Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, joins Peter and Mercedes for a conversation that weaves theology, science, and technology into a hopeful and challenging vision for the future. Drawing on Teilhard de Chardin’s evolutionary theology, she invites us to see AI not merely as a tool but as part of the unfolding of creation itself. Together, they explore what it means to become more whole, more relational, and more deeply rooted in divine love in an age shaped by artificial intelligence.

Topics Covered:

• AI as human augmentation and biological extension
• The theology of Teilhard de Chardin and cosmic evolution
• The Adamic myth and how it influences modern perspectives on technology
• AI, collective consciousness, and global interconnectedness
• The ethical implications of AI in a capitalist system
• Defining personhood in an evolutionary worldview
• Moving from categorical to networked thinking in younger generations
• Developing spiritual practices alongside technological advancement
• Living from our God-centered being while engaging AI

Resources Mentioned:

• Ilia Delio, Re-enchanting the Earth
• Ilia Delio, Integral Ecology in an Age of AI
• Teilhard de Chardin
• David Noble, The Religion of Technology
• Catherine Hales, How We Became Posthuman
• Erich Jantsch, The Self-Organizing Universe: Scientific and Human Implications of the Emerging Paradigm of Evolution

• (00:08) - Does AI enhance or diminish face-to-face connection?
• (00:17) - Cultivating a mindset that feels at home with AI
• (00:34) - Teilhard: Humanity has a “God problem” with AI
• (00:35) - David Noble: AI is enhancing human function and capacity
• (00:42) - Peter Singer: AI might help us recover broader moral thinking
• (00:44) - Mercedes: Complexity is driving today’s evolution
• (00:50) - Teilhard: Love is at the heart of all cosmic life
• (00:55) - What are we living into in this moment of AI development?
• (00:56) - A critique of AI based on the social media era
• (00:56) - Reflections from the Episcopal Church’s AI ethics task force

In this special crossover episode with the Crossroads podcast, Peter and Mercedes are joined by The Rev. Jo Nygard Owens and Dr. Sonia Coman of Washington National Cathedral. Together, they explore what it means to engage AI thoughtfully and faithfully—from theological reflection to digital strategy, from ethical caution to spiritual curiosity.

The conversation invites listeners to embrace imagination, resist fear, and reclaim human agency in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

Topics Covered

• Defining intelligence, agency, and the Imago Dei in a world of machine decision-making
• What “authenticity” means in the age of machine-written texts
• Discernment, formation, and critical thinking across age groups
• The risk of opacity in automated systems and importance of transparency
• Pausing before automation: reclaiming intention, emotion, and spiritual grounding
• Why we need shared vocabulary—and shared discernment—across the Church

Resources Mentioned

• Searches: Selfhood in a Digital Age by Vaushini Vara
• Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari
• Crossroads Podcast from Washington National Cathedral
• Research on AI interpretability by Anthropic

Homework

Reach out to us and let us know how you’ve found generative AI to be useful in church ministry. You can email at info@aichurchtoolkit.com. We’d love to share ideas in our final episode of the season as we consider a round-up of our topics and how things are evolving.

In this episode, Peter speaks with the Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas, founding vicar of Holy Companion Episcopal Church and creator of A Soulful Revolution. Together, they explore the ethical and pastoral complexities of generative AI—its creative potential, its risks, and how the church can faithfully engage with this rapidly evolving technology.

Lauren draws on insights from Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, shares stories from her ministry, and reflects on how spiritual formation, agency, and justice intersect with digital tools. From AI’s inherent bias to the dangers of false intimacy, this episode invites listeners to bring curiosity and caution as they shape change in an AI-shaped world.

Resources Mentioned

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
• Roots and Wings at VTS Center
• A Kid’s Book About AI Bias by Dr. Avril Epps
• “A Soulful Revolution” by Lauren Grubaugh Thomas (Substack)
• Brittany Hartley

Homework

• Lauren invites listeners to reflect on their own use of AI with questions such as:
  • Does this output reflect a just world?
  • Does it reinforce an unfair hierarchy?
  • Does it promote the agency and power of children (and others) to shape the world?