Methods, Madness, and Multi-Agent AI

2014

The construction of computer models is becoming an increasingly useful and popular way of testing theories in the cognitive sciences. This paper will present a brief overview of the methods available for constructing and testing computer models of social phenomena such as religious beliefs and behaviors. It will focus on the importance of theoretical continuity and data replication in computer modelling while negotiating the relationship between specificity and ecological validity when models are extended into novel contexts. This paper will argue that computer modeling is an important supplement to the methodological toolbox of cognitive scientists interested in human social phenomena. However, this is only the case if developers pay close attention to research methods and theories and if the method of a model’s development is appropriate for the target phenomenon (Sun, 2006). It concludes that multi-agent AI models are the most appropriate computational tool for the study of complex social phenomena.

Religion, Brain, & Behavior, 2012

Journal of Religion and Social Communication, 2023

Today we find a number of attributions of religious characteristics to AI. In usages like “apocalyptic AI,” “homo deus,” “AI as Imago Dei,” “virtual immortality,” etc., we find religious characteristics being attributed to AI related processes. It would do well to critically analyse such attributes from the perspective of religious studies to understand their impact upon the dynamics of religions. One such core dynamic, acknowledged invariably in religious and theological studies, is that of the experience of “transcendence.” Several studies on religious transcendence analyse its “vertical” and “horizontal” aspects down through historical epochs. The modern era, in particular, is understood to have induced various shades of immanentism, along with an inability to transcendence. This paper studies some selected religious attributes made to AI and analyse their impact upon the experience of transcendence today

In his book, ‘‘God from the Machine: Artificial Intelligence Models of Religious Cognition”, William Sims Bain- bridge invites his readers to a guided pilgrimage of Cyburg: population 44,100. He promises them that through this experience they will learn about, ‘‘outreach strategies, religious conversion, ways that faith may limit deviant behavior, competition between denominations, and most importantly, religious belief” (Bainbridge, 2006, p. 6). In many ways, Bainbridge appears to be an ideal guide to have as one tries to navigate through the mysterious maze of religious beliefs. Having been trained as a Sociologist of Religion, he is well known for his in-depth case studies of new religious movements documented in Satan’s Power (1978) and The Endtime Family (2002) as well as his theoretic work with Rodney Stark on formulating a version of the rational choice theory of religion laid out in A Theory of Religion (1987).

Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, 2012

In: I. Czachesz and R. Uro (eds), Mind, Morality, and Magic: Cognitive Science Approaches in Biblical Studies. Durham: Acumen, 2013, 77-97

This paper was presented at the Innovative Methods in the Study of Religion Conference in London in 2010, as part of AHRC/ESRC RELIGION & SOCIETY PROGRAMME and RELEMERGE RESEARCH PROGRAMME. It investigates the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research as a distinctive phenomenon focusing on concepts of belief and transcendental, spiritual concepts of being, which brings out new meaning of religion and spirituality in the modern context by creating a new human species. As both the agent and the object, and itself a creation of human beings through immanent practice, AI as such puts mankind into a paradox as both creature and creator. By simultaneously contributing to a better understanding of how both science and religion “works” and how the study of emergent spiritualities and religious movements cannot be limited to secularized categories, frameworks, and taxonomies that would posit humanistic science as a domain entirely distinct from the religious, I am seeking to provide some illumination as to the nature of spirituality in contemporary society. In sum, a critical analysis of AI from this perspective will offer a novel way to value modern practice and phenomenon and provide a unique perspective on broader research values in religious studies.

2020

ISSR will be starting its next major research project in October this year. This project, on the interface of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and religion/theology, will focus on 'understanding spiritual intelligence', and is funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, as part of their Diverse Intelligences initiative. Religion has often shown concern about AI. Some of that concern has focused on the mechanistic view of the human mind to which AI may appear to be committed, or on the human and social impact of the increasing digitalisation of work and social life. However, in this project we want to use AI to make a constructive contribution to the understanding of religion. Computational theorising has made a valuable contribution in many areas of psychology, by introducing a new level of rigour and precision. We believe it can make that contribution in the study of religion as well. We want to focus in this project on modelling the religious mind.

Religion and Development, 2024