FID-068 · Open question
Christian Practices for AI-Era Youth Discernment
Which Christian practices and community rhythms help young people examine their AI use with agency, embodiment, truthful attention, relationship, and spiritual discernment? What measurable outcomes and safeguards should guide future formation-oriented research or programming?
Why the question remains open
Young people are encountering AI through school, work, social life, search, and personal guidance. Generic digital-literacy advice may not address questions of vocation, dependence, prayer, truthfulness, community, attention, and the meaning of human dignity. Churches and educators need evidence before treating any particular practice or curriculum as a solution.
Working hypothesis
A proposition to test, not a finding.
Practices such as communal discernment, Sabbath and attention rhythms, service, prayer, source reflection, and accountable peer dialogue may help participants notice tradeoffs in AI use. Their effects are likely to depend on developmental stage, social context, theological tradition, and whether the practices increase rather than replace trusted human relationships.
Proposed method
How the question could be tested
- 01Build a literature-informed taxonomy of Christian practices relevant to AI use, drawing on theology, youth development, media studies, and HAI research.
- 02Co-design research questions and practice prototypes with young adults, pastors, educators, and parents; begin with adults age 18 and older.
- 03Define a theory of change and candidate measures for agency, embodiment, relational connection, reflective judgment, and spiritual wellbeing.
- 04Produce an ethics-reviewed pilot protocol for any later study involving minors, with youth assent, parent or guardian consent, and safeguarding.
Needed controls
What must constrain the study
- 01Do not treat spiritual wellbeing, reduced screen time, or self-reported agreement as interchangeable outcomes.
- 02Avoid collecting sensitive spiritual disclosures or making AI use a condition of participation.
- 03Treat traditions and practices with theological specificity and humility.
- 04Require independent ethics and safeguarding review before research involving minors or vulnerable participants.
Relationship to existing work
This complements FID-016, FID-027, FID-035, and FID-050. It focuses on developing an evidence-ready practice and measurement framework for youth and young-adult discernment, rather than only cataloging risks, assessing long-term formation, or studying non-use.
Expected outputs
Artifacts the work should produce
- 01A taxonomy of Christian practices relevant to AI-era discernment.
- 02A theory of change and candidate outcome measures.
- 03Co-design findings and a research-ready pilot protocol.
- 04A safeguarding and ethics checklist for future youth-facing studies.
Open questions
Uncertainties the protocol must resolve
- 01Which practices support agency without becoming surveillance or moral panic?
- 02How should outcomes differ for adolescents, emerging adults, families, and youth-ministry settings?
- 03What evidence would justify expanding a pilot into a larger study?
Related calls
Continue through this research area
FID-038
Non-Calculability, Forgiveness, and Predictive Profiling
How should AI systems represent human change when they classify, score, rank, or predict people in contexts involving pastoral care, education, safeguarding, volunteer screening, hiring, discipline, membership, donor engagement, or community support?
FID-079
Presuppositions, Disagreement, and Evaluation Judgment
How do researchers' presuppositions shape evaluation design and interpretation, and can explicit disclosure make judgments more inspectable and appropriately trusted?
FID-004
Relational Substitution Risk in Faith-Facing AI
When does a faith-facing AI system move from supporting a user's religious life to substituting for embodied community, clergy, spiritual direction, family, therapy, or other human care?
Open question
Open work
Primary need: youth and young-adult ministry, practical theology, developmental research, ethics review, HAI research
- Review the framework from youth ministry, theology, developmental science, education, and HAI research.
- Contribute safeguarding, consent, and research-ethics expertise.
- Help recruit diverse young-adult and practitioner co-design participants.