Though certainly not the case for everyone, one of the things Summer often means for many people, is a bit more relaxed time. You know, the “Summertime, and the liv’n is easy,” sort of vibe. This is a time folks often turn to thinking about Summer reading, on a deck in the backyard, at the lake, or on a beach somewhere.

Well, I have a recommendation for you to consider. In the last few months there have been a flurry of news articles and stories about A.I., artificial intelligence. We have been hearing a lot about everything from computer programs that can write papers and articles (this is not one of those J) to robots doing all manner of work in the place of humans, even robot pets!

A.I. clearly holds lots of wonderful potential and at the same time harbors dangers, perhaps even threats. Many and varied opinions about all these things are readily available to us all.

Of course, some have also been exploring what ongoing development and advancement of A.I. might mean for us as people of faith.

A wonderfully written novel, Klara and the Sun, written by Kazuo Ishiguro, explores some of these issues. The novel was written prior to the most recent discussions about A.I. but it is quite prescient in its exploration of the interface between humans, A.I., and faith in a kind of “higher power.”

If you read it, I would love to hear what sorts of questions or ideas it stirs up for you. Maybe we could get together for a book discussion later in July or August.

Happy Reading!

Pastor Lamont