James F. McGrath (ReligionProf)

Autonomous AI Agents Have an Ethics Problem Opinion | AI-powered digital assistants can do many complex tasks on their own. But who takes responsibility when they cause harm?

On the ethical issues related to autonomous AI agents

undark.org/2026/03/05/o...

Starseeds, government plots and an alien mantis: Inside New Age spirituality's new age Thousands converged in Los Angeles for the Conscious Life Expo, where influencers and cultural shifts are fueling cosmic belief systems often featuring extraterrestrials.

Religiosity focused on aliens is back in the news

religionnews.com/2026/03/02/s...

The would-be emperor summoned his false prophets

Former Bucks County man who voted twice for Trump convicted of voter fraud Matthew Laiss claimed he was covered by pardons given by President Donald Trump to supporters who tried to overturn the 2020 election.

Former Bucks County man who voted twice for Trump convicted of voter fraud

Ξαναδιαβάζοντας τις ιστορίες της Περπέτουας και του Κήρινθου: μεταξύ πηγών και ερμηνείας / Re-reading Perpetua and Cerinthus: Sources, Interpretation, and the Stories We Tell biblicalstudiesblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/re-r...

Why Scholars Date the Book of Daniel to the Second Century BCE In this article, I explain some of the reasons why scholars date the book of Daniel to the second century BCE, and I show why the traditional sixth-century dating and authorship claims are implausi…

Why Scholars Date the Book of Daniel to the Second Century BCE isthatinthebible.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/w...

The World Made Right Again: Explanatory Notes on Isaiah 65:17-25 Reflecting on the Second Sunday in Lent: Two Days after Sunday (Year A)

The World Made Right Again: Explanatory Notes on Isaiah 65:17-25 allanrbevere.substack.com/p/the-world-...

Finding a Pathway to Peace with God—Lectionary Reflection for Lent 3A (Romans 5:1-11) A blog about Christianity, theology, religion and public life.

Finding a Pathway to Peace with God—Lectionary Reflection for Lent 3A (Romans 5:1-11) www.bobcornwall.com/2026/03/find...

New Podcast: AI and the Rise of Digital Religion with Beth Singler, AI and Faith #56 New podcast with AI and Faith! Gilad Berenstein and I had a really good long chat about AI and Digital Religion, and we could have gone on for much much longer!

New Podcast: AI and the Rise of Digital Religion with Beth Singler, AI and Faith #56 bvlsingler.com/2026/02/20/n...

Start With a Word | Meet This Book - EerdWord Start with a Word is a literary masterclass that eschews drills and formulas in favor of close readings and refreshingly playful advice. 

Start with a Word

The AI Easy Button=AI Slop How Do We Teach Students to Think in the Age of Abundant Language?

The AI Easy Button=AI Slop

A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy

A Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy - Red Letter Christians

The Big Questions Don’t Go Away Why Americans Keep Thinking About Purpose—and How Religion Fits In

“Engaging in regular worship is incredibly predictive of thinking about meaning and purpose on a regular basis.”

Daily Prayers for Ordained Scientists In December, I wrote about the Society of Ordained Scientists and the Rule of Prayer that holds us together. Today’s culture wars owe much to questions of trust, community, and authority. Who speak…

Daily Prayers for Ordained Scientists

The Apostle as Jester This is a sermon for the feast day of St. Matthias, Apostle and Martyr. The Scripture it reflects on is 1 Corinthians 4:1-13. Well.  As noted, this evening we’re remembering St. Matthias, apos…

The Apostle as Jester

Star Trek’s implosion: Why not embrace fan creativity?

Notes Along the Way 4.2 -- Teaching Greek Continued from last week ______________________ 1. I was very excited to start teaching Greek. I felt a little guilty to be teaching, becaus...

Notes Along the Way 4.2 -- Teaching Greek

Have You Tried Turning It Off And Turning It Back On? New computer, who dis? (I am, at last, back online.)

Have You Tried Turning It Off And Turning It Back On? | Fred Clark

Women’s History Month: Why the Church Needs Feminist Theology In my new piece for Good Faith Media, “Women’s History Month: Why the Church Needs Feminist Theology,” I explore why feminist theology is not optional for the church; it is necessary…

Women’s History Month: Why the Church Needs Feminist Theology

The Jerusalem Statement: A Commentary Part One - The Gospel of Grace and Biblical Authority

The Jerusalem Statement: A Commentary

Establishing Weights and Measures in Ancient Israel This article, published in Biblical Illustrator, Winter 2011-12, explores the metrological systems used in ancient Israel, tied to the biblical passage Deuteronomy 25:13-16. Origins of Israel’…

Establishing Weights and Measures in Ancient Israel

Are You Uncomfortable with Trans People? Why we don't want to talk about trans rights.

Karen Keen writes, ‘The Christian fight for human rights must include every human being.’

RFK Jr has 'unreviewable' authority to reshape vaccine policy, DOJ lawyer tells judge | Reuters

AI agents are ‘aeroplanes for the mind’: five ways to ensure that scientists are responsible pilots As artificial-intelligence systems take on more of the scientific workflow, the central goal should not be complete automation, but designing platforms that preserve creativity, responsibility and…

"To push the frontiers of knowledge forwards quickly and responsibly, science and scientists urgently need a playbook for flying these aeroplanes."

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Meekness isn’t weakness – once considered positive, it’s one of the ‘undersung virtues’ that deserve defense today The word ‘meekness’ might seem old-fashioned – and not a positive trait. But understanding its original meaning can identify an important virtue.

On meekness as an underappreciated virtue...and finding new words to express what the underlying concepts used to convey but no longer do

theconversation.com/meekness-isn...

Singing protests gain momentum as non-violent but emotionally stirring rebukes to ICE 'We're going to sing and sing and try to touch the hearts of the ICE agents,' said the Rev. Jacqueline Lewis, senior pastor at Middle Church in New York.

I hope that our current moment continues to inspire music that will speak to it, as well as music that will transcend it

religionnews.com/2026/02/27/m...

AI writing "in the style of" is often such that you could substitute other names and produce the same effect. I once asked for something in the style of Dylan Thomas and it really illustrated the limitations of this technology...

www-chronicle-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/article/when...

UN creates new scientific AI advisory panel: what will it do? The panel has been compared to the IPCC — the international panel whose research helped to shape landmark climate agreements.

The United Nations has created a UN panel on AI

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

From Karachi to Beirut, Khamenei’s death sends shockwaves across the Shiite world The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes has sparked anger across Shiite communities worldwide and is raising fears of wider unrest.

From Karachi to Beirut, Khamenei’s death sends shockwaves across the Shiite world

apnews.com/article/iran...

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing plays into Shiite Islam’s reverence for martyrs, but not for all Iranians Khamenei was a deeply polarizing figure in Iran – perceived by some as a martyr and others as an oppressor.

On martyrdom in Shia Islam and its relevance to current events in Iran

theconversation.com/ayatollah-al...