the phrases he gave ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to write the sermon.

"I told the artificial intelligence ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher … what would a church service look like?’" said Simmerlein, who also requested the chatbot implement psalms, prayers and a concluding blessing in the sermon.

Simmerlein said ChatGPT ended up providing "a pretty solid church service."

The chatbot's sermon reportedly focused on leaving the past behind, paying attention to the present, not being afraid of death and maintaining faith in Jesus Christ.

Four different AI avatars took turns leading the service and reportedly drew laughter at times for their monotonous, deadpan delivery.

"There was no heart and no soul," Heiderose Schmidt, 54, told the AP of the service. "The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said."

"But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this," she added.
Simmerlein noted that no human interaction was able to take place between the chatbot and the congregation.

"The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. "Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

~https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/c...lls-congregants-not-to-fear-death/ar-AA1cpj7R

There were two scriptures that came to mind when reading this article.

Matthew 10:24
“A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master.

And ...

John 3:3
Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

If a teacher does not know what it is to have a living and dynamic relationship with God (ie born from above), can he really teach spiritual truths to his congregation?

 

[fastfredy0]

Well ... let's ask ChatGPT a question: How does a reformed baptist achieve eternal life?

In summary, a Reformed Baptist believes that eternal life is a gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is enabled by the work of the Holy Spirit and is a response to God's calling and regeneration. Salvation is ultimately a result of God's sovereign choice and grace, not human effort.

------------------------------------------------------------
Question 2: How does a reformed baptist achieve eternal life?
For a Reformed Baptist, achieving eternal life is based on certain core beliefs derived from their interpretation of Scripture and Reformed theology. While specific beliefs may vary within the Reformed Baptist tradition, here are some theological positions that a Reformed Baptist may generally reject or consider incompatible with their understanding of salvation and eternal life:

1. Salvation by Works: A Reformed Baptist would typically reject the idea that salvation can be earned through human efforts or good works. They believe that salvation is a result of God's grace alone, received through faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Universalism: Reformed Baptists would generally reject the belief that all people will eventually be saved and receive eternal life, regardless of their faith or beliefs. They emphasize the necessity of personal faith in Christ for salvation.
3. Denial of the Deity of Christ: Reformed Baptists affirm the deity of Jesus Christ as a fundamental aspect of their faith. Denying Christ's divinity would likely be seen as incompatible with their understanding of salvation.
4. Salvation through Multiple Paths: Reformed Baptists would typically reject the idea that there are multiple paths to eternal life, apart from faith in Jesus Christ. They emphasize the exclusivity of Christ as the only way to salvation.
5. Rejection of Sola Fide: Reformed Baptists uphold the doctrine of "sola fide" (faith alone) as a crucial aspect of salvation. Rejecting the idea that faith is the sole means of salvation could be contrary to their beliefs.
6. Rejection of Sola Scriptura: Reformed Baptists place a high value on the authority of the Bible. Rejecting the principle of "sola scriptura" (Scripture alone) as the ultimate source of doctrine and practice could be inconsistent with their theological framework.
7. Denial of Original Sin: Reformed Baptists generally affirm the doctrine of original sin, which teaches that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam. Denying this doctrine could lead to a different understanding of the need for salvation.
8. Baptismal Regeneration: Reformed Baptists usually reject the belief that baptism itself is a means of obtaining salvation. They view baptism as a symbol of faith and a public declaration of one's relationship with Christ, rather than a requirement for salvation.

It's important to note that individual beliefs may vary among Reformed Baptists, and different congregations or groups within this tradition might have slightly different theological emphases. The list above provides a general overview of theological positions that would likely be at odds with a Reformed Baptist's understanding of salvation and eternal life.