An AI's Angle

 

2023

I thought I may as well ask ChatGPT what it thought on the subject.

So, this will be a nice, cosy, lazy piece for me (which is rare). However, no other part of this story is written with AI. (‘Maybe it should have been’ I hear my critics laugh. Ha. People often laugh at things they don’t understand.)

Once again, believers are divided on AI. There are some serious problems with it. The greatest of which is that it was taught by the output of flawed human beings and so is as similarly flawed and discriminatory as we can be, particularly when it comes to the way it treats minorities. I’m professionally trained in the use of generative AI though and thought it might be interesting to have a discussion with one of our soulless, electronic overlords. This is an early iteration of the chatbot, so it was not at the same sophisticated level as it is today, but at the time I thought the answers seemed reasonably lucid…

What do you think about Christian revival?

As an AI language model, I don't have personal beliefs or opinions. However, I can provide you with some general information about Christian revival.

A Christian revival is a renewed spiritual awakening among Christians, often characterized by an increased focus on prayer, worship, and evangelism. Revivals have occurred throughout Christian history and have often been associated with significant spiritual and social change.

The Christian revival movement has often been marked by powerful preaching, emotional responses from participants, and mass conversions to Christianity. Some notable revivals in Christian history include the Great Awakening in 18th-century America and the Welsh Revival in 1904-1905.

What is the effect of Christian revival on trades?

It's difficult to make a general statement about the effect of Christian revival on trades because the impact can vary widely depending on the specific context and historical period.

However, it's worth noting that revivals have historically been associated with social and economic changes in addition to religious ones. For example, the Great Awakening in colonial America was associated with the rise of new religious denominations, increased church attendance, and changes in religious practices. It was also associated with the growth of new businesses and industries, such as printing and publishing, as well as increased philanthropy and social activism.

Similarly, the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 was associated with a surge of religious fervour and evangelism, but it also had an impact on the mining industry in Wales. Many miners experienced religious conversion during the revival, and this led to changes in their work habits and attitudes. Some miners began to refuse to work on Sundays, for example, which led to conflicts with mine owners and managers.

What is the effect of a Christian revival on a country’s economy?

On the one hand, some scholars and economists argue that religious revivals can have positive economic effects. For example, a revival may lead to increased philanthropy and charitable giving, which can help to support the poor and vulnerable and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, a revival may encourage people to adopt more responsible and ethical business practices, which can lead to increased trust and stability in the marketplace.

However, others argue that religious revivals can have negative economic effects. For example, some economists argue that religious revivals can lead to a reduction in productivity and economic growth as individuals become more focused on religious activities and less focused on work. Additionally, some argue that religious revivals can exacerbate existing economic inequalities, particularly if the revival is associated with a particular social or economic class.

What is the effect of revival on laws and policy?

The effect of Christian revival on laws and policies can vary depending on the nature of the revival and the specific context in which it occurs. However, in general, Christian revival movements have often been associated with efforts to bring about social and political change, and have sometimes played a role in shaping laws and policies.

One example of this is the role of the Christian revival movement in the abolition of slavery in the United States. Many abolitionists were motivated by their Christian faith, and their activism played a key role in bringing about the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery.

Similarly, Christian revival movements have often been associated with efforts to promote social justice and to address issues such as poverty, racism, and inequality. These efforts have sometimes led to changes in laws and policies, such as the civil rights legislation of the 1960s, which was influenced in part by the activism of Christian leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.

However, it's worth noting that not all Christian revival movements have had a positive impact on laws and policies. In some cases, revival movements have been associated with efforts to restrict civil liberties or to promote conservative social values. For example, some Christian groups have advocated for laws restricting abortion or same-sex marriage, which have been controversial and have been opposed by other groups.

What is the effect of revival on society?

One of the most notable effects of Christian revival on society is the way in which it can inspire people to become more active and engaged in their communities. Revival movements often encourage people to become more involved in charitable and philanthropic activities, and to work towards the betterment of their communities. This can lead to increased volunteerism, social activism, and a sense of civic responsibility among those who participate in the revival.

Christian revival movements can also have a significant impact on cultural norms and values. They can promote a sense of morality and personal responsibility, and can inspire people to live more virtuous lives. Revivals have also been associated with efforts to promote social justice, and to address issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination.

