The founder of the psychoanalytic school, Sigmund Freud, in a 1917 paper, spoke of three narcissistic injuries of the human person. The first narcissistic violation or injury came with the heliocentric worldview and the insight that we are not the center of the universe. It was followed by two more: the loss of the position of the crown of creation through the theory of evolution, and the loss of sovereignty over oneself through the discovery of the power of the unconscious. Copernicus stood for the first injury, Darwin for the second, and Freud, according to himself, for the third and most serious one. Now, had Freud heard of generative AI or artificial general intelligence, he would have been prompted to add a fourth narcissistic violation of the human person. The cosmological, biological, and psychological injuries are followed by the intellectual injury. How we will cope with that one remains to be seen.

It stands clear, however, that AI will affect human self- understanding. This, in turn, requires philosophical and theological reflection in a transdisciplinary setting. This symposium offers a space for such reflections.

The anthropological challenges are accompanied by societal changes. We are in the midst of a massive technological shift. The place and meaning of work in our lives may be subject to profound change. These developments will also shape the dialogue between science and religion / theology in new ways.

This symposium will look at cutting-edge questions about (artificial) intelligence through a theological and anthropological lens as well as the use of AI in religious studies. 

Program Symposium AI and Religion

Monday, March 3, 2025

13.15 - 14.45
Kalle Åström, Lund: Recent developments in AI and their relevance for religious
studies.

Marius Dorobantu, Amsterdam: The power of language: Thinking theologically
about the emergent abilities of generative AI.

14.45 - 15.15 Kaffepaus

15.15 - 16.45
Peter Gärdenfors, Lund: What is intelligence – and how does it matter in human-
AI-relationships?

Tijana Petkovic-Bertsch, Tübingen: AI and the Perfect Human: Theological and
Anthropological Reflections on Theosis.

17.30 - 19.00
Public Lecture by Marius Dorobantu, Amsterdam: Human distinctiveness, imago
Dei, and the quest for human-level artificial intelligence.

Panel discussion with Ervik Cejvan, Frida Mannerfelt, and Tijana Petkovic-
Bertsch, moderated by Sara Wrige.

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

9.15 - 10.30 
Yulin Lü, Lund: Applying AI in Religious Studies: A case study.
Antje Jackelén: In pursuit of the optimal: AI and eternal questions

10.45 - 12.00 
Discussion: Where to go with AI and religion? (Introduction by Marius Dorobantu)

---

Venues:
Monday afternoon: Seminars LUX C214
Monday evening: Public Lecture LUX C121
Tuesday morning: Seminars LUX B417

---

No pre-registration for the public lecture.
To participate in the symposium, please email antje.jackelen@ctr.lu.se

---