AI and the Crisis of Spiritual Formation: Reconstructing the Philosophy of Christian Religious Education in the Post-Human Era from the Perspectives of Ellul and Heidegger

Authors

  • Daniel Agustin Institut Agama Kristen REAL Batam, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7430-1354
  • Dewita Silaban Sekolah Tinggi Teologi GPDI Pematang Siantar, Indonesia Author
  • Suset Pasaribu Institut Agama Kristen REAL Batam, Indonesia Author
  • Ellesion Sitorus Bethel Church Ipoh Malaysia Author
  • Riris Fitriyani Br Tanggang Bethel Church Ipoh Malaysia Author
  • Jelita Malau Bethel Church Ipoh Malaysia Author
  • Toga Hasiholan Siburian Sekolah Tinggi Teologi GPDI Pematang Siantar, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53547/zpwqn605

Keywords:

spiritual formation, Christian Religious Education, post-human, imago Dei, Ellul's technique

Abstract

The dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) in education presents both technical and ontological challenges for Christian Religious Education (CRE), which is grounded in spiritual formation, human relationships, and encounter with the Divine. This article aims to analyse the crisis of spiritual formation caused by AI dominance in CRE and to reconstruct a philosophy of CRE centred on the imago Dei in the post-human era. The study employs a qualitative-philosophical approach, library research, and critical correlative hermeneutics, using Jacques Ellul’s theory of technique and Martin Heidegger’s concept of Gestell as critical frameworks. The reconstruction draws on the relational doctrine of the imago Dei and Thomas Groome’s Shared Christian Praxis. The analysis shows that AI dominance can mechanise spirituality, reduce learners to standing-reserve, and displace the contemplative and relational dimensions of CRE. As its contribution, this article proposes a contemplative-relational model of CRE that places exemplary relationships, faith communities, contemplative practices, hermeneutical dialogue with Scripture and tradition, and technology as a serving instrument at the centre of education. This model restores existential reflection, the divine-human relationship, and authentic faith formation as central aims of CRE.

Abstrak

Dominasi kecerdasan buatan (AI) dalam pendidikan menghadirkan tantangan teknis sekaligus ontologis bagi Pendidikan Agama Kristen (PAK), yang berakar pada pembentukan spiritual, relasi manusia, dan perjumpaan dengan Yang Ilahi. Artikel ini bertujuan menganalisis krisis pembentukan spiritual akibat dominasi AI dalam PAK dan merekonstruksi filosofi PAK yang berpusat pada imago Dei dalam era pascamanusia. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif-filosofis, penelitian kepustakaan, dan hermeneutika korelatif kritis, dengan teori technique Jacques Ellul dan konsep Gestell Martin Heidegger sebagai kerangka kritis. Rekonstruksi kemudian dikembangkan melalui doktrin imago Dei yang relasional dan Shared Christian Praxis Thomas Groome. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa dominasi AI dapat memekanisasi spiritualitas, mereduksi peserta didik menjadi standing-reserve, dan menggeser dimensi kontemplatif serta relasional dalam PAK. Sebagai kontribusi, artikel ini menawarkan model PAK kontemplatif-relasional yang menempatkan keteladanan relasional, komunitas iman, praktik kontemplatif, dialog hermeneutis dengan Kitab Suci dan tradisi, serta teknologi sebagai instrumen pelayanan. Model ini menegaskan kembali refleksi eksistensial, relasi ilahi-manusia, dan pembentukan iman autentik sebagai pusat pendidikan.

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Published

2026-03-30

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Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026): September

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Daniel Agustin, Dewita Silaban, Suset Pasaribu, Ellesion Sitorus, Riris Fitriyani Br Tanggang, Jelita Malau, Toga Hasiholan Siburian (Author)

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How to Cite

AI and the Crisis of Spiritual Formation: Reconstructing the Philosophy of Christian Religious Education in the Post-Human Era from the Perspectives of Ellul and Heidegger. (2026). Manthano: Jurnal Pendidikan Kristen, 5(2), 130-142. https://doi.org/10.53547/zpwqn605