When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Society

French Park Rangers Mistake Catholic Mass For Rave Party

LE POINT , NICE MATIN (France)

Worldcrunch

NICE - Overzealous forest rangers of the Mercantour National Park in the French Alps, gave a 1,500 euro fine to an association for organizing a catholic mass without authorization.

At first, the rangers told them that it was forbidden to hold a religious event or play the saxophone in the forest. "They seemed understanding and so we celebrated the mass without music," the president of the Aléa association Lucien Carlès told the French daily Nice Matin. "Then they came back and accused us of organizing an unauthorized religious event," eventually slapping the small congregation with a 1,500 euro fine.

The gesture left the worshippers bewildered and sparked the ire of several officials, including mayor of Nice and former French Industry minister Christian Estrosi, who told the French weekly magazine Le Point : "I find restrictions for such traditional celebrations shocking," he said. "It goes against the principles I'm fighting for in our villages."

The Aléa association has been holding this mass for the past 15 years in remembrance of its deceased members.

"The rangers compared it to a ‘rave party". It's just preposterous!" said Lucien Carlès .

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Future

AI As God? How Artificial Intelligence Could Spark Religious Devotion

We may be about to see the emergence of a new kind of religion, where flocks worship — literally — at the altar of Artificial Intelligence.

Image of artificial intelligence as an artificial being

Artificial intelligence generated picture of AI as a god

Neil McArthur

The latest generation of AI-powered chatbots, trained on large language models, have left their early users awestruck —and sometimes terrified — by their power. These are the same sublime emotions that lie at the heart of our experience of the divine.

People already seek religious meaning from very diverse sources. There are, for instance, multiple religions that worship extra-terrestrials or their teachings.

As these chatbots come to be used by billions of people, it is inevitable that some of these users will see the AIs as higher beings. We must prepare for the implications.

There are several pathways by which AI religions will emerge. First, some people will come to see AI as a higher power.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest