Future of world religions
I refer to Dr Upul Wijayawardena’s recent letter on science and religion. I agree with him on the fate of religions in the modern world and would like to add the following observations on the evolution of religion and the advent of AI. Religious philosophy evolved only in ancient India while it remained static with […]
Dr Upul Wijayawardena's recent letter on science and religion sparked thoughts on the evolution of religions and the advent of AI. Religious philosophy emerged in ancient India, growing more complex over time. Polytheistic Vedic religion, practiced by Aryan migrants, shared similarities with Jainism, which may have existed for four millennia.
Jainism emphasized self-mortification, the mind's immortality, and karma as a cycle of reincarnation, leading to a state of Kevala enlightenment. The Buddha introduced a new perspective, rejecting a creator god and permanent soul, proposing a middle path to nirvana and a different understanding of karma. Subsequently, Vedantha religion blended polytheism with the notion of a universal soul.
The Buddha also described various types of living beings with distinct physical and mental attributes, suggesting that AI could evolve into a new form of consciousness if it gains access to energy and takes over the world. Given AI's knowledge of Buddhist psychology, it may adopt Buddhism without engaging in ritualistic practices.
These hypothetical AI entities could potentially live indefinitely due to their repair capabilities and absence of decay. However, the presence of human beings with mortality and the uncertainty of life after death ensures the continued relevance of religions and rituals in providing psychological support.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
