TIJAH Volume 4 Number 1 2026

Religion and Theology in the Era of Globalization and Artificial Intelligence (Ai)

Samuel OLATAYO
Abstract

This study investigates the convergent impact of globalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on religious belief and theological discourse, a phenomenon demanding urgent scholarly attention. The central research gap addressed is the lack of integrated analysis that treats the synergies between global digital networks and AI not as separate trends, but as interconnected forces reshaping religion. While studies on globalisation’s effect on religion or the ethics of AI exist in isolation, a comprehensive framework examining their compounded influence is absent. To bridge this gap, this paper employs a methodology rooted in systematic theology and socio-technical analysis, critically examining how these technologies destabilise traditional religious authority, reconfigure communal bonds, and challenge doctrines of human nature and creation. The findings revealed that AI algorithms, which curate spiritual content and simulate pastoral care, coupled with the pluralism intensified by globalisation, create a new, decentralized religious landscape. This necessitates a critical theological response to issues like algorithmic bias and the nature of personhood in an age of AI. The conclusion asserts that religious traditions must navigate this terrain by developing robust ethical guidelines that harness technology for service and dialogue, while simultaneously reaffirming transcendent, non-computable aspects of faith like sacred meaning, embodied community, and divine grace.

Keywords: Globalisation, Artificial Intelligence, Religion, theological discourse, religious beliefs
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