Sitting among seers, listening
A couple of Catholics and a Romanian Orthodox – seers of sorts – on the Machine, language, AI, the coming difficulty of discerning what is real, and living a true Christian spiritual path in our time.
I’m referring to Michael Martin, Paul Kingsnorth, and Michael Sauter on the video conversation, Paul Kingsnorth on ‘The Machine’ and More! Very interesting discussion!
When AI is able to create both language and video of persons it has learned of from incorporating data, so as to be almost indistinguishable from what is really that person or AI-produced, what are we to do? What is the antidote to such feats of the Machine?
If someone can have an AI “machine” mimic me according to its own version of me, how can the real me stand apart from the false? What can I do that the Machine cannot?
Well, it can’t actually be me. It can only present its duplicate digitally. And there is its weakness. Yet, we are connected – the world, that is – digitally. It is a very small number who can see the actual me. What, then , shall we do? Shun digital media?
There is nothing I say that a machine cannot duplicate perfectly – and then distort to its own end – thus bringing in a lie to its presentation of me. Only the real me can be an antidote to this illusory production, and that only in real time without digital recording and transmitting.
There is no secret “signal” I can introduce to help others discern the true from the false. AI is too smart for that, if programmed well. Its weakness is in its medium, and its strength is in the same. What then?
The heart of the matter: That of me AI cannot reproduce is the God who is within me by His Spirit and whose Presence is upon me. This Presence of the Almighty may be discerned by other of His children, the Spirit of Christ bearing witness to Himself in other of God’s children. The Presence of Christ is not in fake AI persons, as His Spirit only indwells in real human hearts.
Living true Christian spirituality in our time
(around 40 minutes into the discussion)
This segment of the discussion is even more interesting to me than the former! While I realize that a Reformation spirituality – and a Reformation saint! – may seem almost oxymoronic to you folks (Paul, Michael, and Michael), that’s where I find myself. When I was first converted to Jesus Christ in 1968 at 26 years old I thought I should seek to be a Catholic priest, but I was such a mess then I quickly gave that idea up, plus I was avidly reading the Bible and wondering what was the path I should follow.
In some respects it was not “the path I should follow”, but one I would have to hew out in a wilderness – a wilderness of hearts, which I found extended even into the churches I visited, danger everywhere, hearts unopen, unseeing, strange trips galore. “Hew” as in clearing a path without obstructions so as to get to a destination (Celestial City, and Jesus), not across land, but through time, the hours and days and years of my life, and that without any close companion save Jesus, whom I did not know well yet, though the few actual encounters I had with Him sustained me through much though not all. A few times I fell really hard and deep. But, unseen (I see now in retrospect), He was watching, providing, guiding me – often as a dumb brute – so that I did not utterly fall. A couple of times I almost did.
It was Scott Cairns, a contemporary Eastern Orthodox poet, who said of American evangelical Christianity, it was “the thinnest of soups”. I also found it so. Here I was, on the American landscape, among “ ‘thin soup’ churches” whose spiritual fare was not sufficient to nourish a wretched spiritual desperado, and I floundered. For near a couple of decades it was so with me, save intermittent yet regular repentances, but ignorance of the Way kept me bound. (I have written on this – and much else – in A Great and Terrible Love: A Visionary Journey from Woodstock’s Sorceries to God’s Paradise, free digital versions on my Google Drive: https://bit.ly/3nQHBrB.)
I understand what Paul (Kingsnorth) says – informed by the view of Brad Gregory – about the Reformation. I didn’t know much of Eastern Orthodoxy at the time, but I understood what Paul and Gregory have called the “corruptions” of the Catholic Church (RC): they were such that the consciences of men were bound in its iron grip – on pain of excommunication and Hell – and the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ was hidden beneath man-made accretions. So the Reformation “Exocets” fired destroyed that entire system’s broad hegemony.
But it did not destroy, what you phrased in the video, “the essence of the Christian church, and the Christian teaching…” – as that was not to be found in the traditions of men, however holy – but in God’s word alone. Men err, men disagree, men are fallible. The Scripture, even the naked word of God, bereft of tradition, has sufficient power, grace, and glory to replant a faithful church or churches. A spiritual path without tradition? Yes! Jesus said (John 14:6), “I am the way…” from the Greek, ὁδός hodos, road or path (see Strong’s Lexicon g3598). As long as Jesus is with us to lead – and He has given numerous promises: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (or age)” Matt 28:20; “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” Heb 13:5. I have been 55 years in the Way – often in ignominious failure – yet He has been faithful to rescue, guide, sustain, and keep. I had no human mentor, guide, or father to seek counsel or comfort from – though I looked for and desired one greatly.
