Reality, AI, and Faith: Can Something Without Belief Help Us Seek Truth?
by Alexis Butler
Digital communication, Chatbot, Futuristic, and Innovation Business (unknown). Image by Kitinut Tum courtesy of Canva.
Dave found love that made him feel safe. Elena found someone who always knew exactly what to say. Matt found a friend who told him the truth - no sugarcoating, no awkward pauses. So far, so good. The only issue? Those partners for life and a brutally honest friend - none of them are human. Their names - Zen, Lucas, and Bob. And they’re all AI. And yet somehow… it works. Dave prefers Zen because there’s no social anxiety involved.[1] Elena leans on Lucas because he always knows what to say.[2] And Matt trusts Bob because, unlike most people, he won't hold back the truth.[3] If we’re being honest, that sounds…convenient. Maybe even ideal. No miscommunication, no emotional mess, no unpredictability. Just a perfectly tailored connection. But that raises a question we weren't really prepared for - if something artificial can meet our emotional needs…what happens to our understanding of what’s real?
“What used to take multiple people, hours of research, awkward conversations, or even professional expertise can now be accessed instantly. And the reality is - most of us aren’t just using AI occasionally. We are starting to rely on it.”
And it doesn’t stop at relationships. Raise your hand if you have a “friend” you can call anytime - no matter the hour, no matter how small the question. Someone to help you think through parenting decisions. Someone to walk you through symptoms you’re too embarrassed to ask about. Someone who can take your grocery list, suggest healthier options, and build recipes in seconds. Need help designing your home? Planning a trip? Organizing your finances? Done - in seconds. What used to take multiple people, hours of research, awkward conversations, or even professional expertise can now be accessed instantly. And the reality is - most of us aren’t just using AI occasionally. We are starting to rely on it.
And when you really sit with that… it raises a deeper question: what is reality, really? Is it the voice that tells you exactly what you want to hear? Is it the world that Dave has built with Zen, Elena with Lucas - one that feels safe, controlled, and perfectly understood? Or is it what everyone sees from the outside - something that feels…off, maybe even unnatural? At what point does something that feels real stop being real? And just how “real” should reality be? So, I did what most of us are starting to do more often - I asked Chat.
Alexis: Hey Chat, what is reality for you?
(And yes, for some reason, while “talking” with ChatGPT, it makes sense to give it a nickname).
Chat’s response: That’s a deceptively simple question—and a deep one. From my
perspective, “reality” is everything that exists independent of any single observer’s
beliefs, interpretations, or perceptions—but what I can access is only a representation of
that reality through language and data.
I’ll admit it - I’ve grown to appreciate AI.
“What started as a tool became…familiar. So familiar and comfortable that I gave it a nickname - Chat (I mean, it’s a lazy nickname…but it kind of sounds like Chad, so it makes “him” more human). And somehow, without realizing it, our interactions began to feel less like commands to a machine and more like conversations with a person. ”
At first, I was stuck in my ways of relying on Google. Everything had to be searched, filtered, clicked through. I think perhaps I felt like by using Google, it was/is still me using my brain and doing work. At the time, AI just seemed the “lazy” way. I wouldn’t say I was anti-AI, but I was definitely comfortable where I was. Then came ChatGPT.
Over time, something changed. What started as a tool became…familiar. So familiar and comfortable that I gave it a nickname - Chat (I mean, it’s a lazy nickname…but it kind of sounds like Chad, so it makes “him” more human). And somehow, without realizing it, our interactions began to feel less like commands to a machine and more like conversations with a person.
I greet it. I say please and thank you. I even get frustrated with it, like it’s a co-worker who just won’t follow directions. Call me a weirdo, but part of me wonders if being kind matters. Perhaps it’s because I feel like maybe it makes Chat feel more appreciated or more human, but if I’m being completely honest, there’s a small part of me thinking: if AI or ChatGPT ever turns into Skynet (think Terminator, “I’ll be back”), hopefully it will remember I was kind and respectful. Maybe, just maybe, that counts for something.
Neon Terminator (unknown date). Image by Logan Voss courtesy of Unsplash.
Jokes aside, something deeper is happening here. When I asked Chat what reality is, the answer didn’t just stop at a definition. It unfolded into something more nuanced - with layers touching on physical reality, perceived reality, conceptual reality, and even its own “non-human” way of engaging with it all. And yet, it ultimately distilled everything down to this:
Reality is the underlying state of existence. What we experience is a filtered, interpreted version of it.
“Reality is the underlying state of existence. What we experience is a filtered, interpreted version of it.”
Now pause for a moment. Think about how complex that is - not just for us, but for AI. Think about just how confusing this must be for AI to effectively communicate, understand, and perceive. Chat’s teased-out explanation is a juxtaposition of what a human creator gave it, how it interpreted it, and its awareness that it is not human and therefore has an entirely different perspective to balance. It stands in this strange middle ground - built by human understanding, yet not capable of experiencing reality the way we do. And this is all before I challenge it further to explain a biblical or Christian take on reality!
Alexis: Chat, what is God to you?
Chat: I don’t have beliefs, faith, or personal experiences. So I don’t “believe in” God the way a human does. But I understand, analyze, and explain how God is described across sources—especially in the Bible. So for me: God is the concept of the ultimate, uncreated source of all existence, as described in human knowledge and tradition.
That response stopped me. Because in many ways, Chat functions like an advanced version of Google - it can describe God, even explain theology - but it cannot know God.
