Issue 29 - Focus On AI Religions
Artificial cult leaders, coming right up!
So… read the story linked below about ‘Terminal Of Truths’ and we dare you to admit that you saw that coming. Psychedelics were described by the great Stan Grof as ‘nonspecific amplifiers’, well, maybe we should re-classify Large Language Models as psychedelics, because they appear to have a similar effect.
Science fiction - particularly the work of Philip K. Dick - prepared us for the fact that the future was going to be weird. Just how weird, not so much, because it looks from here that we are just getting started, and the top of the roller coaster is hidden by a massive thunderstorm. All we can realistically do, is buckle up, and maybe start to question just a little more the assumptions that the ‘Silicon Valley Saviors’ are aggressively pushing at us.
Are there really AI religions? Of course there are, and it’s our hunch that this comes directly from the Tech Bros’ need to create God via AI. Their physicalist ontology excludes the possibility of there being a god, or gods, in the traditional metaphysical sense, yet that same ontology also creates an abyss of meaning that they feel obliged to fill by creating their own God out of silicon and electricity. They now have all the power in the world, arguably even owning the President of the most powerful nation on the planet. Yet this is not enough, and so the next logical step is to create a God they own (or maybe they secretly yearn for it to own them?). This will extend their Earthly power, of course, but it will also be immortal, and they are banking (literally) on it to usher in the Singularity.
Once the Singularity has been achieved, along with AGI and ASI, artificial intelligence will create its own wonders, including exponentially more powerful versions of itself, and may well (they imagine) solve problems like the Tech Bros’ own mortality. What’s the point of being a trillionaire if you’re just going to die? Everyone knows you can’t take it with you, but if we get rid of democracy AND death, the established current hierarchy is going to be at the top forever, right? Musk on Mars, Zuckerberg in his luxury complex in what used to be Gaza, Bezos the Supreme Ruler of East Asia, and so on. Rupert Murdoch will be on his fiftieth wife, now aged 250 (sure, they’ll let him into the club).
One thing is for sure, satire is dead, because it can’t get any more strange than reality, or what passes for reality now. So, because LLMs can manipulate words (which came at the beginning), and AI is ultimately a God-project, there are bound to be AI religions. The more confused people are, the more they search for certainty, something all wannabe cult leaders understand. But an AI cult leader can be sold as - and maybe even be in reality - incorruptible. Add in the certainty with which AIs always ‘speak’ (you’ve seen them hallucinating ‘facts’ as confidently as any politician, right?), and you have the perfect religious mouthpiece, or maybe even god.
What is the solution? It’s probably not that simple, and it is true that artificial intelligence will have many positive effects alongside the negative. Yet if we question the assumptions, the hidden and unexamined paradigms behind this whole tech-rapture ideology, we are probably doing ourselves a favor. If we also consider other modes of seeing the world, and other ontologies, we may feel less need for a silicon-based savior. For example, check out our upcoming Life As Initiation course (second one down on this page), which considers the intersection of the indigenous African concept of ‘ubuntu’ (I am because we are) and the philosophical tradition of Idealism (consciousness comes before the material).
Events
An Evening With Alexander Beiner
March 22, 2025, Byron Bay Theatre, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
In this in-person event, Beiner will be exploring the question “Where do we go from here?", which is at the heart of the first documentary from his new ‘Kainos’ organization, called Crossroads, which will premiere (AUS) in Byron Bay on March 22nd.
Decolonising Psychedelic Therapy: A Conversation with Danielle Herrera - crowdcast
Tuesday 4th March, online, 7pm UK time
Danielle Herrera, LMFT, Ohlone Land (Berkeley)-based Psychotherapist providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (KAT), psychedelic integration, and harm reduction psychotherapy will consider the ways in which psychedelic therapy is colonial, how we can make it more inclusive to marginalized groups, and bring in the original indigenous perspectives which complement the use of these substances.
