Sunday School: AI & Christian Witness

Beginning Sunday, June 9, we will dedicate the formation hour between morning services to reading and discussing Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence. 9:15-10:15am, Trinity Commons.

(9:15-10AM, TRINITY COMMONS)
8-Part Book Study of Pope Leo the IV’s first papal encyclical letter Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”): On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence

Summary of Magnifica Humanitas
"Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, speaks directly to one of the most urgent questions of our time: What does it mean to remain fully human in the age of artificial intelligence? With moral clarity and pastoral depth, the first American pope offers a compelling Christian response to the rise of digital technocracy and power, showing how faith, reason, and the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching can guide society through rapid technological change.

"Drawing on Scripture, Church history, and the social teaching of the modern papacy, Leo XIV explores how AI is reshaping work, education, family life, politics, warfare, and public truth. While acknowledging the remarkable potential of AI, he warns against systems that reduce people to data points, labor units, or instruments of control, and offers a hopeful vision rooted in dignity, solidarity, justice, and the common good. Both intellectually substantial and accessible to general readers, Magnifica Humanitas is an essential book for Catholics, Christians, ethicists, and anyone concerned about the human future." (Product Overview provided by Ignatius Press)

Against this, the encyclical teaches that human limits such as illness, aging, suffering, and vulnerability are not simply defects to be corrected; rather, human beings often flourish through their limitations, where they can discover wisdom, experience the closeness of others, and encounter the Lord (MH 118–119). Therefore, AI should serve humanity not by tempting us to escape limitation through optimization, but by supporting a life of “openness and communion” (MH 231).

Schedule:
June
9          Introduction: Remaining Human
16        Chapter 1: A Dynamic Approach Faithful to the Gospel
23        Chapter 2: Foundations and Principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church
30        Chapter 3: Technology and Dominance: The Grandeur of Humanity in Light of the Promises of AI

July
7          Chapter 4: Safeguarding Humanity at a Time of Transformation: Truth, Work, Freedom
14        Chapter 5: The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love
21        Conclusion: The Word Became Flesh
28        Postscript: The Song of Hope: The Magnificat