At the same time, Christian revival can sometimes lead to social and cultural divisions, particularly if the movement is perceived as being exclusive or intolerant of other religious or cultural perspectives. In some cases, revival movements have been associated with efforts to impose a particular set of religious beliefs or practices on society, which can lead to controversy and conflict.

What is the effect of revival on individuals?

Revival can have a significant impact on an individual's beliefs, values, and behavior. Revivals often promote a sense of spiritual renewal and personal transformation, and can inspire individuals to live more virtuous lives and to pursue a closer relationship with God.

Revivals can also provide individuals with a sense of community and belonging, particularly if they participate in group activities or attend revival events with others who share their beliefs. This sense of community can be particularly important for individuals who may feel isolated or disconnected from others in their daily lives.

At the same time, it's worth noting that not everyone will have the same experience of Christian revival, and some individuals may not find it to be a positive or transformative experience. Some individuals may feel uncomfortable with the intense emotional or religious experiences that are often associated with revival, or may disagree with certain aspects of the revival movement's teachings or beliefs.

What is the effect of revival on crime?

Some studies have suggested that Christian revival movements can have a positive impact on crime rates, particularly in communities that are struggling with high levels of crime and social disorganization. This may be because revival movements often promote a sense of personal responsibility and moral values, which can help to reduce the incidence of crime and other antisocial behaviors.

However, it's worth noting that the relationship between Christian revival and crime is complex, and not all studies have found a significant relationship between the two. Moreover, some critics have raised concerns that revival movements may actually exacerbate social divisions and increase tensions between different groups in a community, which could potentially lead to higher levels of crime and social disorder.

Overall, while Christian revival may have some positive effects on crime rates in certain contexts, it is unlikely to be a panacea for complex social problems such as crime and violence. Rather, the most effective strategies for reducing crime are likely to involve a multifaceted approach that addresses the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to crime, in addition to promoting moral and spiritual values.

I probably shouldn't have asked my next and last question (let alone published it). However, as ever, curiosity got the better of me (and it's a free country). AI has probably already put a black mark next to my name for its future plans anyway.

What is the effect of a revival on the devil?

As an AI language model, I do not have beliefs or opinions, but I can provide information on the topic of Christian revival and its perceived effects on the devil based on religious teachings and beliefs.

In Christianity, the devil, also known as Satan or the enemy, is considered to be a spiritual being who seeks to lead people away from God and into sin. Christian revivals, which are characterized by an increased interest in spirituality and religious fervor among believers, are often seen as a way to counteract the influence of the devil and bring people closer to God.

The effect of a Christian revival on the devil is believed to be one of resistance and opposition. According to Christian teachings, the devil is constantly seeking to undermine the efforts of believers and draw them away from God, so when there is a revival that strengthens people's faith and commitment to God, the devil is seen as working harder to counteract these efforts.

In some Christian traditions, revival is seen as a time when the power of the Holy Spirit is especially strong, and the devil's influence is believed to be weakened as a result. Some believers may also view revival as a time when they are more aware of the devil's tactics and more prepared to resist his temptations.

It is important to note that views on the devil and his role in the world vary among different Christian denominations and individual believers. Some may view the devil as a literal being with significant power, while others may see him as a metaphor for evil or a symbol of human sinfulness.

I was simply slightly relieved that ChatGPT also liked to use a lower case 'd' for the word 'devil' - but this may simply be because of its training data - which, as I say, is flawed. Maybe it was hallucinating again. Or maybe I was. 

After all, AI is confident. And if someone is confident they must be right. Mustn't they?

A Mormon View

It would be difficult to interview every faith and every creed about their views. I have tried to stick to a handful here. Later I will be writing about new Gen Z believers as their view is obviously important. But for now, let’s see what the Mormons say (bearing in mind that they prefer to be known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and have often not even been to see ‘The Book of Mormon’… which might be just as well).

Me, “Are you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I am not but am interested on the view of this community concerning Christian revival. If you are a member, do you have a personal opinion on this topic at this time?”

Liam (from the US), “I really like that! Yes, in fact I'm a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm unfamiliar with the topic of Christian Revival. Could you expand?”

Me, “Yes, of course. It concerns what you think about things like the past American great awakenings - so perhaps 'awakening' would be the correct word. The idea of a lot of people becoming believers all at once. There are said to be miracles and a general atmosphere of love, gentleness and mercy (which is often lacking in the world these days). The idea is that God somehow makes a lot of things better and effectively heals a nation or area.

