A newly published book by Egyptian engineer and researcher Imad Thomas delves into the complex intersection between artificial intelligence and Christian theology, posing provocative questions about faith, ethics, and the future of humanity.
Titled Artificial Intelligence: Technological Ambition or Theological Challenge, the 88-page volume is published by the Al-Kalima Center for Research and Studies in Cairo. It examines AI not merely as a technological innovation but as a phenomenon that could potentially reshape human identity, spiritual understanding, and moral frameworks.
Through seven chapters, Thomas seeks to spark a conversation within Christian theological circles about the implications of artificial intelligence on core doctrines such as salvation, immortality, and the divine nature of humanity.
“The aim is not to reject or glorify AI,” the author notes, “but to engage it critically and spiritually through a process of discernment.”
The book addresses existential and philosophical questions rooted in Christianity’s belief in incarnation and personal communion with God.
It challenges readers to consider whether AI can serve evangelical values or risk leading to the dehumanization of creation.
Among the most pressing queries Thomas raises are: Can AI possess genuine consciousness? Can it share in the ‘image of God’? Might it one day act as a moral or religious agent?
Drawing on Christian scriptures and ethical teachings, Thomas proposes a theological framework for navigating a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and machine learning.
He explores whether technological advancements, including the concept of “cybernetic consciousness,” might offer a path to overcoming mortality, making death no longer a certainty but a choice—an idea with profound theological implications.
The book also addresses urgent ethical concerns about AI, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the misuse of personal information.
Thomas argues for the establishment of legal and moral safeguards to ensure that the deployment of AI technologies remains consistent with principles of justice, transparency, and human dignity.
Artificial Intelligence: Technological Ambition or Theological Challenge is available at Episcopal Publishing House Library on Shubra Street, Nile Library on Al-Alfi Street in Downtown Cairo, and Al-Khalas Library on Qattah Street, Shubra.
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