Artificial Intelligence, Faith, and Epistemic Coherence

Artificial Intelligence, Faith, and Epistemic Coherence

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Session Organizer: Dr. Houman Mehrabian, University Canada West

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Alfred Hermida, University of British Columbia

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Artificial intelligence has become an unavoidable part of everyday life, and it is (directly and indirectly) determining how we produce and consume information, make decisions, and even form beliefs. Many now turn to this technology for answers that were previously provided by religious traditions, recognized scholars, or trusted media sources. For many, AI has begun to operate as a secular oracle. In this context, it is important that we rethink our ways of knowing as they become increasingly governed by algorithmic systems. This workshop invites papers that investigate what becomes of truth, authority, and belief when the conditions of knowing are mediated by artificial intelligence.

Questions to consider include, but are not limited to, the following:

• How does the rise of artificial intelligence challenge traditional forms of epistemic authority?

• How do algorithmic systems shape not only what users see, but how they come to believe?

• Has trust in artificial intelligence begun to mirror the structure of religious faith?

• To what extent can artificial intelligence function as a normative authority that direct human decisions, values, and beliefs?

• How does epistemic coherence take shape when AI-generated outputs either confirm or contradict widely accepted knowledge?

• To what extent do AI-generated outputs present themselves as though they were revealed or divinely given, and how do interface design and system architecture contribute to this effect?

• How are the foundations of trust, testimony, and authority reconstituted in AI-mediated contexts?

• To what extent do users mistake fluency and coherence for truth in AI-mediated contexts?

• What forms of doubt remain constructive in a world increasingly mediated by intelligent systems?

• Does artificial intelligence reinforce or undermine existing hierarchies of knowledge, belief, and authority?

• How do AI-driven systems of sense-making reshape, challenge, or destabilize religious and culturally grounded systems of knowledge and belief?

• How effective is formal education in logic in amplifying the benefits associated with artificial intelligence and reducing the risks?

• Is artificial intelligence inaugurating a new regime of belief in which authority is detached from both human and divine sources?

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The 5th World Congress on Logic and Religion is scheduled to take place in Vancouver, British Columbia from September 23 to 27, 2026. This session welcomes diverse perspectives—critical, interdisciplinary, or creative—that explore the promises and perils of an increasingly AI-driven world. Scholars, educators, critics, and creative professionals are encouraged to submit an abstract before July 31, 2026. For more details, please visit: https://5wocolor.com/

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For any inquiries regarding this session, please contact Houman Mehrabian: [email protected]