AI-Generated Bible Videos Spark Fierce Debate

It looks like the Book of Revelation just got a Hollywood makeover — and not everyone’s praising it.

Pray.com, a for-profit Christian media company that calls itself “the world’s #1 app for faith and prayer,” is now churning out AI-generated Bible videos at an astonishing pace. The clips, posted under “The AI Bible” on YouTube, transform scripture into cinematic blockbusters — complete with crumbling cities, screaming crowds, and even a seven-headed dragon ripped straight from apocalyptic prophecy.

One recent video dramatizing a passage from Revelation has racked up more than 750,000 views in just two months. To some, it’s inspiring. To others, it’s sacrilege.

Pray.com’s Vice President of Content, Max Bard, says this is the future of religious storytelling.

“AI has given us tools to bring these stories to life in ways no one has ever seen before,” Bard told reporters. “We’re kind of in this groove where we know what people really enjoy and engage with.”

The company uses multiple AI tools — including ChatGPT for concepts and script drafting — combined with human narrators and original music. Actors record performances that are then transformed by AI into biblical characters like Elijah, Moses, or John of Patmos.

“The AI Bible is about making scripture cinematic,” Bard explained. “Think of it like the Marvel Universe of faith.”

Pray.com has built a massive following, boasting over two million subscribers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Some videos have topped millions of views, especially among younger audiences.

Ryan Beck, Pray.com’s Chief Technology Officer, says the response has been overwhelming.

“People write to us saying these stories are changing their lives — spiritually and mentally,” Beck said. “This isn’t AI slop. We put care into every video.”

But not everyone is convinced that turning the Bible into a high-octane CGI spectacle is a good idea.

Brad East, a theology professor at Abilene Christian University, blasted the approach as shallow and spiritually hollow.

“It’s depressing that anyone would think this is spiritually edifying,” East said. “It has the Marvel videogame aesthetic — in all the worst ways.”

Jeffrey Bilbro, a professor at Grove City College and an expert on Christianity and technology, agreed that there’s a danger in reducing scripture to viral entertainment.

“The package makes the Bible just another piece of content,” Bilbro said. “It shifts the focus from divine revelation to amusement — and that’s a dangerous move.”

Others raised concerns about the accuracy of the depictions. The AI Bible has tackled some of the most contested passages in scripture — including the Nephilim and the apocalyptic visions of Revelation.

“Some of these stories are debated even within Christian scholarship,” said Rev. Dr. Paul Hoffman, a biblical studies professor at Samford University. “Maybe that’s part of the marketing plan, but it risks confusing people more than it teaches them.”

This isn’t the first time Christianity has embraced new technology to spread its message. From the early adoption of bound books to Gutenberg’s printing press, religious groups have often been pioneers in using media to reach the masses.

John Dyer, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and author of People of the Screen, sees the AI Bible as the latest chapter in that history.

“Evangelicals have always had this can-do American spirit of trying new things,” Dyer said. “If it connects people to the Bible, many see it as a good thing.”

But critics warn there’s a fine line between innovation and distortion.

“When do we get to just watch Jesus say, ‘Turn the other cheek?’” East asked. “That’s not going to make an action-packed trailer — and maybe that’s the problem.”

Pray.com insists it isn’t replacing scripture — just reimagining it. Bard and Beck describe the videos as “edutainment,” a mix of education and engagement designed to reach a digital-first generation.

“We want to lean toward entertainment,” Beck admitted. “Biblical content has been over-indexed toward educational. We’re trying to change that.”

Whether these AI-crafted visions become a new way to experience faith — or simply another form of viral distraction — remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: in 2025, even the Word of God isn’t safe from algorithms.