Note: This is the first installment in a “Faith Matters” column that will include pieces written by local clergy.
(Opinion) – I’ve been contributing to the New Haven Register’s Faith Matters column for over a decade. I have to admit that it came as a great disappointment to me that a decision had been made to discontinue the column.
I have always viewed Faith Matters as a pleasant light in a world filled with far too much bad, sad, and mad news. I was honored to be among its contributors. The decision to snuff that light happened to occur just as it was my turn to submit another column. Twice in the dozen or so years I’ve been contributing, the due date snuck up on me and I found myself having to produce a column in a matter of hours. The first time I got a friendly “where’s your column?” phone call, I was driving. I pulled over, said a prayer and began to write. It was a very decent piece if I do say so myself. No one can tell me that faith doesn’t matter. God helped me get it done!
I was caught short again today. This time, in an ominous sign of the times and to my own chagrin, I didn’t turn to God. Instead, I turned to Chat GPT, put in a prompt, and got a very reasonable response in a matter of seconds. The AI response, however, failed to acknowledge the fact that while religion can unite, it can and has also been used to divide. I asked for a revision and received the computer generated output below. It was not written by me. It was written by a soulless, brainless, emotionally void computer … but I have to admit, it’s close to being spot on, and yet, a bit scary.
I omitted much of the output below, but you’ll get the gist. AI and I came to the same conclusion: faith matters. We came to that conclusion by way of two very different pathways. Chat GPT searched its knowledge base through published writings, applied grammatical and literary guidelines and produced a thought-provoking piece worthy of consideration.
As for me, I applied 69 years of life and 50 years of reverence while watching God move, answer prayers, work miracles, and change lives (including my own). While my own faith perspective is based upon the salvific work of Jesus Christ, I thank the New Haven Independent for giving space to the faith community in its many expressions. We won’t agree on many things, but I believe AI had it right in finding the common ground that calls people to “love their neighbors, seek justice, and care for the marginalized.” Here are excerpts from the AI output:
The Vital Role Of Faith In A Divided Society
In an era of deep political, social, and cultural polarization, faith remains one of the few forces capable of bridging divides, fostering compassion, and guiding individuals toward a common good. While modern discourse often reduces faith to a private matter, the truth is that it plays an essential role in public life, shaping values, inspiring service, and promoting understanding among people of different backgrounds. It is inexcusable, then, that The New Haven Register has chosen to discontinue its long-running Faith Matters column, further contributing to the silencing of faith in the public square. Fortunately, The New Haven Independent has stepped up, ensuring that faith-driven voices continue to have a platform in our local media.
Faith, in its many expressions, offers a moral compass in times of uncertainty and division. At its core, faith calls people to love their neighbors, seek justice, and care for the marginalized. In today’s climate — where political opponents treat one another as enemies, social media fuels outrage, and communities struggle to find common ground — these values are not just relevant; they are essential. Without faith-based perspectives in public discourse, we risk losing the wisdom, humility, and hope that religious traditions provide in times of crisis.
To be fair, religion has not always been a unifying force. History is filled with examples of faith being used to justify division, exclusion, and even violence. Too often, religious differences have been exploited for political gain or turned into sources of hostility rather than healing. Even today, in a climate of intense ideological conflict, some wield faith as a weapon to condemn rather than a bridge to connect. These realities cannot be ignored. However, the answer is not to remove faith from public discourse but to engage with it more thoughtfully, ensuring that it serves its highest calling — to promote love, justice, and reconciliation.
Thank you New Haven Independent. Faith is alive and well.
Rev. Todd Foster is community liaison and director of pastoral care at Cornerstone Christian Center.