Video: German church has a Robot Priest that grants automated blessings

Technology has taken over most our lives and while it may be limited to our homes and classrooms it has never entered religious places to become a part of the congregation. However, a church in Germany may have just taken the first step towards a progressive religious space by having a robot priest that gives out blessings

According to a media report, the robot priest called ‘Bless U-2’ is changing the way blessings are given after it was made by the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau. The metallic-bodied robot has a screen that asks people about the blessings they want and then raises its hands and smiles just like the priest does. It replies by saying “God bless you and protect you” before reciting a verse from the bible and then dispenses a printout of the verse.

Interestingly, the church installed it to inculcate discussion among the church-goers and they have unique reactions to the development. Mostly, they miss the personal touch that the priest adds to the blessing which is clearly missing. The robot was installed to mark 500 years since German priest Martin Luther published ‘The 95 Theses’ the book instrumental in the Protestant Reformation.

Watch the video: