Challenging your Theological Assumptions - Part 2
Can your beliefs survive scrutiny? What happens if you start seeing the Bible from a different viewpoint?
Many people don’t examine their beliefs closely. They couldn’t explain to others why they believe beyond basic explanations. If someone with a different understanding comes along, they struggle to understand the difference between what they believe and what another believes who interprets things very differently.
If this is you, there is good news! Large Language Models (LLMs) are very good at presenting different perspectives. At the same time though, their default is to agree with you. LLMs won’t push back on your arguments unless you ask them to.
Why would you want to be challenged on your beliefs?
If you don’t take the time to examine your beliefs, you won’t really know what you believe and why you believe it. Too few have taken the time to think deeply about what they believe.
There is much talk about how AI is causing people to lose the ability to think for themselves. One reason is that people use AI like a search engine and an answer machine. Type in your question, out pops the answer.
You won’t develop wisdom if someone is always spoon-feeding you the answers. Wisdom is developed through time in God’s Word, through meditation, and by taking time to consider various aspects of your beliefs, including the common objections others have to them.
Learn to broaden your horizons by adding new skills in how you approach AI.
In a way, this is part two of Using AI to Challenge Your Assumptions.
The thought for this article comes from the same source. A document I had Claude generate that considered Critical AI Literacy from the perspective of Christianity. Shout out to Dr Sam Illingworth for the inspiration for these posts. If you haven’t already checked out his work at Slow AI, it is worth doing so.
I provide you now with five prompts to challenge your assumptions about God, Doctrine, and Faith.
Prompt 1: The Assumption Audit
“I believe [state your belief about a passage or doctrine]. Before you respond, identify three assumptions embedded in how I’ve framed this belief. Then tell me what someone who holds the opposite view would say my framing reveals about my priorities.”
Why this works: Exposes the scaffolding beneath your conclusions. It forces you to consider a different perspective. It helps you take the blinders off about the implications of what you believe.
Prompt 2: The Tradition Detector
“I’m going to share my interpretation of [passage]. Don’t tell me if I’m right or wrong. Instead, tell me which theological tradition my interpretation most closely aligns with, and then explain how a Christian from a completely different tradition would read the same text.”
Why this works: Shows you that your ‘plain reading’ is shaped by a specific lineage. I believe there is something to learn from different faith traditions. In my experience, each one is birthed out of challenges or concerns the founders were facing at that time. Even if you disagree with their conclusions, it can be valuable to take time to see things from their faith perspective.
Prompt 3: The Uncomfortable Question
“What is the most challenging question a thoughtful skeptic could ask about [doctrine/passage] that most Christians would struggle to answer honestly? Don’t soften it. Then help me sit with the discomfort instead of rushing to a defense.”
Why this works: Trains you to hold tension rather than resolve it prematurely. Most of us hate conflict. Maybe that is true for you too. This prompt forces you to sit with the uncomfortable. To my, this is a major benefit of communing with people who differ from me theologically. Most times I’ve done this I have found much more in common with them than what dif0fered.
Prompt 4: The Flip Test
“I’m studying [passage] and I’ve concluded [your interpretation]. Now argue the opposite position as persuasively as you can, using the same text and only legitimate scholarly and scriptural evidence. Don’t strawman the other side.”
Why this works: Forces you to reckon with the strongest version of the view you reject. There is so much benefit from really hearing and struggling with an opposite viewpoint. Usually, they have very good reasons for believing what they do. Being able to hear those reasons and experience them will help strengthen your own convictions. After all, as a Christian, don’t you want to be living the truth rather than a lie?
Prompt 5: The Cultural Lens
“Read [passage] as a first-century Jewish peasant would have heard it. What would have shocked them? What would have been obvious to them that I’m probably missing? Where does my modern Western reading distort the original impact?”
Why this works: It helps you understand the context of the passage. Context is so important to properly understand the original intent of the author. I had a professor at Seminary drill the following thought into our heads, “Circumstances change, principles never do.” Taking time to understand context can help us better extract the principle.
The Main Point of Challenging Your Assumptions
LLMs can be used to confirm your bias. They can be used to reinforce your blind spots. LLMs can give you that pat on the back you feel you need. They can also help you think more clearly and more deeply about your faith.
Don’t settle for easy answers. Part of effective discipleship is to periodically reevaluate your reasons for believing what you believe.
The end result of examining your life is that you will have a deeper appreciation for God and His ways. I also hope that as you interact with other perspectives it will help you be more tolerant of differences in points of view.
God wants to see you grow. Growing comes as we interact with the Word of God and let it have an impact on our life. One great side effect to being exposed to different viewpoints on points of doctrine is the motivation we get to go back to God’s Word to study it for ourselves.
Have you ever changed your beliefs on something after being presented with a solid counter-argument? I’d love to hear about it in the comment!
Joseph Duchesne writes to help Christians think and act biblically about Artificial Intelligence. He is the author of a couple of books, The Last Crisis and Discover the One, both available on Amazon.