AI as a Homiletic Assistant: a Case Study for the Feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15695/hmltc.v51i1.5851Abstract
As part of an initiative of the Lilly Endowment, Catholic Theological Union has partnered with the Attention, Perception and Experience [APEX] neuroscience lab of the University of Chicago to discover if there is an empirically verifiable basis for “compelling preaching.” As this project has evolved, AI has become an important partner. This paper will explore one aspect of the interface between AI and effective preaching: the creation of a virtual homily builder grounded in a database of approximately 600 homilies authored by the program director. This experimental information bank is being used for both analyzing preaching patterns and generating future homily outlines. This article provides a general view of the digital preaching landscape and then narrates a specific experiment with this “imitator” for preaching the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul on 29 June 2025.
Downloads
License
For articles: All articles published in Homiletic are the exclusive property of the Journal. All copyright rights to the article shall be owned by and be in the name of the Academy of Homiletics. The Academy of Homiletics in turn grants all authors the right to reprint their articles in any format that they choose, without the payment of royalties, subject to giving proper credit to the original publication with Homiletic. The Academy of Homiletics also permits articles to be copied for non-profit educational use provided proper credit is given to Homiletic. Authors may self-archive their articles in an institutional repository or other online location, provided proper credit is given to Homiletic.
For reviews: All reviews commissioned by Homiletic are the exclusive property of the Journal. Reviews are considered a work made-for-hire, and, as such, all copyright rights to the review shall be owned by and be in the name of the Academy of Homiletics. The Academy of Homiletics in turn grants all review authors the right to reprint their reviews in any format that they choose, without the payment of royalties, subject to giving proper credit to the original publication with Homiletic. The Academy of Homiletics also permits its reviews to be copied for non-profit educational use provided proper credit is given to the review author and the Journal. Authors may self-archive reviews in an institutional repository or other online location, provided proper credit is given to Homiletic.
