Postgraduate Course: AI and Theology (online) (DIVI11088)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and theology, examining how AI challenges and complements traditional theological concepts. Students will engage with topics such as free will, consciousness, moral accountability, theological anthropology, and the role of AI in religious practice and eschatology. By combining technical insights with philosophical and theological analysis, the course offers a unique perspective on the evolving relationship between science, technology, and religion. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping human understandings of intelligence, agency, and even spirituality, prompting urgent theological and philosophical questions about human identity, divine agency, and ethical responsibility. This course provides an advanced interdisciplinary exploration of AI's impact on theology, religious traditions, and metaphysical inquiry, engaging with diverse perspectives from Christianity, Islam, and contemporary secular thought, including techno-humanist and transhumanist discourses.
The central aim of the course is to examine how AI challenges and reconfigures theological concepts across multiple traditions. Students will explore the implications of AI for theological anthropology how different religious traditions define human uniqueness, moral accountability, and the imago Dei (the image of God). From a Christian perspective, the course will critically assess whether AI, as a non-human entity, fits within the framework of beings created in God's image. From an Islamic perspective, the course will explore how AI interacts with the doctrine of i'jaz al-Qur'an (the inimitability of the Qur'an) and whether AI-generated interpretations of scripture challenge or reinforce divine linguistic authority.
Beyond doctrine, the course interrogates AI's impact on religious practice, human relationships, ethics, and social constructs. As AI becomes integrated into religious life through AI-generated sermons, automated spiritual counselling, and digital prayer assistants the course examines how these developments reshape worship, religious authority, and communal rituals. It also explores how AI-mediated relationships challenge religious and philosophical notions of love, companionship, and moral agency. Drawing on a variety of viewpoints, including feminist and queer perspectives, the course analyses how AI intersects with evolving understandings of gender, intimacy, and embodiment particularly in traditions where gendered conceptions of personhood, religious leadership, and ethical agency play a central role.
A further objective is to critically engage with AI's eschatological dimensions the ways in which AI technologies contribute to utopian, dystopian, or transhumanist visions of the future. By examining techno-humanist aspirations of digital immortality and artificial consciousness, students will evaluate whether AI advances or disrupts religious narratives of the afterlife, resurrection, and human transcendence.
Outline Content
The course begins with an introduction to the history and foundational principles of AI, providing the technical and philosophical context needed for later discussions. Early sessions focus on defining and comparing intelligence in humans and machines, alongside questions of autonomy and consciousness. The second half transitions to theological and ethical topics, including the image of God (imago Dei), human uniqueness, AI's role in Qur'anic studies (I'jaz al-Qur'an), and its implications for religious rituals and human relationships. The course concludes with an exploration of eschatology, examining AI's potential role in shaping ideas of the end times and transhumanist narratives.
Student Learning Experience
This course provides students with the analytical tools necessary to navigate the evolving intersections of AI, theology, and ethics. Weekly seminars facilitate critical engagement through discussions, case studies, and debates, while independent study including close readings and research deepens understanding. Formative feedback is provided through discussions and the oral presentation, allowing students to refine their arguments before final assessments. Summative assessments include a 3,000-word essay (85%), which develops analytical and research skills, and a 1,000-word reflection essay (15%) based on the presentation and subsequent discussion, which encourages critical self-reflection on the learning process. The course cultivates an interdisciplinary and critical approach to AI's impact on theology and religious experience in the 21st century.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
85 %,
Practical Exam
15 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. Coursework (Essay, 3,000 words) A critical essay on a chosen topic, demonstrating engagement with course themes, evidence of independent research, and the ability to synthesise theological, philosophical, and ethical perspectives.
2. Practical Exam (Reflection Essay, 1,000 words) A written reflection based on the oral presentation and subsequent discussion. This assessment evaluates the ability to critically analyse how initial perspectives on the topic evolved through engagement with peers and course materials. While the oral presentation serves as formative feedback, only the reflection essay is formally assessed.
