In the movie “Shadowlands” about the life of C. S. Lewis the phrase “We read to know we are not alone” weaves its way through the story. It is not something that C. S. Lewis actually wrote, but something that does capture well the thoughts of someone immersed in literature. The phrase spells out the experience of finding one’s own thoughts expressed in the words of a book, often far better explained than we could ever explain it ourselves. When reading a book things suddenly seem to make sense and what we have previously only sensed to be the case now becomes clear. That is particularly the case for people who do not think as everyone around them, those who feel that “common sense” is not always right and that the simple answers people give are too easy. That’s why so often “bookish” people turn to books; particularly if they cannot easily follow popular opinion.

Of course, books are always also a discovery that broadens the mind, but through that we often do find our thoughts confirmed or developed. I wonder whether today the internet has taken over some of the functions that previously books had. After all, it is particularly on the internet that we find out that we are not alone in our thoughts. The algorithms serve us videos that align with our views. We can be part of chat groups of like-minded people. Instead of having to contend with popular, shallow opinions, we can now link up with a few hundred people from across the world, who share similar views.

Unfortunately, that process today tends to polarize people and to bring more actual lived disconnection than books ever did.

Artificial intelligence has progressed this process even more. Now we can ask AI about any topic and it will quicky lead us to an expert or school of thought that is in line with our own views. In this way views can be affirmed yet again. Yes, currently AI seeks to balance its responses, but when pushed it quickly folds and acknowledges one’s views as valid, pointing to sources that align with our thinking.

While it is probably pleasing to have a discussion where our arguments and views are seen as valid, it generates expectations that in real life cannot be met. After all, humans in real life are far more set in their views and less likely to consider different angles. AI itself also helps to entrench our views even more, so that the real world soon becomes a lot more difficult than the online world.

I think that in this digital world, it continues to be important that we still read, but even more so that we still meet together regularly and talk about the important things in life. And in part, church can be one place where we can do that.