The workshop confirmed several points at the border of theology and robotics, consistently taking the interdisciplinary perspective between systematic and practical theology. Here are some key observations summarized:
Theolog:ians have been underrepresented in the design process of robots. The workshop nevertheless offered the opportunity to learn about and try out other digital tools for religious practice besides CelesTE, which are already being developed by theologians in isolated cases, are being used in religious practice, and were able to directly encourage the pioneering spirit of the participants. Overall, theologians should engage more in discourse with the disciplines of engineering and computer science. In so far as these disciplines produce cultural objects, they also relate to the previous religious experiences of the users addressed by the design. At the same time, it is clear from the examples considered that religious technology, especially when it addresses such global phenomena as aging, can also be used globally without further ado due to digitization and the availability of the individual technical components and must be adapted here to a clearly diverse audience. As a result, the religious intrinsic values of the respective place and context of origin are confronted with the religious expectations and prejudices of different parts of the world. For example, CelesTE was developed especially for older people and tested in Peru, Poland, and Germany in selected contexts characterized by traditional religious symbols and rituals. Based on these examples, it became clear that when designing AI and social robotics for religious domains, all countries with an aging society must remain in view, and thus almost the entire spectrum of religions and ecclesiastical traditions in the world must be taken into account. For the cultural adaptation necessary here, it can be stated in the overall view of the topic, practical-theological, especially sociological perspectives of religion and pastoral competence are required. The relevance of the theological perspective was underscored by the observation that developments that could be used in religious contexts initially emerge independently of religious ties (e.g., avatars in VR for individual commemoration of the dead) but are obviously intended to satisfy a spiritual need for transcendence that certainly requires professional support in existential extreme situations such as death and mourning.Polen und Deutschland in ausgewählten Kontexten getestet, die durch tradierte religiöse Symbole und Rituale geprägt sind. An Hand dieser Beispiele wurde deutlich, dass beim Design von KI und sozialer Robotik für religiöse Bereiche alle Länder mit einer alternden Gesellschaft im Blick bleiben müssen und damit nahezu das gesamte Spektrum an Religionen und kirchlichen Traditionen der Welt berücksichtigt werden muss. Für die hier notwendige kulturelle Adaption, so lässt sich in der Gesamtschau des Themas feststellen, sind praktische-theologische, insbesondere religionssoziologische Perspektiven und seelsorgerische Kompetenz gefragt. Die Relevanz der theologischen Perspektive wurde durch die Beobachtung unterstrichen, dass Entwicklungen, die in religiösen Kontexten zum Einsatz kommen könnten, zwar zunächst unabhängig von religiösen Bindungen entstehen (bspw. Avatare in VR zum individuellen Totengedenken) aber offensichtlich ein spirituelles Bedürfnis nach Transzendierung befriedigen sollen, das in existentiellen Extremsituationen wie Tod und Trauer durchaus einer professionellen Begleitung bedarf.

Also in a systematic theological perspective, the workshop turned to the questions of religious robotics to other religions that have their own experiences with the topic. The Islamic theological and philosophical perspective was represented by two Islamic scholars from Erlangen and Vienna. If one takes into account that technical development took its roots in the Islamic region over a long period of time before it grew into Christian Europe, it is obvious to look for Islamic theology as a discussion partner. It is beginning, albeit with similar reluctance as Christian theology, to reflect scientifically on robots and technology and to weigh the pros and cons of using them in a religious context.
Through interaction with smart technical systems, humans are constantly challenged in their self-perception (both positively and negatively). In this context, religious education is gaining in importance as a place for reflective discussion of existential questions in the development of young people's identities.
Finally, the examination of science fiction can provide another important contribution to the philosophical-theological discourse. With the question of a heaven for robots, for example, the soteriological question of the need for redemption of creation is also cleverly extended to the non-natural creation of man, including technology that accompanies man, supports him or even expands his abilities.
The results of the workshop will be prepared in the form of an anthology, which will be prepared for publication later this year and is scheduled to appear in 2024.