Thanabots, Popes, and Other Religious Leaders
Abstract
This essay explores the possibilities offered by AI and thanabots to solve the age-old issue of what happens when a charismatic religious leader dies. After a brief presentation of how thanabots function, I imagine how they could eradicate the discomforts arising from the death of founders, prophets, and pontiffs. I first apply this newly available solution to the Roman Catholic church: thanabots offer the possibility of simplifying the conclaves which elect a new pope to replace the one who has died. I then imagine how thanabots can make the founders and leaders of old and new religious movements live forever and thus dispense with the agony of the transmission of prophecy and power.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Media
Religion
Digital Communication
Study and Philosophy of Religion
Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal for the Study of New Religions
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 73–88
- Publication date
- 5 March 2026
- Language
- EN