In Heidelberg, religious studies scholar Inken Prohl argues that the futuristic visions of tech elites concerning artificial intelligence contain unmistakable religious elements. She told the newspaper “Mannheimer Morgen” on Thursday that stories about “super‑intelligence” and the “singularity” act like promises of salvation, but they rest on assumptions that cannot be verified. According to Prohl, these techno‑religious doctrines risk masking real dangers and creating blind spots that could threaten democratic societies.
Prohl points out that religion isn’t vanishing; it is simply resurfacing in new guises. She predicts that Europe will not experience a revival of traditional church‑based religion, noting that major Christian churches have been losing members and influence for years. Even dramatic spikes in baptism rates-such as those seen during a single Easter night-do not change that trend. Instead, religious meaning now finds expression through political movements, lifestyles, and future‑oriented narratives that adopt religious structures.