I am still experimenting with AI and asked two AI tools to “Write a blog review of the book, “For All Saints”, by N. T. Wright”, the latest book that I read.
Google Bard responded with:
“I do not have enough information about that person to help with your request. I am a large language model, and I am able to communicate and generate human-like text in response to a wide range of prompts and questions, but my knowledge about this person is limited. Is there anything else I can do to help you with this request?”
ChatGPT responded with:
“For All the Saints: Remembering the Christian Departed by N. T. Wright is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book about the Christian tradition of remembering and honoring those who have died in faith.
In this book, Wright explores the biblical and historical foundations of the Christian practice of remembering the dead, arguing that it is an essential aspect of Christian belief and worship. He emphasizes the importance of remembering not just the famous saints of the past, but also the ordinary men and women who have lived and died in faith throughout the centuries.
One of the most striking aspects of For All the Saints is the way that Wright weaves together biblical exegesis, historical research, and personal reflection. He draws on a wide range of sources, from the writings of the Church Fathers to the poetry of T. S. Eliot, to illustrate his points and bring the practice of remembering the dead to life.
Another strength of the book is its accessibility. Despite being a renowned theologian, Wright writes in a clear and engaging style that is accessible to both scholars and laypeople. He has a gift for making complex ideas understandable without oversimplifying them, and his writing is full of warmth, humor, and compassion.
Perhaps the most powerful message of For All the Saints is that remembering the dead is not just a duty, but a privilege. Through our remembrance of those who have gone before us in faith, we are connected to a rich and vibrant tradition that stretches back to the earliest days of Christianity. We are reminded that we are part of a community of believers that transcends time and space, and that we are all ultimately headed toward the same destination.
Overall, For All the Saints is a deeply inspiring and thought-provoking book that deserves to be read by anyone who is interested in the Christian faith, the history of the Church, or the meaning of life and death. It is a book that will challenge, comfort, and inspire readers, and one that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on those who read it.”
My analysis:
ChatGPT is getting better at creating creative blog reviews. Google Bard is clueless in this example.
Although, I agree with most of the ChatGPT response and love its thoroughness, I do think it misses the biggest point of the book.
N. T. Wright’s main topic concerns the theological concept of purgatory. He works through the lack of biblical support for this theological concept of purgatory. After this, he reviews how popular thought and his own denomination are falling into the same concept of purgatory even though they do not use the name. The concept is that “saints” are special, whereas the “souls” are the rest of us normal people. N. T. argues that the scriptures reveal that we are all “saints.” We have no need to pray to special “saints” so that they can “put in a good word” for us with God. We have direct access to God. We also have no need to pray for “souls” to move them along into a deeper presence with God. We can pray to God for dead “saints” who have a special meaning to us to talk to God about our continual love for them.
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