Balancing Faith and Technology: The Role of Christian Religious Education Teachers in Guiding Students’ Responsible AI Use According to Romans 12:2 at SD Swasta Generasi Bintang
Keywords:
Faith, Christian Religious Education, Technology, AI UseAbstract
This study examines the role of Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers in guiding primary school students to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, grounded in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Conducted at SD Swasta Generasi Bintang with 104 Christian students and one CRE teacher, the research explores how teacher competence, encompassing pedagogical skill, relational guidance, and ethical modeling, influences students’ digital literacy and spiritual discernment. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, utilizing classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with the teacher, focused group discussions (FGDs) with students, and analysis of instructional materials. Thematic analysis revealed that teacher empathy, scenario-based learning, reflective questioning, storytelling, and Christ-centered modeling effectively integrated ethical AI use with spiritual formation. Students demonstrated increased awareness of responsible AI practices, applying discernment and moral reasoning aligned with biblical principles in their digital engagement. Observations indicated that collaborative and reflective activities reinforced peer support and fostered a classroom culture that emphasized ethical and faith-based decision-making. Challenges, such as managing a large classroom and varying levels of student readiness, were addressed through adaptive strategies including small-group discussions and scaffolded reflection exercises. The findings highlight the importance of teacher competence in balancing faith and technology, demonstrating that integrating biblical principles with digital literacy promotes holistic development, ethical awareness, and spiritual growth. This study contributes to understanding how CRE teachers can equip students to navigate modern technological tools without compromising their Christian values, offering a practical model for faith-informed digital education in primary school settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Cristin Mandasari Purba (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
