Download or read book Pastoral Virtues for Artificial Intelligence written by Jaco J. Hamman and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-10-03 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pastoral Virtues for Artificial Intelligence (AI) acknowledges that human destiny is intimately tied to artificial intelligence. AI already outperforms a person on most tasks. Our ever-deepening relationship with an AI that is increasingly autonomous mirrors our relationship to what is perceived as Sacred or Divine. Like God, AI awakens hope and fear in people, while giving life to some and taking livelihood, especially in the form of jobs, from others. AI, built around values of convenience, productivity, speed, efficiency, and cost reduction, serve humanity poorly, especially in moments that demand care and wisdom. This book explores the pastoral virtues of hope, patience, play, wisdom, and compassion as foundational to personal flourishing, communal thriving, and building a robust AI. Biases of determinism, speed, objectivity, ignorance, and apathy within AI's algorithms are identified. These biases can be minimized through the incorporation of pastoral virtues as values guiding AI.

Download or read book Pastoral Care in the Anthropocene Age written by Ryan LaMothe and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-11-21 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book considers the challenges and opportunities of the Anthropocene Age from the perspective of pastoral theology/care. The fundamental question and concern with regard to the Anthropocene Age for human beings and other species is, how are we to dwell together on this one earth. Care, LaMothe argues, is the central concept in answering this question. Effective care requires pastoral theologians to make use of multiple interpretive frameworks (e.g., theology, philosophy, human sciences, etc.) in the analytic pursuit of understanding and responding effectively to the realities of climate change. At the same time, it is also important for pastoral theologians to examine critically the theologies and philosophies that give rise to and impede pastoral interventions and, in the case of the Anthropocene Age, to be clear about how theologies and philosophies have contributed to ideologies that undergird both exploitation of the earth and other-than-human beings, while also contributing to climate change and obstructing climate action. These are necessary steps in developing pastoral responses aimed at caring for persons, communities, and other-than-human beings in need of a viable dwelling.

Download or read book Biblical and Pastoral Bridgework written by Denise Dombkowski Hopkins and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2023-09-18 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether singly or jointly authored, these essays model dynamic, interactive reading of human situations and biblical texts. The exchange between texts and human situations reveals the multivalent complexities of both human situations and scriptural texts, and cautions against a simplistic use of the Bible and of pastoral theory and practices. Drawing upon both texts throughout the Bible and diverse psychological theories, the authors bridge the long-standing divide between the "classical" and "practical" disciplines in biblical studies and pastoral care. The aim of this book is to spur readers' imaginations toward critical engagement with the Bible and with one another to promote healing, connection, and justice in a world crying out for wholeness. Gems hidden in plain sight within the Bible can become powerful tools for illuminating the pains and promises of the human condition.

Download or read book The Speed Method Awareness in Four Steps written by Barbara Marchica and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-10-17 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author presents a theoretical-practical training manual with effective tools for everyone, especially counselors to improve their spiritual growth. The Speed Method, integrating Lonergan’s theory with the practice of counseling, becomes a concrete opportunity in view of a new spiritual springtime for the Church and human care.

Download or read book A Womanist Holistic Soteriology written by Lahronda Welch Little and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2023-05-15 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Womanist Holistic Soteriology: Stitching Fabrics with Fine Threads is a construction of womanist holistic soteriology that is inclusive of many voices and perspectives and promotes communal responsibility. A soteriology that considers notions of personhood, theology, spirituality, and praxeology is holistic, inclusive, and grace-filled. This soteriological study begins with a historical overview of the development of notions of salvation beginning in ancient Egyptian thought and the concept of Ma'at--balance, wholeness, and moral ethics. Lahronda Welch Little conducts an exploration of the word "salvation" in different West African languages and reveals more expansive narratives around salvation that do not subjugate human beings, but rather encourage agency and celebrate the beingness of God's creation. Grounded in womanist and Black feminist discourse and methodology, this rendition of womanist holistic soteriology holds notions of grace, agency, and spirituality by stitching together interviews with theologians, scholars, and practitioners, utilizing the philosophical concepts of binary complementarity and holism, and sharing what womanist holistic soteriology as praxis looks like in a communal setting.

Download or read book A Postcolonial Political Theology of Care and Praxis in Ethiopia s Era of Identity Politics written by Rode Molla and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-12-15 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author argues that identity politics eliminates Ethiopians' in-between spaces and identities and defines in-between spaces as political, social, religious, and geographical spaces that enable Ethiopians to co-exist with equity, solidarity, and justice. The elimination of in-between spaces and in-between identities creates either-or class, religious, ethnic, and gender categories. Therefore, the author proposes an in-between theology that invites Ethiopians to a new hybrid way of being to resist fragmented and hegemonic identities. The author claims that postcolonial discourse and praxis of in-between pastoral care disrupts and interrogates hegemonic definitions of culture, home, subjectivity, and identity. On the other hand, in-between pastoral care uses embodiment, belonging, subjectivity, and hybridity as features of care and praxis to create intercultural and intersubjective identities that can co-construct and co-create in-between spaces. In the in-between spaces, Ethiopians can relate with the Other with intercultural competencies to live their difference, similarity, hybridity, and complexity.

Download or read book Encountering Artificial Intelligence written by Matthew J. Gaudet and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2024-03-15 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What does it mean to consider the world of AI through a Christian lens? Rapid developments in AI continue to reshape society, raising new ethical questions and challenging our understanding of the human person. Encountering Artificial Intelligence draws on Pope Francis’s discussion of a culture of encounter and broader themes in Catholic social thought in order to examine how current AI applications affect human relationships in various social spheres and offers concrete recommendations for better implementation. The document also explores questions regarding personhood, consciousness, and the kinds of relationships humans might have with even the most advanced AI. Through these discussions, the document investigates the theoretical and practical challenges to interpersonal encounter raised by the age of AI.

Download or read book Architectures of Grace in Pastoral Care written by Douglas B. Olds and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2023-05-23 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An updating of virtue ethics for modern pastors and the souls they care for, this book proposes innovations for the craft of ministry in the theology of grace--how virtues radiate to tame strife and other destructive behaviors. It presents a comprehensive alternative to the top-down proclamations of "biblical counseling" approaches that try to impart, from an eclectic biblicist lens, cognitive authorities for consequential change. Instead, Christ's bottom-up practice of virtues heals and fulfills by focusing on neighbor first and subordinating the ego's strategic considerations--more graciously spreading God's will in ministry through participatory and experiential knowledge. Virtuous pastoral ministries integrate the common grace of humanist learning to address the range of the care seeker's contemporary context--her upbringing, struggles, and affiliations. This book presents more the "how" than the "what" of pastoral theology: more how the dance of mutuality and chivalry enters the spiritual flow of healing metaphysical grace than the "what" of right "belief." Even so, pastoral care from the virtue ethical approach inevitably reconsiders "vending machine" theologies, destructive doctrinal boundaries, and context-lite biblicisms. This presentation introduces how virtue ethics apply to ministry, the household, individual trauma and addictions, and the contemporary political and cultural arena.

Download or read book AI Faith and the Future written by Michael J. Paulus and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2022-06-17 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Artificial intelligence is rapidly and radically changing our lives and world. This book is a multidisciplinary engagement with the present and future impacts of AI from the standpoint of Christian faith. It provides technological, philosophical, and theological foundations for thinking about AI, as well as a series of reflections on the impact of AI on relationships, behavior, education, work, and moral action. The book serves as an accessible introduction to AI as well as a guide to wise consideration, design, and use of AI by examining foundational understandings and beliefs from a Christian perspective.

Download or read book Robot Theology written by Joshua K. Smith and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2022-01-13 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is the relationship between artificial intelligence, robots, and theology? The connections are much closer than one might think. There is a deep spiritual longing in the world of AI and robotics. Technology is a prayer; it reveals the depth of our eschatology. Through the study of AI and robotic literature one can see a clear desire to both transcend human limitations and overcome the fallenness of human nature. The questions of ethics, power, and responsibility are not new to Christian anthropology. This book will introduce and examine some of the major ethical issues surrounding current AI and robotic technology from a theological and philosophical lens. In the study of AI and robot ethics, the Christian community has a chance to join the global efforts to build technology for good. Will we join them?

Download or read book The Pastor s Guide to AI written by Kevin Crawley and published by Absko Publishing. This book was released on 2023-07-04 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the lens of faith in 'The Pastor's Guide to AI: Leveraging Technology for Kingdom Advancement'. This accessible, conversational guide demystifies AI, breaking down its concepts, ethics, and misconceptions for pastors, church leaders, and kingdom entrepreneurs. Written by a pastor with a passion for technology, this book serves as a bridge between the often complex world of AI and the mission of the church. It's not a technical manual, but a friendly conversation, inviting those curious about AI to explore its potential for Kingdom advancement. The book delves into real-world examples of AI usage in the church, providing a practical perspective that goes beyond theory. It's a journey into the intersection of faith and technology, offering insights on how to navigate this evolving landscape while staying true to the church's mission. From understanding what AI is (and isn't) to discussing its ethical implications, this guide offers a unique perspective that blends technological understanding with spiritual wisdom. It's a must-read for anyone in the church community looking to understand and embrace the opportunities that AI presents for Kingdom advancement. 'The Pastor's Guide to AI' is more than just a book; it's a compass for navigating the digital revolution in the church, a tool for those ready to step into the future without losing sight of their sacred mission."

Download or read book AI in Church and Ministry written by Jake Doberenz and published by Theophany Media. This book was released on 2024-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an era where technology and faith intersect in unprecedented ways, AI in Church and Ministry: Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Faith Communities serves as a pivotal guide for religious leaders and communities navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence. In this book, Jake Doberenz delves into the theological and ethical implications of integrating AI into church life and ministry, offering a balanced perspective on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the Christian faith While it thoughtfully addresses concerns and potential pitfalls, the core of the book is dedicated to exploring the practical applications of AI within a ministry context. Divided into three main sections, it starts with AI in teaching ministry, showcasing how AI can enhance biblical education, sermon preparation, and children's and youth ministry. AI in Church and Ministry continues with a section on AI for care and community, highlighting innovative ways to foster connection and provide pastoral care through technology. In the section on church administration, the book reveals how AI can streamline operations, from financial management to church security, allowing church staff to focus more on their pastoral duties. Finally, the appendix is a valuable resource in itself, listing specific AI tools designed for church use, alongside general AI tools that can be adapted to support the unique needs of faith communities. Whether you're a clergy member, a church administrator, or simply someone intrigued by the intersection of faith and technology, AI in Church and Ministry offers a comprehensive overview of how AI can be harnessed to enrich and advance the church's mission in the modern world."

