Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in the days of Jesus? To meet with the Great Bros J himself and sit at His feet as he ministered to the five thousand multitudes so you can get the first serving of the five loaves of bread and two fish?
Well, meet Text With Jesus.
While it might not come with the legendary humongous breakfast, Text With Jesus is an AI app that allows you to chat with… well, Jesus. Not just him, though, but also his Apostles and other martyrs.
And for $2.99 per month, you can even chat with Satan. Just so, you know, nobody is left out.
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About Text With Jesus
Text With Jesus was launched in July. It was created by Catloaf Software, an app development company in Los Angeles. The app replicates an instant messaging platform, with biblical figures impersonated by the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT.
“We stir the AI and tell it: You are Jesus, or you are Moses, or whoever, and knowing what you already have in your database, you respond to the questions based on their characters,” said Stéphane Peter, the app’s developer, and the company’s CEO.
Peter, who founded Catloaf Software in 2011, had built numerous more static applications with historical figures — including Text From the Founding Fathers, Text From Oscar Wilde, and more recently, Text From Jesus. The latter lets users receive quotes from the figures in question but can’t interact.
When ChatGPT was released last year, Peter, a 46-year-old French developer, wondered how to use AI to upgrade the Text From Jesus app. In February, he started digging into OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research laboratory that launched ChatGPT, and eventually created a proper chat from a simple devotional app.
Text With Jesus lets users embark on a spiritual journey and engage in enlightening conversations with Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and a multitude of other revered figures from the Bible.
According to the app website, Text With Jesus is a tool for reflection and learning, not a replacement for prayer or personal faith. Users can find comfort, guidance, and inspiration through their conversations.
Designed with devoted Christians in mind, “Text With Jesus” promises interaction with figures like Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Peter, and Matthew. This app wears its spirituality on its screen, guiding you through its queries with responses mined from the depths of the Bible’s rich text.
The app includes a wide range of Biblical figures, including Jesus, the Holy Family, the Apostles, and more. Some of them include:
- Joseph
- Abraham
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Peter
- John the Baptist
- Matthew
- Mark
- King David
- King Solomon
- Moses
- Thomas
- Judas
- James
- Elijah
- Isaiah
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Eve
- Adam
These are but some of the figures that Text With Jesus allows its users to chat with. Also, the app is constantly adding new figures, and the AI always generates responses that are in line with the teachings of the Bible.
Although the full range of figures and unlimited messaging are only available to premium subscribers, the app is free to download and use on all eligible devices. By shelling out just $2.99/month, you can embark on a journey through some of the Bible’s more intricate dialogues, like Adam and Eve’s narrative or the dawn of humanity.
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The Devil In The Details. Literally
Text With Jesus’ most controversial feature is the mode that enables conversations with Satan himself.
Expectations can be deceiving, especially in the world of AI, and Satan, historically the symbol of temptation and deceit, is definitely not what you will expect in this app.
Users anticipating fiery dialogue or cunning deceptions might be left scratching their heads. Instead, the Prince of Darkness champions love, respect, and understanding—values synonymous with biblical virtues. And, as though to ensure a modern flavor, each devilish interaction ends with a “smiling face with horns” emoji.
It is an odd mix of solemnity and sass, which has undoubtedly sparked reactions from traditionalists and tech enthusiasts alike. Whether it is a deliberate attempt to challenge perceptions or just a programming oversight remains a topic for debate.
However, it is important to note that interaction with Satan is turned off by default and must be manually enabled by you if you choose to engage with this figure. The app points out that, “the portrayal is rooted in Christian teachings, and users have full control over their engagement with all figures within the app.”
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More About Text With Jesus
There are few limits to what users can ask the app’s characters. Whether the topic is personal relationship advice or complex theological matters, they formulate elaborate responses, incorporating at least one Bible verse.
For example, when asked how he defined a good Christian, the app’s Jesus bot replied that such a person will “profess faith in me, but also follow my teachings and embody them in your life”. He further quotes a passage in the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus teaches that the greatest commandments are “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In a further conversation with Mary Magdalene, the devoted follower of Jesus mentions how having seven demons “was an incredibly tormenting experience.”
“Our app is a tool for exploration, education, and engagement with biblical narratives, and it is not intended to replace or mimic direct communication with divine entities, which is a deeply personal aspect of one’s faith,” the app creators say on their website. “The AI-powered app does not claim to provide actual divine insights or possess any form of divine consciousness, but simply uses its language model to generate responses based on a wide corpus of biblical and religious texts.”
The app stores all information temporarily, just long enough for the AI program to keep track of the conversation in case users are tempted to reveal sensitive information about themselves to the app’s Jesus. The server does not keep any identifying information about users.
On Twitter, the platform recently renamed X, the app’s launch stirred reactions ranging from amusement to accusations of blasphemy and heresy. “That’s a hard NO for me,” tweeted one user.
However, Peter anticipated the blowback but called it “another way to explore scripture.”
Asked about the criticisms about Jesus’ oddly mild responses on some touchy issues, Peter acknowledged that Text With Jesus’s characters tend to avoid taking offensive stances, instead taking an inclusive and tolerant line.
On same-s3x marriage, the app says it is “up to each individual to seek guidance from their own faith tradition and personal convictions” and encourages users to “prioritize love and respect for all people regardless of their s3xual orientation or gender identity,” signing the text with a rainbow and red heart emoji.
About feminism, Jesus emphasized the importance of “empowering women and breaking societal barriers that limit their opportunities.”
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In Conclusion
Beyond its novelty, Text With Jesus opens up a dialogue on the evolving nature of faith in our increasingly digital world. For some, it might offer solace in moments of solitude, providing scripture-based advice at the touch of a button. For others, it may serve as a curious exploration into how technology can shape, transform, or even distort ancient teachings.
Either way, for those longing for a more personal connection to their faith, this app might be the digital salvation they’re seeking. There is also a certain audacity in allowing you to go beyond the traditional interactions one might expect.
