<![CDATA[Choosing Human: Brave New Us]]>https://www.choosinghuman.org/s/brave-new-ushttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!q_eI!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F12331181-679b-4254-b6f4-f8b27f1efa2d_900x900.pngChoosing Human: Brave New Ushttps://www.choosinghuman.org/s/brave-new-usSubstackSun, 12 Apr 2026 01:51:39 GMT<![CDATA[Can AI Be Redeemed?]]>https://www.choosinghuman.org/p/can-ai-be-redeemedhttps://www.choosinghuman.org/p/can-ai-be-redeemedMon, 23 Mar 2026 12:49:41 GMTMy husband and I are a complementary fit, but—in many ways—polar opposites. He takes risks. I avoid them. He thinks F1 racing looks exhilarating and fun. I see it as a potential manifestation of my own personal purgatory. He loves the thrill of a roller coaster, and I like to keep my feet firmly planted. He skips to the movie; I am adamant that I must first read the book.

So it comes as no surprise that when it comes to new technologies, he is a first adopter, and I border on Amish (unless that technology is a robot vacuum, in which case I say, “Beam me up!”).

Given this context, our attitudes towards AI are pretty predictable: while I have been glaring warily at the apocalyptic Beast come to devour all human creativity, my husband has busied himself building an AI chatbot. For Fun. (In his defense, he works in tech, and his job is literally to be the top guys managing his company’s AI rollout. Perhaps this was inevitable.)1

In their spare time, my husband and another faithful Catholic father have developed Chatechism, a 100% Magisterially Catholic, truth-telling answer machine.

Check out Chatechism

On the one hand, what they’ve developed is impressive. I am a little in awe, having witnessed the whole process of development. I’ve done my best to “break” it, to get it to spit out heretical answers, and to have it prove my distaste for AI in general well-founded.

All I can say is that—for a lifeless robot—it knows its stuff.

Do I think it’s awesome and incredibly cool?

Yes.

Is it better than its competitors Truthly and Magisterium AI (which I never would have set eyes on save for the fact that I am a biblically-based wife putting myself under the mission of my husband)?

100%.

If it were up to me, would I still choose a world without AI?

You bet.

The thing is, though: it isn’t up to me. And if God allows AI, God will redeem the existence of AI. Tenfold. A hundredfold. And I firmly believe that Chatechism (totally the best name of the three—by far—don’t you think?) is one of the concrete ways God is redeeming AI.

Here’s why I think Chatechism is such a gift for the Church today:

  • Makes the faith accessible—for people exploring Catholicism, for those in revival, and for anyone curious about conversion.

  • Gives users a reliable way to ask the questions they might not feel comfortable asking out loud.

  • Each answer comes with a “Fide Score,” showing how closely it aligns with Church teaching—so users can trust it while still thinking critically.

  • Sources are listed right there, which is amazing for study, research, or just satisfying curiosity.

  • Always points back to human connection—to priests, spiritual directors, and the wider Body of Christ—because AI can’t replace the guidance and companionship of real people.

  • Lets users explore the faith through different personas with unique answers: Thomas Aquinas for theology, a spiritual director for guidance, and a catechist for teaching clarity.

  • Helps the Church share the faith in a way that’s approachable, thoughtful, and rooted in real relationships in the digital age.

Try Chatechism

As disciples of Christ, we are called to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. That means baptizing even—or perhaps especially—these globalized, digital spaces.

I’ll keep saying it: we were made for such a time as this, and this is the ground on which our fiat takes form. As much as I’d prefer to be an ostrich with my head buried firmly in the sand, I have to admit that my husband is making the right call on this one. If Christians don’t actively shape this technology from the outset, who will? What values will direct what it becomes—what we become?

