From Sacred Sanctuary to Intelligent System: A Religious-Studies Reflection on the Transformation of Temple Space under Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence into religious institutions has generated extensive discussion concerning ethics, authority, and belief. However, comparatively little attention has been paid to the transformation of religious space itself. This article examines the intelligent transformation of temple space through the analytical lens of the sacred–profane distinction, arguing that the introduction of artificial intelligence represents not merely a technical modernization but a structural reconfiguration of religious spatiality. Drawing on classical theories of religion, particularly the works of Durkheim and Eliade, as well as contemporary discussions in the sociology of religion and philosophy of technology, the paper conceptualizes temples as symbolic, institutional, and experiential spaces constituted through boundaries, rituals, and normative orders. It then analyzes how algorithmic systems—such as surveillance technologies, data-driven management, and automated governance—reshape temple space by introducing system rationality oriented toward efficiency, visibility, and control. The study argues that this systematization tends to blur the distinction between sacred and profane, transform religious authority, and reconfigure the conditions of religious experience. Rather than rejecting technological mediation outright, the paper calls for a critical religious-studies perspective that recognizes both the adaptive possibilities and the risks of total system integration. It concludes that the future of temples as sacred spaces depends on their capacity to preserve symbolic density, ritual autonomy, and experiential transcendence within increasingly intelligent environments.