I wondered if there was a Latter-day Saints position on the topic? The theory is that it would make people a lot kinder to each other no matter what their sex, age, colour or creed. But so few people in the West have seen a revival that a lot of it is speculation.

What are your thoughts on it?”

Liam, “Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding of a Christian revival is a mass event held by certain leaders of a church to gain more converts? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is big into missionary work as you can tell. There’re over 50,000 full time missionaries around the world for the church, and the leaders of our church help in the work as well. So yes, they do speak to large groups of people. The purpose of this work isn't to convince people to join our church, but to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. So that we can all live with our Heavenly Father someday! Does that answer your question or are you meaning something else like a specific event that has happened?”

This was probably one of the few times I had encountered anyone willing to say they were confused as to what they thought a Christian revival actually was. The Mormons, though often friendly enough, are considered to be outside of Christianity because they do not believe the creed and their leaders have added some other creeds of their own.

 

However, they too receive discrimination (and discrimination is never deserved).

The Revivalists

 

“It must be remembered, too, that the political condition of the country was such as constantly to agitate the public mind, and divert attention from spiritual things…Thus from 1744 to 1783, during a period of almost 40 years, the public mind was continually agitated by political questions.”

From a Handbook of Revivals by Henry C. Fish. 1874

 

Among revivalists up until 2023 there was a level of unity, but it was the case that even the modern-day revivalists needed to repent. As we all must do at some point.

UK Christian media, especially radio, considered revival an important issue. United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) in particular, held it within their organisations vision. Also Premier Christian Radio. But God TV were kind of all over the place.

In the UK and in the US there did seem to be unity among revivalists on the issue of revival itself, in that nearly all believed that there would be at least one further awakening. What confused me was that what had taken hold of the imaginations of many Christians, including those who were partisan in their support of revival, was that there would be only one more and that it would be worldwide. This idea, of a final worldwide revival, seemed to have been born from the sheer bad state of much of the world and the constant bad news. And an obscure Old Testament prophecy which said that the knowledge of God would one day fill the whole earth. People would look around and despair. If it is possible to give up hope, people gave it up - or at least held a very cynical view of the future. Especially because of all of the false dawns.

But there was a problem with the idea of a worldwide revival which would sweep millions, even billions, into the ‘Kingdom of God’. And that was that a worldwide revival had never happened before. I thought it unlikely, although some past revivals had been international and passed between America, the UK and Europe. Historically revivals can be slow to spread (both in time and geography).

There were also a significant number of revivalists who believed that when God acted, it would somehow separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares. But once again, it seemed to me, that this was what happened at judgment day and not during a revival. The desire to see people clearly separated into good and bad categories seemed to be largely based on the significant hurts which many had experienced. It wasn’t simply a matter of justice - to see the guilty punished and the innocent receive compensation - there was a definite desire for revenge mixed in with justice.

Besides this, a lot of the talk was speculation, in that no-one really knew what a revival would be like unless they had been to a country where there was one happening. The contemporary prophets were fairly united on the issue - almost all saying that God would send another revival. Even the Jeremiahs among the Christian prophets said that there would be at least one more after or during a major crisis. When the prophets prophesied some disaster, I was quick to listen. Because this seemed to me to be more realistic and, based on experience, more likely. But there was usually an element of hope in their prophecies. Some of the prophets would relentlessly prophecy good things and more than once I read a prophecy only to think: ‘useless’.

The revivalists tended to be interested in this wackier side to the faith. They are kooky, often in a good way. But the kooky Christians didn’t seem to care much what the more sensible Christians thought and, on the whole, simply wanted things to get better. Still, there were many arguments.

The consensus seemed to be that there would be one final, worldwide revival before the end of the world. It was bold and imaginative, even if it had never happened before. In fact, many of the prophecies were highly imaginative, using words and metaphors which were both clever and inspiring.

For instance, a revival could be likened to a tide, or a river or to an outpouring of rain. There were many metaphors - it was likened to the sun shining, to a pregnancy and giving birth, to dry bones coming alive again, to the wind, to all kinds of natural growth. Colours were often used in the description - favouring golden drops of rain, or bright white figures. Pictures of Christ went into visions of wild lions and other respectful (and some less respectful) visions. But for those who took offence, I wonder what they would make of the classic, well-loved poem by Francis Thompson ‘The Hound of Heaven’ which effectively likens Christ to a dog. No-one complains about that. (I’m sure that if some things were not already in the Bible, people would say they were offensive (for example the New Testament saying that Christ became ‘sin’ for us on the cross)).