That’s part of why I’m so excited about Chatechism. It’s absolutely a clever AI tool, but what makes it transformative is the harnessing of new technology to bring the faith into digital spaces thoughtfully, faithfully, and in a way that invites people to encounter the Church and the Body of Christ. By giving answers rooted in the Magisterium, pointing users toward human guidance, and helping people explore questions they might never ask out loud, it shows how technology can serve evangelization rather than replace it.

At the end of the day, I have faith in God’s promise that in all things—even AI—He works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

(Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful to be an eye and not a hand, if you know what I mean…)

AMDG,

Samantha

1

The Princess Bride (book, not movie) was formative in the use of parenthetical notations in this post. If they bother you, blame William Golding. And if you, like my husband, skipped the book, stop reading this post and remedy that immediately.

]]><![CDATA[The Case Against Assisted Suicide | Stephanie Gray Connors]]>https://www.choosinghuman.org/p/the-case-against-assisted-suicidehttps://www.choosinghuman.org/p/the-case-against-assisted-suicideFri, 26 Dec 2025 13:03:11 GMTAs a paid subscriber, you receive video of the podcast early—a week before new audio episodes drop for the public. You also receive an exclusive series, Notes on Being Human, here on Substack, PLUS access to our subcriber-only chat.

Thank you for your support!

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Introducing Brave New Us!]]>https://www.choosinghuman.org/p/welcome-to-brave-new-ushttps://www.choosinghuman.org/p/welcome-to-brave-new-usTue, 09 Sep 2025 14:30:22 GMTI spend my days homeschooling four kids and tending a sprawling garden, and my nights diving deep into the ethics of gene editing, lab-grown life, and the future of being human.

Welcome to the other side of my work — the part where motherhood meets the biggest bioethical questions of our time!

In case you’re new here, Hi! I’m Samantha Stephenson—Catholic author, homeschooling mom of four, and a bioethics nerd with master’s degrees in theology and bioethics. I’m a Paul Ramsey Fellow with the Center for Bioethics and Culture and former instructor for Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life.

You may know me from my Slow Motherhood writing—savoring prayerful homes, joyful rhythms, and embodied living—but there’s another side of my work: I host the podcast Brave New Us: Being Human in the Age of Biotechnology, where we explore the biggest ethical questions shaping our future:

  • Should we edit embryos to eliminate disease?

  • Are synthetic wombs and designer babies a good idea?

  • What does it mean to remain fully human in a world of AI, brain organoids, and lab-grown organs?

With 30,000+ downloads, a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and ranking in the top 2.5% of podcasts globally (according to ListenNotes), Brave New Us is a growing community for anyone who wants to think deeply about where science is taking us—and how to stay grounded in what matters most.

If you’ve ever felt the tension between our human longing for control and the invitation to receive life as a gift, these are conversations you don’t want to miss.

]]><![CDATA[The Ethics of Genetic Manipulation]]>https://www.choosinghuman.org/p/the-ethics-of-genetic-manipulationhttps://www.choosinghuman.org/p/the-ethics-of-genetic-manipulationMon, 18 Jan 2021 23:11:00 GMTExplore the Ethics of Genetic Manipulation — Brave New Us, Season 1

What does it mean to live in a world where we can alter the very code of life? Brave New Us Season 1 confronts this question by bringing you stories, expert insight, and moral reflection on what genetic editing might mean for us—and for generations to come. If you’re curious, unsettled, or hopeful about the future of biotech, this season is for you.

Episode 1: “Using Genetic Editing for Human Enhancement”

Episode 2: “The Science of Genetic Editing”.

Episode 3: “Using Genetic Editing to Heal Disease”

Episode 4: “The New Eugenics”

Episode 5: “Reimagining the Role of Disability in God’s Kingdom”

Episode 6: “What Makes a Life Valuable?”

Episode 7: “Carrying the Cross of Suffering”

Episode 8: “What Does It Mean to Be Human?”

Listen to Season 1 wherever you get your podcasts, and join the conversation. Because these are not far-off questions—they’re questions about us, now.

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