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| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on their oral presentation (10 minutes + 5-minute Q&A) to enhance their communication and critical engagement skills. The reflection essay (1,000 words, submitted after the seminar) will be formally assessed, allowing students to critically analyse their learning process and engagement with the discussion. These opportunities provide constructive guidance throughout the course, supporting student learning and development.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyse how AI challenges and reshapes core philosophical and theological categories, such as free will, consciousness, and moral responsibility, within religious and secular traditions.
- Construct and present well-reasoned arguments on the ethical and theological implications of AI, demonstrating the ability to critically engage with opposing viewpoints in scholarly dialogue.
- Evaluate and compare how AI is being integrated into theological discourse across multiple traditions, particularly in relation to eschatology, i'jaz al-Qur'an, religious practice, and human identity.
- Apply interdisciplinary methodologies from theology, philosophy, and science to assess AI's broader implications for religious thought and societal ethics, incorporating feminist, queer, and techno-humanist perspectives.
- Critically assess real-world applications of AI in religious and ethical contexts, such as AI-driven spiritual guidance, automated religious rulings, and ethical dilemmas posed by autonomous systems.
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Reading List
Reading List (corresponds with the weekly breakdown mentioned later)
A representative reading list could include (I have the entire reading list, but I've just added the essential reading here for now):
Week 1 Charniak, Eugene. AI & I: An Intellectual History of Artificial Intelligence. MIT Press, 2024.
Week 2 Wolfram, Stephen. What Is ChatGPT Doing ... and Why Does It Work? Wolfram Media, 2023.
Week 3 Hernández-Orallo, José. The Measure of All Minds: Evaluating Natural and Artificial Intelligence. Cambridge University Press, 2017.
Week 4 Hall, Jonathan, and Tillmann Vierkant. "Can a Robot with Artificial Intelligence Have Free Will?" In Free Will: Philosophers and Neuroscientists in Conversation. Oxford University Press, 2022.
Week 5 Butlin, Patrick, et al. "Consciousness in Artificial Intelligence." arXiv preprint arXiv:2308.08708, 2023.
Week 6 Gogoshin, Dane Leigh. "A Way Forward for Responsibility in the Age of AI." Journal of Ethics and Technology, 2024.
Week 7 Dorobantu, Marius. "Strong Artificial Intelligence and Theological Anthropology." In Humanism and Its Discontents. Palgrave Macmillan, 2022.
Week 8 Malik, Shoaib Ahmed. "Artificial Intelligence and Islamic Thought." Journal of Islamic and Muslim Studies, 2023.
Week 9 Xu, Ximian. The Digitalised Image of God: Artificial Intelligence, Liturgy, and Ethics. Routledge, 2024.
Week 10 Browne, Jude et al. (eds). Feminist AI: Critical Perspectives on Algorithms, Data, and Intelligent Machines. Oxford Academic, 2023.; Klipphahn-Karge, Michael et al. (eds). Queer Reflections on AI: Uncertain Intelligences. Routledge, 2023.
Week 11 Tretter, Max. 'What Is the Afterlife Like for Robots? An Experimental Eschatological Sneak Peek', Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science Vol. 59, No. 3, 2024, pp. 692-716. doi: https://doi.org/10.16995/zygon.10903
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course contributes to the University of Edinburgh's Graduate Attributes by fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and effective communication. Students will develop enquiry and lifelong learning skills through engagement with cutting-edge topics at the intersection of artificial intelligence and theology. By critically evaluating evidence and diverse perspectives, they will enhance their personal and intellectual autonomy. The course also encourages outlook and engagement, helping students to navigate global and ethical challenges in a thoughtful and respectful manner. Through presentations, discussions, and written assessments, students will refine their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to academia and wider society.
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| Keywords | Artificial Intelligence,theology,human uniqueness,machine consciousness,future of religion |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Shoaib Malik
Tel:
Email: shoaib.malik@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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