Laurence Tamatea
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Laurence Tamatea’s research explores the intersection of religion, technology, and identity, with a particular focus on how Christian communities engage with emerging scientific frontiers. His most-cited work, “If robots R–US, who am I: Online ‘Christian’ responses to artificial intelligence” (2008, 19 citations), examines how online Christian discourse interprets artificial intelligence and artificial life through the theological lens of *imago Dei*. In this study, Tamatea analyzes internet forum posts to answer two key questions: which theological approach to the image of God informs these responses, and how do believers reconcile their faith with the prospect of non-human persons? Beyond this, his broader scholarship investigates the cultural and philosophical implications of GRIN technologies (genetic, robotic, information, and nano-processes) for religious worldviews. Tamatea’s work is notable for bridging the gap between theology and technoscience, offering rare empirical insight into how everyday believers—rather than just theologians—grapple with questions of human uniqueness in an age of intelligent machines. His research remains a touchstone for scholars studying religion, posthumanism, and the social reception of AI.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1