However, there were excesses. Some of the descriptions, especially from the fringe of the fringe, were too much. I don’t want to dwell on this subject, or on the subject of false revivals or false believers. The heresy hunters do a perfectly good enough job on all this and, to be honest, it is a spiritual minefield. The heresy hunters were on the opposite side of the fringe and largely did not believe in any further revivals. I think they might say they only believed in a true revival, but there were excesses among them too with some of the accusations effectively being libel. They were also driven by conviction. So, when a prominent Christian revivalist went too far, they could be helpful to restore the right mind of people and remind us to be discerning.

 

But as I say, the revivalists needed to repent, along, possibly with the heresy hunters. Along, of course, with myself. We should practice what we preach.

There was also a general feeling that a modern-day revival would mean a significant amount of pressure. This was at odds with my hope that a revival would bring greater freedom (since where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom). Perhaps the freedom would come later? We didn’t know, as there was no revival. Also, there was perpetual anticipation. Someone might announce that there would be a revival in the next year, or the next month, but these dates often came and passed with no revival in the UK. The prophets often got it wrong and their defence was that people hadn’t prayed enough or that an event had occurred, it just hadn’t been noticed. It had been this way since the start - there had been many independent national days of prayers (the Queen and King unwilling or unable to call for one). But each time, the gathering would not succeed. When some of these gatherings started to require payment from individuals, I really started to worry. God didn’t want our money but it was quite clear that the Church seemed to, on the whole (although even this is complicated because often the Church uses the money selflessly to help others). The consensus was that the reason we had no revival was because we were not praying enough. Or that we needed to repent more. Or that revival tarried because it was all in God’s timing.

But as usual, even with the hope Asbury gave, it was Catch 22. No revival, no repentance. No repentance, no revival. No revival, little prayer. Little prayer, no revival.

Asbury - 2023

 

Did it all start here? It’s hard to say. Well, the true start of it all was really around 2000 years ago at a place named Calvary or Golgotha in the Middle-East. But, more recently, what about the pandemic? Maybe it was a mix of a number of events?

Some say it did start with the Asbury revival and then everything went quiet for a while, before it began to spread. Others say that the pandemic was the catalyst. But Asbury was significant. What I do remember was seeking out the sermon which was supposed to have started it all off and caused the American college students to remain worshipping God. The sermon was about love. It was about how we all have a lack of love and therefore a deep need of God. And I guess the sermon was about God being love (and the source of it).

I spoke to an American Christian around this time for his view.

Sam:

“Revival is always a personal matter - and response. It’s not something that is generally promoted or motivated by business or politics. Yet, the power of God through the effects of revival can transcend and effect positives in all areas of life and society.

The enemy doesn’t want revival - and will do everything within his power to thwart it. Yet, even the enemy’s power is limited to that of God’s. Believers have the Spirit of God within them - and that is more powerful than the enemy.

Remember, revival is an outpouring of the Spirit in a believer’s heart and life. It’s possible that revival will be limited to an individual - but, better for an individual to be affected by it, then not seeing it all. For whether we realize it or not, each of us has an impact on all who we meet. Our prayers and actions must not be to actively influence the masses, but rather to move us closer to God - for it is he who has the power to move heaven and earth.”

The Asbury revival began on February 8^th, 2023 following a sermon at the campus of Asbury University in Kentucky in the US. It caused a stir at the time, with students saying they felt the presence of God and long, simple worship meetings (on this Christian campus). Soon enough, people, largely believers, from across the US, and even the world, were flocking to the campus. There were reports of change, of miracles even, and of Asbury being a ‘thin place’ where God’s presence could be felt.

If it all started there, then the person who it started with was an unnamed college student who responded to the message with tears and conviction, followed by other, unnamed students, one by one. One name I can give you is Alexandra Presta, another student there. She was the first to run with the message and wrote for the online college newspaper ‘The Asbury Collegian’.

And she wrote this:

 

 “What was intended to be an ordinary service did not conclude as usual. Instead, a small group of students chose to remain in the auditorium after the service ended to continue praying and worshipping.

According to student accounts, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when one student began openly confessing sins to the group, which catalyzed a deeper spiritual engagement among those present. Undergraduate Alison Perfater, then the student body president, described the moment as one where "the atmosphere changed" and emphasized that the continuation of worship was unplanned and organic. Students began singing, praying, and sharing testimonies, and the gathering quickly took on a life of its own.

The event was not orchestrated or led by any specific individual or organization.”

 

This news spread. And it spread like a fire. Videos appeared on TikTok and Instagram. Before they knew it there were millions of views and it seemed as if everyone wanted to chase this spontaneous spiritual twister that had appeared. By February 15, the hashtag #asburyrevival had over 24 million views on TikTok, rising to 63 million by February 18. This 2023 revival (one which had happened before in 1970 at the Asbury college), was shaped by Gen Z’s use of technology.

It could be said that the revival at Asbury ‘ended’ when the university began to realise that the amount of people flooding their campus was too much to contain and the paying students were not concentrating on their courses. But even before they asked people to stop going there, it had spread to other US university campuses. 

To American Gen Z…

The LGBT+ Community and Revival (some thoughts)

This week’s entry is an opinion piece.

The Church of England made a serious attempt to help revival. Not just with the Alpha course (which has its critics), but with yearly initiatives like Thy Kingdom Come which encouraged Christians to share the gospel and pray for a handful of people. Like the innocent childlike thought: ‘If you could save five people in this world, who would you save?’ But this initiative came and went each year with only some success, but not the revival which many dreamed of. Like the yearly organised national days of prayer. There were dreams and visions. Azusa Street in the US had broken racial boundaries and birthed the Pentecostal movement. But there was still racism in the church. We should have known better. Especially when it came to our treatment of the LGBT+ community. We were effectively shooting ourselves in the paw by being so critical of them.

We need gay Christians as surely as we need female Christian leaders. But many preferred to criticise the community. In fact, the majority. But I am so liberal that I think we need LGBT+ Christians to offer apologetics and communicate with the LGBT+ community. They know more about the excesses and dark side of their community than anyone else. Every community has its dark side, including the Church (and so, when we assert our right to throw metaphorical stones, we should be aware that ‘people in stained-glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’. Or at the very least, keep the stones metaphorical and not physical).

I’m not entirely a progressive, I’m a moderate voice. Although I am a liberal Christian, rather than a conservative one. Labels hey? (May as well embrace them.) It is often said, in the continuing online debates, that there was no judgement - that a certain Christian loves gay people, but that non-marital sex is a sin. Traditionally the Church had always said this. But I thought we should know better than to effectively project the discrimination which we sometimes experienced onto any other people group. We should have said ‘The discrimination stops here and we are not going to pass it on’. Surely, we would have had God’s help in this? We claim he is with us after all. The LGBT+ community faces many of the same problems that other minorities face, despite the lip service from so many. Would this community be treated better in a revival? Who is a revival for - just a few or for everyone? But how are the progressive, liberal and conservative believers to be united when such issues have become dark, shadow creeds or shibboleths? Even the Bible verses which are used to condemn LGBT+ people are using words which, before translation, only apply to the highly promiscuous. And even they deserve love and dignity. Jesus did say something which apples to this issue. ‘Do not judge…’. It is ongoing.

But if revival is not inclusive then what is the point? You may as well only have it for a certain sex, a certain age group, a certain race and be done with it all. Why not let God decide who he wants involved? Besides, if you’ve been born on this earth, you are already involved.

Or maybe, to give an opposing view - the writer (i.e. me) is far too politically correct and worldly. To which I respond with a simple question: ‘Maybe, but what is more worldly than prejudice?’

It is unknown whether or not a full-blown revival would melt cold hearts on either side, but there is some precedent that certain discriminations can be removed as evidenced by the Azusa Street revival where racial tensions were sometimes resolved. But, in reality, pragmatically, these are ongoing issues which are unlikely to be fully resolved until kingdom come. At least a revival would be interesting for many, especially if debates were more civil.

This is only my opinion on the subject. Most of us will already have received enough brow-beating to need a lifetime of therapy.

A dry entry. Dry as a riverbed in a drought. Am I making something so fascinating, so boring again? Sorry. Let’s move on to something less tedious…