Robotic Bodies and the Kairos of Humanoid Theologies

McBride, James

doi:10.1007/s11841-017-0628-3

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Furthermore, it is not considered adequate to attribute morality and legality to robots based on an ontological analysis (Gezer, 2022;Görgülü -Kesgin, 2021). Based on the literature, the number of studies on the interaction between robotics and religion in various belief systems has increased in recent years (Ahmed -La, 2021;Baffelli, 2021;Cheong, 2020;McBride, 2015McBride, , 2019Midson, 2022;Weng et al, 2019). Katz et al (2015, 35) argued that the literature on the acceptance of robots focuses on Judeo-Christian, Shinto, and Buddhist traditions and emphasized that belief systems such as Islam and Hinduism have been neglected.…”

Section: The Religion-robotics Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Interaction of Religion and Robotics and al-Sāmirī’s Calf (the Golden Calf) as an Early Theomorphic Robot

ŞAHİN

Gültekin

2023

Ilahiyat Studies

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The interaction between technology and religion has led to discussions on social robots in religious studies. Various robots have been produced to conduct funerals, give blessings, respond to personal prayer requests, preach, answer religious questions, or instruct religious education. Parallel to these developments, the term theomorphic robot was introduced to describe robots employed for religious purposes, and the characteristics of this type of robot have been described. Attitudes toward technological advances have been influenced by the religious or cultural origins of individuals and society. The present study investigates the “calf”, called “The Story of al-Sāmirī” in Islam and the “Golden calf” in Judaism, in terms of theomorphic robot design and features and discusses whether the “calf” can be considered an early theomorphic robot. It is concluded that the “calf” can be considered an example of an early theomorphic robot in terms of most of its features, and the Story of al-Sāmirī can be employed as a criterion for theomorphic robot analysis. This can explain the interaction between religion and robotics in Muslim culture. Attitudes toward the interaction of religion and robotics vary based on the description and perception of theomorphic robots.

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Section: The Religion-robotics Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Interaction of Religion and Robotics and al-Sāmirī’s Calf (the Golden Calf) as an Early Theomorphic Robot

ŞAHİN

Gültekin

2023

Ilahiyat Studies

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“…Religious scholar James McBride tackles the same question from a different direction (McBride 2017). As we head toward a future where the presence of humanoid robots among us becomes ubiquitous, the eminently organic dimension of Christian theology—the one that refers specifically to flesh and the biological body—is likely to be increasingly questioned.…”

Section: Robots Doing Theologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Intelligence as a Testing Ground for Key Theological Questions

Dorobantu¹

2022

Zygon

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Engagement with artificial intelligence (AI) can be highly beneficial for theology. This article maps the landscape of the various ways such engagement can occur. It begins by outlining the opportunities and limitations of computational theology before diving into speculative territory by imagining how robot theologians might think of divine revelation. The topic of AI and imago Dei is then reviewed, illustrating several ways AI can inform theological anthropology. The article concludes with a more speculative take on the possible implications of AI for divine infinity, incarnation, theodicy, and demonic intelligence.

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“…I have explored elsewhere the forthcoming ubiquity of caretaker robots for children and the elderly, their anticipated incorporation of religious software to ensure their ethical actions are consonant with their owners' religious affiliations, and their effect on religious beliefs and practices, particularly Christianity (McBride, 2016). The assimilation of robots into human families and religious communities as partners and fellow congregants challenges reliance on fundamental organic theology, such as Pauline blood sacrifice, and suggests a shift towards Johannine theology, based on the worship of the Word or Logos-far more amenable to machine systems (McBride, 2019). The challenge to Christian religion, however, will not be limited to the theological incorporation of robotic creatures into communities of the faithful.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Where, O Death, Is Your Sting?”: The Resurrected Body, Its Cyborgnetic Future and the Advent of Christian Transhumanism

McBride

2022

JoPH

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The 21st century’s robotic revolution will have massive effects on human societies. Neuroscientists have experimented with the idea of preserving the brain after death through vitrifixation in the hopes of uploading the minds of individuals into the cloud or cyborgnetic bodies. However, the likelihood of duplicating the 86 billion neurons in the human connectome is remote. Yet neuroscientists have had some success in connecting brain cells to robots, which echoes the philosophical question of “Brains in a Vat.” This article addresses the consequences of such a development for Christianity. Since Christianity is predicated on resurrection and life everlasting, the transhumanist vision of connecting the human brain to cyborgnetic bodies, particularly if it becomes popular, poses a serious challenge. This article suggests a way in which Christianity may be able to incorporate that vision into Christian theology, leading to the advent of Christian transhumanism.

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Robotic Bodies and the Kairos of Humanoid Theologies

Cited by 5 publications

References 28 publications

The Interaction of Religion and Robotics and al-Sāmirī’s Calf (the Golden Calf) as an Early Theomorphic Robot

The Interaction of Religion and Robotics and al-Sāmirī’s Calf (the Golden Calf) as an Early Theomorphic Robot

Artificial Intelligence as a Testing Ground for Key Theological Questions

“Where, O Death, Is Your Sting?”: The Resurrected Body, Its Cyborgnetic Future and the Advent of Christian Transhumanism

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