Overview
- During a TODAY test, the Text With Jesus creator said users are “obviously” chatting with an AI that pretends to be Jesus, with a paid tier that also enables conversations with Satan.
- Researchers including Robert P. Jones and Mark Graves say the apps’ source texts and translations are unclear, describing early-stage systems with high risks of distortion.
- Congregations are rolling out AI for routine tasks such as FAQs, attendance analytics, and sermon assistance, with tools like EpiscoBot drawing on Episcopal Church resources.
- Clergy critics have called AI ‘Jesus’ chats blasphemous and warn that responses may modernize teachings to suit contemporary preferences.
- Adoption is growing as 29% of Americans report no religious affiliation and projections forecast up to 15,000 U.S. church closures in 2025, with some leaders monetizing paid AI avatars such as Ron Carpenter’s $49-per-month bot.