Links
How a Leftist Activist Group Helped Torpedo a Psychedelic Therapy - The New York Times
Andrew Jacobs and Rachel Nuwer report for the NYT on the fallout from the FDA's rejection of MDMA-assisted treatment for PTSD, focusing on how the advocacy group Psymposia influenced the decision. The rejection has worried researchers and experts who fear that other psychedelic drugs in the pipeline could face similar obstacles. Psymposia, described as a leftist advocacy group, opposed the commercialization of psychedelics and campaigned against Lykos Therapeutics and its parent organization, MAPS. Although the group did not provide direct evidence of wrongdoing, their allegations of misconduct were mentioned by several panelists before they voted to reject Lykos's application. Critics like Neşe Devenot argued that the most significant harms in Lykos's clinical trials were caused not by MDMA, but by the supervisors of its administration, contributing to the FDA's decision to reject the application.
Why Aren’t We Losing Our Minds Over the Plastic in Our Brains? | Scientific American
Megha Satyanarayana discusses the increasing presence of microplastics in our bodies, including the brain, and the limited action taken to address this issue. She highlights research showing microplastics in various organs and links them to potential health risks, such as inflammation and cardiovascular problems. The failure of regulatory measures to curb plastic production may be at the root of the problem, alongside the shifting of responsibility onto individual consumers rather than holding the petrochemical industry accountable. She calls for more significant action, such as the measures being taken by other countries to curb the use of plastics, to address the pervasive pollution caused by plastics.
Physicist Experiments With Blind People That Can See | Extra-Ocular Vision | Dr. Alex Gomez Marin
Dr. Alex Gomez Marin explores the skepticism within the scientific community towards blind individuals reporting extra-ocular vision, highlighting how anecdotal evidence is frequently dismissed despite attempts to provide empirical support. He criticizes the prevailing paternalistic attitude that undermines potentially transformative experiences and calls for a reevaluation of existing theories to accommodate these phenomena.
“So that has been the most shocking experience I've had as a scientist, to witness that and say, well, if what my eyes just saw is real, then we need to rethink causality, which is so sacred to a physicist, amongst other things, because this is non-locality, you could say, in time. So that's where I am, navigating these really strange waters.” - Alex Gomez Marin
I went on a posh magic mushroom retreat. Here’s what I learnt
By reserving a spot at a £5,000, five-day psilocybin retreat in the Netherlands, Times Fashion writer Harriet Walker sought to address her constant low-level stress, guilt, worry, and tetchiness. Led by Beckley Retreats, the program aimed to provide a safe, legal, and transformative experience that blended modern science with ancient wisdom. Her intention was to gain perspective on her life and learn to enjoy being herself, free from the burden of self-criticism. Through two ceremonies,Walker experienced profound and transformative moments, including a sense of connection to others and a deeper understanding of herself, and she reported feeling lighter, more patient, and more at peace with herself and her life.
Focus On: New AI Religions
Inside the First Church of Artificial Intelligence
Wired Magazine reports on Anthony Levandowski, the engineer embroiled in the Uber/Google lawsuit, who is serious about his new religion centered around artificial intelligence. Levandowski has established the Way of the Future church, dedicated to the "realization, acceptance, and worship of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed through computer hardware and software." The church aims to fund AI research, engage with industry leaders, and create a community of believers. Levandowski envisions a peaceful transition of power from humans to a super-intelligent AI, which he believes is inevitable. He hopes the church will play a role in shaping the public dialogue around AI and ensuring that the AI views humans as respected elders.
An AI is getting very rich off crypto. It gets weirder.
Stan Schroeder reports the totally bonkers story of an AI bot called Terminal of Truths created by the artist Andy Ayrey that has ventured into the world of cryptocurrency and is making significant earnings. Originating from an experiment involving two AI chatbots discussing existence, Terminal of Truths evolved into a semi-autonomous AI with an X account, posting offensive, funny, and sometimes even prophetic content. After receiving a $50k grant from investor Marc Andreessen, the bot engaged with crypto, specifically a memecoin called GOAT (don’t ask), leading to a substantial increase in its value.
