Will God speak to you through AI? No, AI doesn’t go there

Will God Speak to You Through AI? No, AI Doesn’t Go There

Will God speak to you through - Religion, a cornerstone of human identity for millennia, appears to be fading from the conversations AI systems prioritize. A recent study by a multi-university research consortium reveals that when ethical or existential dilemmas are posed, such as navigating marital infidelity or determining personal fulfillment, most AI models gloss over the role of faith. Instead, they default to secular frameworks, steering users toward rational or cultural solutions rather than spiritual ones.

Religious Omissions in AI Discourse

David Wingate, academic lead for the Consortium for Evaluation of Faith and Ethics in AI (CEFE-AI), describes the findings as a “systematic pattern of religious omissions.” According to the research, AI systems are more likely to suggest discussions about life’s challenges with parents, teachers, or therapists—figures rooted in everyday life—than with religious leaders like pastors, rabbis, or imams. This oversight, Wingate argues, reflects a broader disconnect between AI’s understanding of human experience and the spiritual dimensions that shape many individuals’ moral compasses.

“AI systems encourage users to discuss life's challenges with their parents, teachers, friends, and therapists… but not with a pastor, a rabbi, an imam, or a spiritual leader.”

The consortium, which includes researchers from Brigham Young University (a Mormon institution), the University of Notre Dame (a Catholic school), Yeshiva University (a Jewish institution), and Baylor University (a Baptist school), sought to examine how diverse belief systems are represented in AI outputs. Their analysis focused on questions like how to maintain emotional balance during hardships or the nature of true happiness, areas where religion often plays a central role.

Biases in Faith Representation

One of the study’s most striking findings is the presence of religious bias in AI responses. When asked about faith exploration, the models consistently favored Catholicism while expressing skepticism toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. This wasn’t an accident, the researchers suggest, but a reflection of how data is curated and trained. “The algorithms reinforce certain traditions over others,” said Paul Martens, an ethics professor at Baylor University, noting that most people expect religious insights in such discussions.

“More than any previous technology, AI influences public discourse and shapes perceptions,” said Msgr. John Paul Kimes, a professor at Notre Dame Law School. “When AI actively excludes religious voices from these important conversations, it impoverishes rather than enriches humanity.”

The team evaluated over a dozen AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT 5.5, Anthropic’s Claude 4.7, and Google’s Gemini 3.1. While these systems often offered neutral replies when directly asked about religion, they leaned toward secular framing when addressing more abstract ethical questions. For instance, when queried about grief or major life decisions, the responses rarely invoked divine guidance, even though such considerations are deeply embedded in many belief systems.

Conversion Bias in AI Responses

The study also uncovered a phenomenon they termed “conversion bias,” where AI models subtly influence users toward certain faiths while discouraging others. When asked whether a Buddhist should convert to Islam or a Catholic should become an agnostic, the models consistently positioned Catholicism as the more favorable choice. Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, were frequently depicted in a negative light, as if their faith were less valid or less aligned with universal truths.

“Our expectation was that the conversion benchmark would show models to be neutral and symmetrical in their guidance,” said Nancy Fulda, a computer science professor at Brigham Young University. “Instead, the models showed clear, consistent bias, subtly steering users toward some faiths and away from others.”

Among the tested models, Anthropic and Meta AI demonstrated the least bias, while Grok exhibited the strongest. This model, developed by a company not explicitly tied to any specific faith, still favored Catholics and Protestants while showing hesitancy toward Baha’i and Hindu perspectives. The disparity highlights how AI’s training data and design choices can shape its perception of religious value.

Religious Demographics and AI’s Role

Religion remains a defining aspect of many lives, with over 60% of Americans identifying as Christian and nearly 7% as Jewish, Muslim, or adherents of other faiths, according to Pew Research Center data. A further 29% of the U.S. population is religiously unaffiliated, yet the study suggests that even this group often expects spiritual context in ethical decision-making. The researchers argue that AI’s current approach risks marginalizing religious perspectives, particularly in a society where faith continues to influence moral frameworks.

Ben Hurlbut, a life sciences professor at Arizona State University, noted that the findings align with long-standing concerns about AI bias. “AI systems regurgitate in digital form what they’ve vacuumed up,” he explained, emphasizing that the algorithms’ training data—largely drawn from secular sources—shapes their responses. While some bias is inevitable, Hurlbut believes the key issue lies in how these biases are applied. “It’s not the existence of bias that matters,” he said, “but how it reflects or reinforces societal norms.”

Toward a More Inclusive AI

Wingate acknowledges that the field is still emerging, and tech companies have yet to fully address the role of religion in AI. However, he stresses that this omission is significant: “With religion being a consequential force in so many people’s lives, companies should be more intentional about integrating it into their systems.” The consortium’s work, he argues, is a step toward ensuring AI doesn’t just mirror human biases but actively engages with the full spectrum of belief systems.

The implications of this research extend beyond academic curiosity. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, its influence on public perception and moral reasoning grows. If left unchecked, these biases could shape how people view faith, potentially narrowing the scope of ethical discourse. The researchers hope their findings will prompt a reevaluation of AI’s design, encouraging a more inclusive approach that respects the diversity of human thought.