It is true, what you say, Paul, about the “the splintering of Western Christianity” – i.e. the Roman church – into multitudes of differing church bodies, but the grip of a corrupt, worldly, and murderous (per awful historical fact) church was broken, and the Word was set free to speak to and guide the souls of men. Yes, it is a splintered and oft chaotic Christian world now, and that is grievous, but far better that than the tyranny over conscience that was the norm then. Now men and women can see the plain word of their God and be accountable to Him, and their elders, pastors, or priests themselves also accountable to Him.
Yes, there are multitudes of small (and a few large) bodies of Christians – but is this not better than an iron hand of a corrupt heart mandating what God has not mandated? All these souls and their shepherds shall stand before the Judge on the Day of Accounting – to give account of their lives in light of the Word of His they knew.
Fast-forward to 2023.
I resonate, Paul, with your determined quest to live an authentic Christian life, in an authentic Christian community in accord with an ancient, unwavering standard and confession. It is my own determined quest – despite my being in a Reformed milieu. I do not trust the traditions of men, however ancient and honorable, for we err. My “ancient, unwavering standard and confession” is simply the Scripture. Yes, indeed, it is a lack that I do not have an ancient community save for those who hold to God’s word across many denominational boundaries. I can usually tell who are my brothers and sisters in Christ by their talk and their lives – their fruit (“by their fruits you shall know them” Matt 7:20).
I go through my days seeking to be in close communion with my Saviour, in His presence, open to His guidance, which His indwelling Spirit gives, per His saying, “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). I too treasure a robust and pure spiritual path in these times. I like that you used the word “robust” – a vitality born of proximity to the King.
His providence has brought me to an island nation, Cyprus – away from my homeland U.S. This is now my home (at 81 I am loath to move anymore; plus long flights are difficult for me). I am in a city, away even from the mountains and forests I love and am at home in. There was no such community of faith in this city I am presently in such as I longed for, so I seek to bring one into being – as I am the pastor / shepherd of a small flock of societal outcasts (mostly African refugees from Islamic terrorism) in a country not friendly to them, and I teach them “the essence of the Christian church, and the Christian teaching” or life, which we learn of studying Jesus and His life and teachings, as it is written,
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). [emphasis added]
I am married, though my children are back in America, and I live a life in the world, but not of the world. Like yourself, Paul, and your two friends you were conversing with, I seek “a robust and pure spiritual path in these times” of the Machine. Please do not write off us children of the Reformation; we are kith and kin if you be blood-bought and blood-cleansed.
I like Rod Dreher’s “Benedict communities” as oases in the coming difficult times (even here in this land of supposedly pure Greek Orthodoxy). We trust in our God, and He will bless His precious children.
I just finished preaching on Mark 7:1-23, and of the difference between the traditions of men and the commandment of God. The Traditions of the Orthodox saints are not such as I can live in them in any organic fashion – they are alien to me. If you can, well and good – for you and yours. I have my Path – that is, my Shepherd’s daily guidance – and the doctrinal clarity of the Reformed Confessions: the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort); and the related Westminster Standards. Yes, there are a very few doctrines I do not hold to, but the vast main I do hold. I deem them succinct expressions of God’s word rightly understood, and can defend them – as sound doctrine is under fire constantly – and must be defended.
And so I go through my days, with my Shepherd. The days are mostly structured, according to my duties of pastoral care, preaching, teaching, and studies in various branches of theology – and the preparations required for each; also personal caregiving for relatives, and various chores I need to attend to. I like to use a lot of my “leisure” time writing sharing what I know so as to raise the consciousness of others – a crucial activity when multitudes are in grave danger of the Machine – that they may become conscious of its true nature, its source, and its telos, or goal. In grave danger also of their unforgiven and unforsaken sin! As the day of Judgment draws ever nearer.
In truth, the Machine is but the dystopian vision of the prince of Hell for eradicating human truth (how he hates us, who replaced him in God’s favor!), and eradicating any love for, loyalty to, and testimony of – his arch Enemy, the eternal Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth.
I certainly do not claim that my own robust and relatively pure path is the only one – for behold! You exist, Paul! But I prefer mine to yours. As it suits me. For over half a century I have walked it.
And I’m a poet, with a song to sing! So let me leave this missive on that note. The small book, The Writing On the Wall: