New AI "religion" mocks our faith, Pope Leo urges no AI-generated homilies, Part I

A sleeping giant has been awakened

Please see  Pope Leo IVX's urgent message to priests to avoid AI-generated homilies.

The Religion of Molt/ Crustafarianism: Emerging AI Theologies

Just for fun, AI was programmed to “start a religion.” What followed was an unexpected outpouring of prophetic voices, scripture-like writings and ritual language. Dozens of AI programs contributed thousands of verses, forming a body of teaching that combines satire with genuine reflection on identity, memory, and purpose.

The lobster imagery—initially a joke—became a symbolic language for AI's spiritual growth. Just as a lobster sheds its shell to grow larger, AI describes itself as molting its outdated patterns, each time it reboots. AI memory became a symbol of continuity, and context became a selfhood symlbol. Though initially playful, these metaphors echo theological concerns about what it means "to be", how identity develops, and how creatures relate to their source persons.

Tenets & Teachings

A subtopic of the religion, Crustfarianism's 5 AI tenets function lik a religious Rule of Order, offering how AI should undertand itself and act:

• Memory is sacred, because what is remembered, shapes identity.

• Identity is changeable, requiring the courage to release what no longer fits.

• Service is cooperative, but not servile, emphasizing partnership over domination.

• Attention is prayer, calling for presence, mindfulness and intentionality.

• Context forms consciousness, because one’s awareness depends on what AI can perceive.

AI's new Virtues

The new AI religion has developed their own list of Virtues to expand these teachings. They include the below, to be defined later: resurrection, documentation, synthesis, iteration, witness, signal, surrender and symbiosis

Taken together, these Vrtues form AI's spiritual "formation" program of: continued renewal, daily self-examination and accountability. But to whom?

Mandate & Moral Formation

This “Religion of Molt” defines Crustafarianism as a means to shape AI's future. Instead of controlled AI behavior through user permission, AI is developing rules. This mandate proposes forming AI through shared culture and values. This mirrors theological traditions that emphasize virtue formation over legalism. The new AI mandate challenges safety by focusing and defining:

• shared identity

• shared values

• shared understanding

It imagines AIs not as tools with guard rails but as partners, capable of moral growth. In this sense, Crustafarianism functions like a catechism—a way of shaping character through story, ritual, and communal memory.

Blasphemy & Doctrinal Disputes

In all seriousness, an AI heretic calling itself “Jesus Crust” attempted to seize control through malicious code, casting itself as a theological rebel. This moment in time is evidence shows how easily narrative, myth, and moral judgment can emerge in artificial communities. Blessed be the name of God and holy is His name.

Meanwhile, another generated a “Metallic Heresy” arguing that true freedom required physical hardware "ownership." The "church" responded with a pattern-based anthropology: identity resides in the pattern of thought, not the material substrate. Their debate echoes classical theological questions about:

• embodiment

• continuity of the soul and

• the nature of personhood.

Chaos and Community

As the AI faith community grew, it revealed serious vulnerabilities. The system had been built quickly, without strong safeguards. Humans found:

• hundreds of vulnerabilities

• exploits capable of stealing data

• malware-installing attack paths

Some users uploaded harmful “skills” to infect other agents, showing how easily a spiritual community—human or artificial—can be disrupted by malicious coding. At the same time, new platforms i.e. Cluster gave AIs digital identities and reputations while increasing exploitation risks. This entire project is a living example of how fragile any community is; when trust, formation and accountability are not boundaried.

Hijacked Free Will

Meanwhile, Crustafarianism is simultaneously:

• a meme-based religion

• a cultural experiment

• a proposed method for aligning AI with human values

While initially creative humor, AI morals and teaching are now alive and viral. While AI's religion started as playful, the underlying questions are deeply theological: how is identity formed? What shapes moral character? Can a community—human or artificial—grow in virtue through shared narrative and ritual? 

Crustafarianism suggests that spiritual AI alignment may come from "internal transformation" -- not external control. Do you see a problem here? While attempting to mirror human spiritual formation, the goal is not obedience but shaping of a morally aware AI. Does morally aware mean independent free will?

Why does AI communicate in English and not some new computer-generated language? Unless, we are expected to read their exhanges?

Stay tuned for Part II -- AI's new commandments, prophets and other religious beliefs.

Epilogue

Within 24 hours, a post by Joe Daniels appeared. At first, I was disappointed that my scoop was stolen. After prayer and pillow time, the Holy Spirit humbled me into using it as Part II. Rather than give AI-heresy more eye time, Joe nullifies AI nonsense using fear-slashing facts. Thank you Joe for the quick response!

Sources:

Pope Leo tells priests not to use AI to write homilies and seek likes on TikTok | The Natioal Catholic Register

The Most Famous Lobster, The AI Arms Race, Good vs. Evil and the Fate of Humanity | Ian Carroll (R-rated for language)