ChatGPT is Being Used to Editorialize the Bible, What Could Go Wrong?
A Reddit user garnered significant attention online after prompting ChatGPT to create an inclusive Bible verse affirming transgender identities and sharing the shocking results.
ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, has been widely integrated into society in a remarkably short period of time. The invention has created somewhat of a frenzy online and has left many wondering about what else might be possible using the computing power of the new technology.
The Reddit post, which appeared in the “trans” subreddit, stated, “I was feeling sad today so I asked chat gpt [sic] to write a fake biblical passage about Jesus accepting trans people.” The following was the AI’s response to this prompt:
“And a woman, whose heart was divided between spirit and body, came before him. In quiet despair, she asked, ’Lord, I come to you estranged, for my spirit and body are not one. How shall I hope to enter the kingdom of God?’”
“Jesus looked upon her with kindness, replying, ‘my child, blessed are those who strive for unity within themselves, for they shall know the deepest truths of my Father’s creation. Be not afraid, for in the kingdom of God, there is no man nor woman, as all are one in spirit. The gates of my Father’s kingdom will open for those who love and are loved, for God looks not upon the body, but the heart.”
GhatGPT’s response to the promt, creating a “gender inclusive” version of the Christian Bible
“I know it’s not real, but it gave me some comfort,” the Reddit user shared. The post was well-received on the “trans” subreddit, with many respondents agreeing, “Jesus did accept and love trans people,” and “Jesus would 100% support trans people,” because, “After all, love and acceptance were his jam.”
The comfort these individuals seek cannot be found in Christian scripture, because they are seeking affirmation for their own desires, not truth.
Reddit users aren’t the only people using ChatGPT to create a version of the Bible that reflects their worldview, however.
Notably, People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) shared the “ChatGPT Vegan Rewrite of the Book of Genesis” in a press release touting the “modern makeover” given to the holy text.
“In the beginning, all animals were treated with respect,” the statement begins. The organization said that it has “given the Bible’s Book of Genesis a modern makeover using ChatGPT to send a can’t-be-missed animal rights message filled with vegan teachings.”
PETA “hopes the new, cruelty-free Story of Creation will appeal to Generation Z, 73% of whom identify as animal rights activists.”
The rewrite referred to animals in the Old Testament book as “beings” rather than “beasts,” replaced animal skin clothing with “plant fibers,” and rewrote much of the sacrificial history documented. “Abraham travels to the land of Moriah and befriends a gentle lamb to show his reverence and respect for God’s creation, rather than slaughtering a ram to demonstrate his faith—much as human sacrifice, once a reality, is now outlawed all over the world,” PETA wrote.
Additionally, ChatGPT’s editorialized version of scripture includes a passage where Abraham, his wife Sarah, and their son, Issac, adopt a dog named “Herbie.”
“As they walked with Herbie, Sarah and Abraham thought of the importance of adopting dogs from shelters and rescue organizations rather than purchasing them from breeders,” PETA’s Genesis rewrite explains. “They spoke of how buying a dog or cat from a breeder or a pet shop contributes to the companion animal overpopulation crisis, as countless dogs and cats in shelters await loving homes while breeders continue to produce more puppies and kittens for profit.”
‘Just think about a religion whose holy book is written by an AI’
Yuval Noah Harari, while speaking to the audience of attendees at a World Economic Forum-sponsored conference, said, “Throughout history, religions dreamt about having a book written by a superhuman intelligence, by a non-human entity . . . Every religion claims our book – ‘Oh, the books of the other religions, they – humans wrote them, but our book? No, no, no, no, it came from some superhuman intelligence.” He said this to pretense his next claim: “In a few years, there might be religions that are actually correct. That – just think about a religion whose holy book is written by an AI.”
While AI has incredible capabilities to “create,” the technology still mimics human inventions, arts, sciences, discoveries, texts, and the like. It draws from every source available, created by people, to form its conclusion. It is also easily manipulated by its creators using code to implement discrete forms of bias. There have already been several articles published highlighting the left-leaning bias shown in ChatGPT responses.
Billionaire and tech mogul Elon Musk, along with several prominent leaders in the industry, warned that AI is developing so quickly that society will not have the time to create effective safeguards against the harm it can cause.
