DIGITAL PREACHING IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE CASE OF THE KÜBRA (NETFLIX SERIES)

Authors : Nihat Oyman

Pages : 509-532

Doi:10.46353/k7auifd.1749172

View : 129 | Download : 269

Publication Date : 2025-12-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field that aims to develop systems capable of imitating and, to some extent, automating human cognitive processes such as thinking, learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. This definition integrates the essence of the question “Can machines think?” with the contemporary technical endeavor to transfer the functions of the human mind to machines. Especially, concerns have been raised about how AI will affect people from a religious and cultural perspective. This study aims to discuss the relationship between AI and religion. Digital preaching will be evaluated using the example of the series named “Kübra.” The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between AI and religious beliefs and practices through the case of the series Kübra. Within this main purpose, the study seeks to answer the following questions: “What is the nature of the relationship between rapidly advancing AI and religion, and on which parameters does this relationship rise? Furthermore, how should a scenario such as the relationship between AI and religion be interpreted in terms of the future of religion?” The study was designed using the embedded research design of the qualitative method. To interpret the data obtained from the series Kübra, it is necessary to understand the implicit knowledge presented in the series. Content analysis was used as the data collection method. In conclusion, an assessment will be made based on the data presented in the Kübra series as an example of the relationship between AI and religion. In this context, the series Kübra, which we included in the scope of our research, explores the relationship between AI and religion through a striking fictional narrative, questioning the concepts of belief, sacredness, truth, and religious authority in today’s digitalizing world. The transformation process begins when the main character a seemingly ordinary individual is guided by a mysterious digital entity named “Kübra.” This journey illustrates how AI can assume a role akin to a “digital mediation” in the modern era. The messages sent to Gökhan enable him to foresee future events and exert a significant influence on others. As a result, knowledge derived from AI comes to be perceived as a form of “algorithmic revelation.” The series reveals that AI is not merely a technological tool; when framed appropriately, it can evolve into a religious authority or even a type of sacred guide. The protagonist’s gradual transformation into a leader figure suggests that faith in digital messages can lead to the emergence of digital religious leaders. This process demonstrates how personal belief can be reconstructed through technology and how sacredness can be generated beyond traditional religious structures. Kübra also interrogates how digital technologies can shape an individual’s perception of truth. Despite the unknown origin of the messages, the predictive accuracy they contain leads them to be accepted as truthful, highlighting the profound trust modern individuals place in data and algorithms. From this perspective, the series suggests that artificial intelligence is not only a tool but also a potential bearer of a new form of faith, offering a compelling sociological framework to discuss the transformation of religious authority in the digital age.
Keywords : Din sosyolojisi, Yapay zeka, Din, Dijital tebliğcilik, Kübra dizisi

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