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Religious Studies/Philosophy: Humanity Reloaded – AI & The Future of Religion With Dr Shoaib Ahmed Malik From The University of Edinburgh
3rd December 2025 @ 11:10 - 11:55
This event is for 16-18 year old pre-university students and teachers joining with 16-18 year old pre-university students.
Artificial intelligence is changing how we think about life, consciousness, and even faith. From robot preachers to algorithms that generate sermons, AI is beginning to challenge what we mean by being human. Can a machine ever be spiritual? Could it offer moral guidance or share in religious experience? This interactive session explores how religion and theology are engaging with these questions, asking students to consider what makes humans unique and whether technology might one day cross that boundary. Drawing from global examples and real-world innovations, the talk invites students to imagine the future of religion in an age of AI and to think critically about what it means to be human in a technological world.
By the end of this session, students will have a clearer sense of how to think critically about the moral, spiritual, and cultural impact of artificial intelligence. They will learn how questions about consciousness, purpose, and human uniqueness are not just abstract ideas but real-world issues shaping the future of faith, ethics, and society. Engaging with these themes will help students recognise how philosophy and religion can offer fresh insights into technological change, giving them the tools to question, analyse, and contribute to debates that are shaping our collective future. Above all, it will encourage them to see themselves as active participants in defining what it means to be human in an AI-dominant age.
Lecturer Profile: Dr Shoaib Ahmed Malik is Lecturer in Science and Religion and Programme Director for the online MSc in Philosophy, Science, and Religion at the University of Edinburgh. With doctorates in Chemical Engineering (University of Nottingham) and Theology (St Mary’s University, Twickenham), he works at the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. His research focuses on theological anthropology, exploring how developments such as artificial intelligence, human evolution, extraterrestrial life, and the Anthropocene reshape our understanding of human nature and uniqueness. His award-winning book Islam and Evolution: Al-Ghazālī and the Modern Evolutionary Paradigm was recognised by the International Society for Science and Religion in 2022.
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Age 16+ pre-university Religious Studies and Philosophy students. However, we recognise that the relevance of this talk goes far beyond the curriculum and we welcome interested students from all disciplines. The session is designed for student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions related to studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: