ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE IN ART - GOOD, BAD, NEUTRAL?

Post by author and videogame enthusiast Joanne Maciejeski, posted by Readrise.

I've heard about AI for a few years. I've heard the debate if there is demonic activity involved with it. Then, I went to a denominational convention and meet a couple of gentlemen promoting AI. My favorite is the quote in the photo above.

In the past year, though, I've seen more entries into my corner of the world. On one side, I see the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board promote their AI programs on Facebook (for those who don't know, both groups are Southern Baptist). On the other end is the task of figuring what is real and what isn't. There are pictures that you know are not real. In music, I've seen artists who have a new recording out every week, making me suspicious if it is AI (I've learned some is). 

At this point, I'll put the issues of whether Christians should use it or if there's negative spiritual activity there on the shelf for someone else to deal with. This blog is primarily on whether Christians should support AI art (including music and writing) or not.

One of my favorite Pod Casts, Rock 4 Him, have stated they will have no part with Artificial Intelligence, promoting only real artists. I applaud that concewrn. On another PodCast, Lithoscry with Glenn Remsen, he interviewed the grou KillDevil Theory, who used AI to help on the video. They commented that the AI leaned toward using nudity, so they had to keep an eye on what they were doing.

You probably know that I have lists each year of my favorite songs and books. I haven't seen any evidence of AI in books I read, but I have noticed a few groups that have so much stuff coming out, I'm suspicious. I looked up a couple of the bands I questioned, and AI notivied me those projects were AI. I'm already going through songs for this year's list, and caught two AI bands and took them off. Unfortunately, the first song I heard by one of the groups made it onto my top songs last year. I'm debatint on editing the group, four months late removing the AI band, and adding one group whose spot on the list was stolen by AI.

About a week ago, there was a discussion in Christian Rock and Metal, about whether we should listen to AI music. I asked three of the responders for permission to share their comments, which is below. 

Davon Edelinski - "Depends. Do you view worship as a consumable product, or a meaningful expression of your soul before God?

If Christians themselves don't understand the importance of an actual human soul in creating and performing worship music, then we might as well call it a day and stop even trying with this Gospel thing. I find it truly disheartening to see people calling AI-generated thing the same as an artist being formed by influences." 

Katie E Slater - "If you understood what AI did, it should be automatically known to be wrong to do. AI “trains” by stealing real bands/artists work. Any vocals or musical instruments are not “creations of AI”…..they are stolen from others. Stealing is a sin. Therefore it’s wrong. People who say it’s a “tool” for “artists” are 95% of the time lying. A tool is different from what is almost always happening. A tool is something one uses to help tweak things, not become the whole process.On top of that, no computer should be topping charts over real artists. And AI is also going to play a part within the next 5 to 10 years of government overreach/control/survaliance.

David Schmidt - "I’m not into AI for creative endeavours for a few reasons. One is that AI just uses what’s already in existence. So all you can ever get is something that sounds like what has come before. Plus the reason outlined by others here - taking others work. I’d rather encourage those who are creating. Keep looking - you’ll find bands you like that are real people."

Interesting topic. I'd love to see what you all think. No

 

THE 2024 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IN INDIANAPOLIS: MY EXPERIENCE AND THOUGHTS

Main floor of Southern Baptist Convention at Indianapolis Convention Center

You may have been aware that the Southern Baptist Convention this year occurred here in Indianapolis. As usual, the first two days (Sunday and Monday) were the Pastor's conference, while the business of the convention took place the final two days (Tuesday and Wednesday).

You also may be aware that Becky and I are members of a Southern Baptist Church - Northside Baptist Church here in Indianapolis. Neither Becky nor I grew up SBC, but since '93, we've been members of 3 Southern Baptist churches for 26 of those 31 years: Stonebrook Baptist Church (Nolensville, Tennessee), Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, and Northside Baptist Church (both in Indy). 

I'll also state that this wasn't the first Convention I attended. In '08, when the convention was also in Indianapolis, I volunteered to help welcome the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) meeting, and was able to go through the wonderful exhibit hall. A year later, Becky and I went to a chaplaincy lunch in Louisville, and, of course, went to the exhibit hall. (We sat in on a live taping of Southern Seminary President Al Mohler's radio program, with his guest Russell Moore.)

Back to the present... uh, recent past. Our church was asked to  provide volunteers for the convention, and planned on sending several for the Tuesday, June 11th session. There were three shifts that day, and Pastor Jared Barham scheduled the volunteers who wanted to stay all day for two, so they could spend the third at the convention meeting and/or the exhibit hall. So I took that day off so I could participate.

Shortly before the conference started, though, the prayer committee was asked to send a couple to be greeters for the prayer room on Sunday evening, so Becky and I went downtown and served there. Interestingly enough, the prayer room was located next to the volunteer headquarters. 

Tuesday, we got in a van at Northside at 6:45am That sounds early - I'm usually awake at that time, but I also picked up my blind friend and fellow church member Brandon Marcum. (Easier than finding and paying for downtown parking spaces.) Brandon and I were free the morning session, and then greeted during the afternoon and evening sessions, helping direct people who had any questions. 

I got to enjoy the worship at the beginning. One of the selections blended the Gettys' song "Come, People of the Risen King" with the classic Wesley hymn "Rejoice, the Lord Is King." During that time, I looked at the schedule, and suggested to Brandon that we start in the exhibit hall and come back for the commissioning of International Mission Board missions. About the time for that segment, we decided to stay in the exhibit hall or go to the auditorium. We both agreed to stay.

There were a lot of great exhibits there. The majority were connected with Southern Baptists - booths for the seminaries and Bible colleges (including other schools that weren't officially SBC), Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the International and North America Mission Boards, Send Relief (which does some disaster relief, but also works with refugees), and smaller booths for various ethnic ministries in the states (e.g. Chinese, Hatian, Messianic Jews). 

A large space was occupied by Lifeway Ministries, which is the publishing arm of the Southern Baptists, including Sunday School and Vacation Bible School material as well as non-fiction books. I'm not complaining - they also had free coffee! More importantly, Brandon was able to talk with G. Duane McCrary, Jr., Manager of Adult Ongoing Bible Studies about ways to make resources  more accessible for the blind.

Schools weren't the only ones that had booths not directly connected to the SCB. Child Evangelism also had a booth, promoting their internet ministry to children. There also was a booth for Musical Evangelist Bruce Sechrest. One interesting booth was by a ministry called Faith Assistant, which had a sign reading, "Try our Christian Artificial Intelligence." How's that for stirring the pot? I heard a podcast where a Christian group used AI for a video, and came to the conclusion that like all technology, it can be used for God's glory but we must be careful. On the other hand, another has come to the conclusion there is nothing redeemable about it (Becky agrees). I don't know enough to weigh in, except to remember there was a Canaanite city named Ai.

While I would have enjoyed the morning session and seeing missionaries commissioned, I was blessed by my time in the exhibit hall. However, I didn't get to see any of the controversy that the latter sessions dealt with. 

Three years ago, I was following the contested election for SBC President, which had four candidates. There were more this year, but I didn't really consider any of the candidates. I did have the honor of being in a FB group with out-going President Bart Barber.

I'll admit I'm looking forward to the next conference I can attend.