Download or read book Play Full Life Slowing Down Seeking Peace written by Jaco J. Hamman and published by The Pilgrim Press. This book was released on 2011-05-01 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Finding balance for your personal, spiritual, and professional life can seem daunting. "A Play-full Life: Slowing Down and Seeking Peace" explores the life-giving power of play. Through practices of solitude and hospitality, creativity and quiet, author Jaco J. Hamman empowers Christians to sense the fullness of life and to seek peace.

Download or read book Faith in the Age of AI written by Dan Scott and published by Eleison Press. This book was released on 2023-06-20 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imagine having lived in the generation that discovered fire. Very swiftly, current scientific advances will reorder our lives just as much. Artificial Intelligence, decoding the human genome, links between mind and computer... All these things once science fiction, are now quickly—and absolutely—becoming science fact. Could machines become sentient? Is "life" a computer simulation? Does science really have a genetic blueprint for all human life? Believers and unbelievers alike are easily unnerved by such questions. Interestingly though, early writers from many faiths and fields have already addressed these kinds of issues. From Plato to St. Paul, and Laozi to C.S. Lewis, they all have much to say about our "curiouser and curiouser" new world. In Faith in the Age of AI, pastor, priest, scholar, and counselor Dan Scott invites you to learn what these hallowed ancient voices have already said about faith in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Download or read book Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age written by Kirk A. Bingaman and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2020-07-06 with total page 151 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing what it means to be human. Given our increasing merger with machines, we have therefore entered uncharted territory and an era of unprecedented change. For pastoral and spiritual care providers, religious faith communities, clinical practitioners, and educators, immediate theological reflection is needed, focusing on the potential existential threat and opportunity, and what will constitute human personhood in an age of technological enhancement. Preserving our humanity in a digital age will require intentional focus on strengthening the neural circuitry associated with focused attention, mindful and compassionate awareness, and social and relational intelligence, even as we put to good use the emerging digital technologies.

Download or read book Spiritualities ethics and implications of human enhancement and artificial intelligence written by Ray Kurzweil and published by Vernon Press. This book was released on 2020-03-02 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By taking a religiously and spiritually literature approach, this volume gets the heart of several emerging ethical issues crucial to both human identity and personhood beyond the human as technology advances in the areas of human enhancement and artificial intelligence (AI). Several significant questions are addressed by the contributors, such as: How far should we go in improving our biological selves? How long should we aspire to live? What are fair and just human enhancements? When will AIs become people? What does AI spirituality consist of? Can AIs do more than project humour and emotions? What are the religious undertones of these high technology quests for better AI and improved human existence? Established and emerging voices explore these questions, and more, in Spiritualities, ethics, and implications of human enhancement and artificial intelligence. This volume will be of interest to university students and researchers absorbed by issues surrounding spiritualities, human enhancement, and artificial intelligence; while also providing points for reflection for the wider public as these topics become increasingly important to our common future.

Download or read book The Age of AI written by Jason Thacker and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2020-03-03 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Are robots going to take my job? How are smartphones affecting my kids? Do I need to worry about privacy when I get online or ask Siri for directions? Whatever questions you have about AI, The Age of AI gives you insights on how to navigate this brand-new world as you apply God's ageless truths to your life and future. We interact with artificial intelligence, or AI, nearly every moment of the day without knowing it. From our social media feeds to our smart thermostats and Alexa and Google Home, AI is everywhere--but how is it shaping our world? In The Age of AI, Jason Thacker, associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, helps us navigate our digital age in this thoughtful exploration of the social, moral, and ethical challenges of our ongoing interactions with artificial intelligence. Applying God's Word to this new AI-empowered age, Thacker sheds light on: How Christian truth transforms the way we use AI How AI affects us individually, in our relationships, and in our society at large How to navigate the digital age wisely With theological depth and a wide awareness of the current trends in AI, Jason is a steady guide who reminds us that while technology is changing the world, it can't shake the foundations of the Christian faith. Praise for The Age of AI: "The Age of AI informs us and assists us in envisioning a future that is filled with tools, influences, opportunities, and challenges relating to artificial intelligence. While many may fear the unknown future before us, Jason Thacker presents the imperative need to always lift up the constancy of the image of God and the dignity of all human life as presented in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. I am thankful Jason's book can help churches, pastors, theologians, and Christian leaders in all vocations to wrestle through this current topic, always being committed to what this book states profoundly: God-given dignity isn't ours to assign or remove." --Dr. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee