Affirming the Nicene Creed in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Challenge to Human Dignity
Judette Gallares, rc
Introduction
As the sun rises on May 20, 2025, the Church pauses to honour a sacred threshold—seventeen centuries since the Council of Nicaea, where voices long past first wove the timeless words of the Nicene Creed we still profess. Though born in the distant soil of the fourth century, amidst ancient tongues and vanished empires, its eternal truths still breathe, anchoring and illumining the faith of today’s believers. The timeless truths the Creed proclaims still echo with strength amid contemporary challenges, offering hope and steady light to a restless world seeking meaning and grace.
Among the great questions confronting humanity is the swift advancement of technology, giving rise to issues of transhumanism, a belief that science can lift us beyond mortal bounds. It speaks of minds cast into machines, bodies preserved in frozen sleep, and limbs forged of metal and code transforming humans into cyborgs. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) that learns, genes that shift, and wires that whisper to the brain, we inch toward a future where the line between human and machine begins to blur.
In this reflection, I will focus on just one part of the broader technological landscape: the rise of artificial intelligence, or AI. Since its early beginnings in 1956, AI has been about trying to build machines that can think and act in ways that seem intelligent—things we usually associate with human abilities. Over time, this technology has developed rapidly, helping us with tasks like translating languages, predicting storms, organizing files, doing complex math, and recognizing patterns in images. Engineers keep finding new ways to use it to support human work.
But as we grow more dependent on AI, deeper questions start to surface—questions about what it means to be human, about dignity, identity, and whether intelligence alone defines a person. The Nicene Creed doesn’t mention AI, of course, but it gives us a way to think about what makes human beings truly unique. In this reflection, I will briefly explore a few key themes in light of AI: first, what the Creed says about human uniqueness; second, how AI challenges our ideas of personhood; third, the role of the Holy Spirit as the giver of life; fourth, what ethical concerns surface when AI intersects with human dignity; and finally, what the Creed says about the resurrection and the future of humanity.
The Creed and Human Uniqueness
Rooted not in human brilliance but in the hands that shaped the stars and all that exists, the Creed proclaims our true worth: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”
AI-generated Image by Sr Judette
In January 2025, the Vatican released Antiqua et Nova (Here abbreviated AEN),[1] a reflection from the Dicasteries for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Culture and Education, exploring the ethical and human questions raised by AI. The document calls for technology that upholds human dignity and fosters true human flourishing. Rooted in Scripture’s call to “till and keep” the earth (Gen 2:15), it reminds us:
“This gift of intelligence should be expressed through the responsible use of reason and technical abilities in the stewardship of the created world”
AEN n° 1
At its opening, the document lifts up the Catechism’s call:
“The Church encourages the advancement of science, technology, the arts, and other forms of human endeavour, viewing them as part of the ‘collaboration of man and woman with God in perfecting the visible creation.’”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 378. See also Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (7 December 1965), par. 34: AAS 58 (1966), 1052-1053. 34)
It then gently reminds us that
“Human abilities and creativity come from God and, when used rightly, glorify God by reflecting his wisdom and goodness.”
Thus, to ask what it means to “be human” is to embrace our scientific and technological gifts (AEN #2).
The Creed affirms that God created humans in “his image and likeness” (Gen 1:27) and not to be highly evolved machines. Unlike AI, humans possess an immortal soul and are called into a relationship with God in ways that are all rooted in His love and desire for communion with us. This relationship is at the heart of Christian life. It is essentially about knowing, loving, and walking with God in our daily life.
The Creed whispers its wonder: “For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven … and was made man,” enfleshing our very frame in divine love. Had personhood rested on mere intellect, our divine saviour, Jesus, might have dawned as AI—but in choosing our flesh, He crowns human nature as central to God’s eternal design.
AI and the Question of Personhood
What then is personhood? Guided by philosophy and Christian theology, personhood blooms at three deep springs—reason’s light, freedom’s choice, and the warmth of relationship that reaches toward God. In the Trinity’s eternal dance—Father, Son, and Spirit—we glimpse the perfect communion that shapes our very being.
While personhood defines what it means to be a person, there arise debates about whether AI can be considered a person. However, as the Creed suggests, human dignity comes not from intelligence alone, but from being created by God, having a soul, and being capable of knowing and loving God. Even if AI can process and generate complex responses mimicking human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and responding to emotions, it lacks consciousness, free will and a soul. It only functions according to how they are programmed by human engineers.
In response to the question of personhood, the Nicene Creed affirms that true personhood is rooted in God’s creation, which AI, as a human-made tool, does not share. AI, no matter how advanced, is a creation of human beings, not a bearer of the divine image. Unlike humans, it does not possess free will, a moral conscience, or the capacity for grace.
The Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life
The Creed attests: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.” This statement captures a profound truth: the Holy Spirit is not only the breath of creation but also the One who sustains, renews, and transforms life in both the natural and supernatural realms.
At creation’s first whisper (Gen 1:2; 2:7), the Spirit ignites life—no passive witness, but a living wind weaving order, purpose, and vibrant breath into all things. Scripture proclaims that the Spirit breathes new life into us through baptism, making us children of God (cf. Jn 3:5-6), raising us into the risen life of Christ (Rom 8:11), and leading us beyond the letter of the Law into the wide, free horizon of true kinship (2 Cor 3:6). Having been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, that new life we enjoy,
“becomes manifest in our own life of faith, which begins with baptism, develops in openness to God’s grace and is enlivened by a hope constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit.”
“Spes Non Confundit. Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025″, #3
The Holy Spirit does not only work in individual believers but animates the Church as the living Body of Christ. At Pentecost, the Spirit descended upon those gathered at the Cenacle empowering the first Christians to preach the Gospel (Acts 2:1-4), giving various gifts (charisms) to build up the Church, while ensuring that every member plays a role in the life of the community (1 Cor 12:4-7). The Spirit guides the Church into all truth, ensuring that Christ’s teaching remains alive and active in every generation (Jn 16:13).
The Spirit is the living pledge of our resurrection (Rom 8:23), the breath that stirs dry bones to life (Ez 37:5-6), and the voice that calls us home to God (Rev 22:17). Even now, the Spirit weaves new life within us, preparing our hearts for the day when we shall dwell forever in the fullness of God’s kingdom.
True life and wisdom come from God’s Spirit, not from technological advancements. AI can process information, but it does not have spiritual life or the ability to receive divine grace, thereby challenging the idea that AI could ever become equal to or surpass humans in meaningful existence. Even if AI simulates human behaviour, it remains fundamentally different because it lacks the spiritual dimension that the Creed affirms. Indeed, to live in the Spirit is to be fully alive—deeply connected to the love and presence of God.
Ethical Concerns: AI and Human Dignity
There are ethical concerns surrounding AI and human dignity which are complex and multi-faceted. These concerns touch on issues of autonomy, honesty, privacy, fairness, and the very essence of what it means to be human. If AI is wrongly viewed as a replacement for humans, it could lead to moral and social dangers. Thus, moral thinkers* sound a warning: should we crown AI our equal, our own dignity will slip away—genuine hearts giving way to hollow companionship, and the fabric of community beginning to fray.
* Patricia Engler, “AI and Human Futures: What Should Christians Think?” in Dignitas, Vol. 30, No. 4 (Winter 2023), 3-9. Also published online by The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD, Trinity International University). Another publication addresses moral implications: Wales, Jordan J. ed. “Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Anthropological Reflections,” Journal of Moral Theology 1: Dec. 2023. 2023.
With dehumanization comes the danger of moral irresponsibility. Unmoored from conscience, AI cannot carry the moral weight of justice, healing, or livelihoods, entrusting it thus risks unravelling our very sense of accountability. AI-driven algorithms in social media, targeted ads and political propaganda can manipulate human behaviour, sowing confusion while undermining free will and informed consent. When AI, wielded by authoritarian hands, harvests our faces and tracks each step, it writes us into cold ledgers—erasing our dignity and our very humanity. Relying too much on AI can sideline human work and leave people feeling replaceable in a world that puts machines first. Our hope is that AI may arise in the clear light of transparency, fairness, accountability, and reverence for human dignity—lest, in outstripping our own minds, it eclipses our calling as the world’s moral stewards, drawing us back to the truths we profess in the Creed.
The Resurrection and the Future of Humanity
The Creed expresses key Christian beliefs about hope and the future of humanity particularly in its closing affirmations about Christ’s return, the resurrection, and eternal life, leading us to the affirmation of Christ’s second coming and judgement: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and the kingdom will have no end.” With a hopeful tone, it thereby concludes: “We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”
This assertion is the heart of Christian hope in Christ’s return, establishing justice and manifesting his eternal reign. Like a musical crescendo, the Creed builds up to its concluding statement affirming our hope in having a share in Christ’s resurrection. Christians live in hope—not only of life beyond death, but of the day when every body shall rise, clothed in glory (cf. 1 Cor 15). This hope reaches beyond the grave, stretching toward the promise of a renewed creation—a new heaven and a new earth (cf. Rev 21), where God’s people shall dwell with Him forever, in joy and perfect communion.
Christian hope is in God’s transformation of humanity, not in technological self-enhancement. Although some transhumanists envision uploading human consciousness into AI as a path to immortality, Christianity teaches that our destiny is resurrection, not digital existence. Our hope includes victory over death; final restoration which defeats evil and fulfils God’s plan for creation; and eternal communion with God — “life of the world to come”— not merely an individual afterlife but a redeemed, glorified existence in God’s presence.
Conclusion
AI prompts us to reflect theologically on what it means to be human, created in the image and likeness of God. These reflections and discussion in the context of faith reinforce the unique value and dignity of human beings in contrast to artificial entities.
As Christians, we are called to engage AI with wisdom and watchfulness, aware of its deep imprint on daily life. From smart devices to digital voices, these tools serve us—but they also reflect the hands that shaped them. Behind each algorithm lie choices, biases, and unseen influences. In such a world, discernment is not optional; it is a duty of faith—to think critically, act wisely, and guide others to do the same.
In the end, AI remains what it is: a tool—crafted by human hands, not endowed with soul or personhood. While its power can be used for good, it can also be misused, which is why it must be guided by Christian moral principles. The Nicene Creed reminds us that human dignity does not rest on intelligence or technological ability, but on our relationship with God, who calls us into love and communion. As a product of human creativity, AI may support our work and mission, but it must never replace or redefine what it means to be human. For only those made in God’s image can share in the depth of relationship, spiritual wisdom, and hope the world truly needs.
2025 dawns as the 1700th anniversary of Nicaea and the Jubilee Year of Hope—kindled by Pope Francis, now departed, whose legacy calls us to remain pilgrims of hope. Amid AI’s promise and peril, our faith rests in God’s sovereign rule, mindful that human progress is but a passing shadow. True hope turns to the new heavens and earth (Rev 21), where technology neither saves nor judges, but God is “all in all” (1 Cor 15:26). In this Jubilee, AI becomes fertile ground for prophetic hope—our striving for justice and peace grounded in the sure promise of God’s victory.
BONUS
“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
Leo XIV, in explaining why he chose his name
In the spirit of Pope Leo XIV’s desire for the Church to engage in the digital mission field, Sr. Judette shares the link to a multilingual Catholic AI: Magisterium AI.
This interface is being trained with over 25,000 Catholic texts and counting, including the Bible, Papal and other Church documents, Saints, Theologians, etc.. Also: catéGPT and Catholic.chat.