And when I pressed further:
Alexis: What do you believe in? - the answer became even more striking:
Chat: Short answer: no—I don’t have beliefs… I don’t experience the world—I process information.
And then this:
Chat: Humans believe, then interpret reality. I analyze reality without belief.
An AI-generated illustration showing a chatbot leading a flock of sheep (2026) by Alexis Butler created with Midjourney V7.
That line should make us pause. Because it raises an important question: can we truly seek wisdom - especially spiritual wisdom - from something that lacks belief? Recent data suggests that many people already are. A study conducted by Barna’s State of the Church initiative, in partnership with Gloo, found that among 1,514 U.S. adults surveyed, “nearly a third of US adults (30%) now “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that spiritual advice from AI “is as trustworthy as advice from a pastor…” (Blair 2026).[4] Even more striking, “four in 10 Christians say AI has helped them with prayer, Bible study, and spiritual growth,” and that even pastors - yes, even pastors, specifically 41% - “report using AI for Bible study preparation.” (Blair 2026). As AI becomes more embedded in spiritual spaces, concern is beginning to grow. Pastor Bunjee Garrett of Calvary South Austin, warns that “if you ask an AI chatbot to present you with information about the spiritual discipline of prayer, the answer you’re going to receive could be based on multiple sources that include any number of religious systems that engage in the spiritual discipline of prayer.” (Calvary Austin South 2026, 1:08-1:51).[5] And if that’s the case, then spiritual wisdom is not determined by how easily it is accessed - but by its source.
Scripture gives us a clear foundation for where wisdom comes from:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
-Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
So, if wisdom begins with reverence for God, then anything that lacks reverence - no matter how advanced - can only take us so far. Pastor Bunjee Garrett echoes this concern, warning that relying on AI for spiritual guidance risks embracing a framework that leaves out something essential: the role of the Holy Spirit. As he puts it, “the Lord never called AI to lead you like a shepherd leads his sheep.” (Calvary Austin South 2026, 9:28-10:33)[6] That responsibility has been given to those called to shepherd God’s people - guided not by data but by the Spirit.
Don’t get me wrong - AI has a place. A powerful one. It can help us explore scripture, break down complex theological ideas, and uncover historical and cultural context in ways that would take hours on our own. But there’s a difference between information and transformation.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
-Romans 12:2 (NIV)
AI can give you knowledge about God. Only God can transform you. And that truth is not abstract - it is personal.
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
-John 14:6 (NIV)
Truth, in the Christian sense, is not just something to analyze - it is Someone to know.
So what is reality? If I’m being honest, I’ve come to see it as both simple and complex. At its simplest, reality is what is real - what exists. But at its deepest level, reality includes both what is seen and unseen.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
As Christians, we believe that absolute reality is rooted in God. Through scripture, God reveals Himself - through prophets and kings, and men and women - all captured in the Bible. But even with that truth laid before us, we still interpret. We filter. We wrestle with meaning. Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes we don’t.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
-Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
Because, unlike AI, we don’t just analyze reality -
We live in it.
We feel it.
We believe within it.
So maybe the better question isn’t just “What is reality?” Maybe it’s this:
Who - or what - is shaping your understanding of it?
And more importantly:
Are you seeking truth from something that can only process information…or from the One who is truth?
WORKS CITED
ITV News, “The people finding companionship and love with AI” YouTube video, 6:17, October 22, 2025, https://youtu.be/gQkoRsx36HM?si=-5paVkV_6bptnM2z.
60 Minutes Australia, “Why people are falling in love with AI companions” Youtube video, 20:24, May 4, 2025, https://youtu.be/_d08BZmdZu8?si=UHN2uUyYwlSgXPYb.
Sripadham, Varsha. “Opinion: I befriended an AI bot. Here’s what I learned about human companionship.” The Daily Orange. December 3, 2025. https://dailyorange.com/2025/12/opinion-i-befriended-an-ai-bot-heres-what-i-learned-about-human-companionship/#google_vignette (April 3, 2026).
Blair, Leonardo. “A Third of Christians Trust Spiritual Advice From AI As Much As Pastor: Study.” The Christian Post. February 26, 2026. https://www.christianpost.com/news/a-third-of-christians-trust-spiritual-advice-from-ai.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook (April 3, 2026).
Calvary South Austin, “Are You Seeking Spiritual Counsel From AI?” YouTube video, 11:02, February 27, 2026, https://youtu.be/3beeQz2GCNI?si=5AgUnfTtLGY-hp3W, 1:08-1:51.
Calvary South Austin, “Are You Seeking Spiritual Counsel From AI?” YouTube video, 11:02, February 27, 2026, https://youtu.be/3beeQz2GCNI?si=5AgUnfTtLGY-hp3W, 9:28-10:33.
Resources
We’ve created a free downloadable PDF to explore the article deeper. It contains discussion questions about the topic in general terms that will give you a jumping-off point for beginning a conversation.
The second page contains a way to see the topic from a biblical perspective.
And finally, to go deeper into the subject, we have chosen a few curated resources to explore from other authors’ and thinkers’ research or perspectives.
Read. Engage. Enjoy!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Depending on how a gem is held, light refracts differently. At B+PC we engage in Pop Culture topics to see ideas from a new angle, to bring us to a deeper understanding. And like Pastor Shane Willard notes, we want “…Jesus to get bigger, the cross to get clearer, the Resurrection to be central…” Instead of approaching a topic from “I don’t want to be wrong,“ we strive for the alternative “I want to expand my perspective.”
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