Bots feel less new, more like the latest upgrade. The first lines rang out in Detroit, tape loops of pre-recorded prayers that spread nationwide, jamming switchboards by the ’70s. Faith as on-demand audio, sometimes with a donation prompt. An analogue form of faith-as-content, running on tape decks instead of algorithms. Today’s “Jesus bots” just swap cassettes for code—comfort repackaged, monetization baked in.
Found a 60s clipping: ‘Dial-a-prayer’ hotlines —
“Dial-A-Prayer — devotion on demand.” — The News-Herald, Hillsboro, OH, Nov 3, 1962; https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-herald-dial-a-prayer/10245744/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Bots feel less new, more like the latest upgrade. The first lines rang out in Detroit, tape loops of pre-recorded prayers that spread nationwide, jamming switchboards by the ’70s. Faith as on-demand audio, sometimes with a donation prompt. An analogue form of faith-as-content, running on tape decks instead of algorithms. Today’s “Jesus bots” just swap cassettes for code—comfort repackaged, monetization baked in.