How AI Is Reshaping Faith and Cultural Resilience
The Thomas Ashton Institute is pleased to highlight a new SALIENT鈥慺unded research project led by Coventry University: . The work is funded through the Hub, which sits within the Institute and is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Running from June 2025 to February 2026, the project investigates how rapidly developing AI technologies鈥攊ncluding generative and agentic systems鈥攁re influencing religious practices, pastoral care, cultural identity, and community resilience. These technologies now enable immersive simulations of religious experiences, AI鈥慻enerated interpretations of sacred texts, and even claims that AI can 鈥渟peak in the voice of God鈥�.
Led by Dr Adam J. Fenton and Professor Chris Shannahan, the project examines how leaders across the UK鈥檚 six major faith traditions are responding to the ethical, spiritual, and societal challenges posed by AI. The team is exploring questions around:
鈥� How AI is reshaping or challenging foundational religious teachings
鈥� The ways religious communities are adopting or rejecting AI tools
鈥� The potential impact of AI鈥慸riven job displacement on pastoral responsibility
鈥� How cultural and doctrinal contexts shape perceptions of AI
The project contributes directly to 鈥檚 mission of strengthening national security and societal resilience by examining how emerging technologies can both support and disrupt community cohesion, trust, and wellbeing.
You can read more about the project on