ScholarWorks@중앙대학교

초록

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought significant changes to artistic creation and has sparked new discussions within the realm of religious art. This study examines whether AI-generated pictorial images can embody “holiness” within the Catholic theological tradition and explores their potential liturgical applications. In the Catholic Church, sacred painting has served as a vehicle for visual liturgy, and this study evaluates the theological legitimacy of AI-generated sacred painting based on the sacrificial concept underlying traditional sacred painting. As a methodological approach, the research analyzes the visual symbolism and expressive differences of Rembrandt’sThe Return of the Prodigal Sonand conducts a discourse comparison between traditional sacred painting and AI-generated sacred painting. It also investigates, from the perspectives of liturgical and dogmatic theology, the possibility of accepting AI imagery as a visual medium of faith. The findings reveal that while AI-generated sacred painting cannot yet replace traditional sacred painting, they can serve as valuable supplementary tools in areas such as digital-era faith education, liturgical instruction, and missionary work. By situating itself at the intersection of theology and technology, this study proposes the theological significance and potential applications of AI-generated sacred images, and suggests future research on the theological reflection of AI-based “sacred music.”

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