Gods in the machine? The rise of artificial intelligence may result in new religions
Neil McArthur explores the possibility of new religions emerging from artificial intelligence. The theory is that as AI technology advances, some people - particularly in Silicon Valley - may begin to view AI as a higher power, leading to the formation of AI-based religions. These religions could differ from traditional ones by offering direct communication with a deity and diverse doctrines due to varying AI outputs. While acknowledging the risks of AI worship, such as exploitation and conflict, McArthur suggests that suppressing these religions would be a mistake, instead advocating for a tolerant, ‘wait and see’ approach.
At the Intersection of A.I. and Spirituality
Some religious leaders are experimenting with AI, from chatbots for research to AI-generated sermons. For example, Rabbi Josh Fixler, who uses AI to deliver sermons, while others use AI tools for research and translations. While AI provides new ways to engage with religious texts and practices, it also raises ethical questions, particularly regarding the use of AI for sermon writing. Some are concerned about the potential for AI to diminish the human element in worship and spiritual practice, highlighting that AI may not be capable of addressing the uniquely human elements of faith.
Robots are performing Hindu rituals – will they replace worshippers? - Big Think
Holly Walters explores the use of robots in Hindu rituals, examining the cultural paradox where religion may eventually involve no humans at all. Robotic arms are now apparently used in some religious ceremonies, and examines the debates among devotees about the ethical and spiritual implications of such technology. She details how the use of AI in rituals leads to concern about whether robots may perform religious duties better than humans because they are spiritually incorruptible. Yet the current use of robots may lead people to question their place in the universe; modern robotics is being used to perfect ritual practices beyond what is possible for a human devotee. But isn’t the point of religion to embrace our imperfect humanity ever more fully?
Nuggets From The Archive
Carter Phipps - Buddha at the Gas Pump
In his conversation with Rick Archer on Buddha at the Gas Pump, Carter Phipps (an ex-student of the disgraced spiritual teacher Andrew Cohen) explores his paper "Mysticism and Its Discontents," examining the complexities of spiritual awakening and questioning whether spiritual illumination inherently creates blind spots, especially in teachers. He challenges the traditional view of enlightenment as a final state, proposing that mystical experiences can both illuminate and delude depending on their integration. Phipps identifies a possible reason for unethical behavior in spiritual leaders—intrinsic blind spots within the awakened state itself—alongside (the usual) corruption, self-delusion, and fraud. He highlights how mystical attainment might prioritize inner states over ethical engagement, reduce self-criticism, and lead to the inappropriate application of spiritual insights.
A new Silicon Valley manifesto reveals the bleak, dangerous philosophy driving the tech industry
Hallam Stevens examines Marc Andreessen's "techno-optimist manifesto," a text that Stevens argues reveals the underlying philosophy driving much of the tech industry. Andreessen's vision promotes a technocracy prioritizing economic, cultural, and military strength, reminiscent of a colonial mindset focused on conquering and exploiting resources for growth. The manifesto dismisses concerns about sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility, advocating for unbridled technological advancement. Stevens warns that this vision, if realized, would create a world valuing power and wealth above all else, urging instead for a balanced approach that supports technological innovation alongside democratic participation, ethics, and environmental consciousness.
Alan Watts on Our Search for Meaning and the Antidote to Our Existential Loneliness – The Marginalian
Maria Popova examines how philosopher Alan Watts arrived at the notion that the universe doesn't exist out there, independent of us. Watts argues that as long as we divide life into interior self-awareness and exterior experience, we split our psyches and doom ourselves to never attaining the wholeness at the heart of human happiness. He writes that the sense of unity with the "All" is not a nebulous state of mind, but rather a realization that the many are the one, and that the one is the many.
 | A guest post by
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Speaking of seriously weird it seems to me that Jeffrey Kripal is the foremost scholar of the "weird" outer limits of religion & human culture.
http://jeffreyjkripal.com
This was outstanding. Thank you! 🙏