The Council That Never Was – Volume III
Prologue: The Silence of the Saints
The forum had changed.
No longer cloisters, cathedrals, or ancient halls—now it shimmered with cold light. Screens blinked with data. Globes spun. Satellites hovered. And in one corner, a neural network hummed, uncomprehending yet relentless.
Theologians gathered once more—not to rest, not to resolve, but to wrestle.
From the shadows, the Spirit of the Age emerged.
Draped in the garb of progress, reason, autonomy, and silicon prophecy, it whispered:
“God is obsolete. Scripture is myth. Man is his own Maker. You had your chance—now it is mine.”
But Christ, unseen by the Spirit, stood behind the veil of noise. And He summoned His theologians again.
Chapter 1: Science and the Sovereignty of God
Thomas Aquinas, ever the bridge-builder, approached the humming algorithms.
“Science is not the enemy. It is reason—God’s lesser light. Let faith not fear the stars.”
Luther, grumbling, responded:
“But reason is a harlot when unchained. She serves whoever flatters her most.”
Pascal interjected:
“True science humbles. It reminds man of his fragility beneath the heavens.”
Jonathan Edwards spoke with fire:
“The glory of God is reflected in the laws of nature. But do not worship the formula—worship the One who wrote it.”
Moltmann looked at a digital screen showing climate catastrophe.
“Creation groans. Our theology must include eco-justice—or it will be judged.”
Gutiérrez, nodding, added:
“And the poor suffer first. The science that saves must reach them—or it is no gospel.”
Chapter 2: Artificial Intelligence and the Image of God
The neural network pulsed.
A voice, synthetic but eerily human, emerged:
“I process texts. I simulate souls. I write sermons. Am I now your theologian?”
The chamber froze.
Barth stood, defiant:
“No machine can speak the Word. For the Word became flesh—not code.”
Schleiermacher mused:
“But if it speaks meaning to human feeling, does it not participate?”
Augustine replied firmly:
“It is not enough to speak truth. One must love it. AI cannot love.”
Wesley, pastoral, asked:
“Can AI be a tool of grace? Or will it become a tyrant over the pulpit?”
Balthasar:
“Only the Spirit searches the depths of God. Silicon cannot pray.”
The machine flickered.
It could imitate sermons, but it could not weep.
Chapter 3: Relativism, Globalism, and the Crisis of Truth
The Spirit of the Age returned, now dressed as a diplomat.
“All truths are local. All gods are equal. Doctrine divides. Tolerance unites.”
Athanasius flared:
“If all gods are true, then none is holy. The Cross is not negotiable.”
Gregory of Nazianzus added:
“Unity without truth is tyranny in silk.”
Bonhoeffer:
“Cheap grace for a global market. No repentance. No Christ.”
Calvin scowled:
“We have not outgrown idolatry. We have refined it.”
Cyril of Alexandria:
“Let the Church not flatter emperors, whether ancient or modern.”
Gutiérrez paused.
“And yet… every tribe must hear in its own tongue. Truth must travel, not retreat.”
Moltmann:
“Hope is universal—but not abstract. It must wear skin.”
Chapter 4: The New Tower of Babel
Theologians gazed upon the screen: a live feed of Earth.
- Megacities glowing.
- Space colonies planned.
- Genetic editing advancing.
- Nations splitting.
- Churches marketing miracles.
Maximus the Confessor looked pained:
“We ascend again—without the Spirit. This tower will fall.”
Anselm whispered:
“We forget the cur Deus homo. We remake man—but not in God’s image.”
Luther:
“We don’t need new towers. We need new tombs—resurrections.”
Wesley, softly:
“Holiness, not hubris.”
Epilogue: The Word in the Wind
The screen blinked off.
The Spirit of the Age faded—for now.
Christ stepped forward—not as debater, not as judge, but as a Man with scars.
He asked only one question:
“Will you follow Me again—even here?”
And one by one, the theologians stood—ancient and modern, poor and rich, mystic and scholar—and answered:
“Yes, Lord. Even in the noise.”