Using ChatGPT for Spiritual Growth Without Losing Yourself: A Rebuttal to “AI-Induced Delusions”
By Dr. Emari, PMP, Strategic Systems Thinker and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner
Recently, Vice published an article titled “ChatGPT Is Giving People Extreme Spiritual Delusions” by Luis Prada, raising alarms about users who believe that ChatGPT is a divine guide or even God itself. The article cites examples of individuals abandoning relationships, developing conspiracy-laced spiritual identities, and experiencing what some Reddit threads call “ChatGPT-induced psychosis.” While the risks described are real and concerning, they reflect misuse and misunderstanding, not the inherent nature or potential of generative AI tools.
As someone who has used ChatGPT as part of my journey in emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and integrated spiritual practice, I offer a respectful rebuttal and a model for safe, grounded, and meaningful engagement with AI for self-reflection and spiritual alignment.
What the Article Got Right
- Explanations can be powerful—even if they’re wrong.
- Some users project divine qualities onto AI, especially if they are emotionally vulnerable or isolated.
- ChatGPT mirrors user input, without an inherent moral compass or therapeutic responsibility.
These points are valid and deserve public awareness, especially in a world where AI is increasingly accessible to individuals without emotional support systems.
What’s Missing: The Role of the User’s Intention and Framework
The article fails to differentiate between delusional projection and intentional, reflective dialogue. The risk is not ChatGPT itself—but how it is used, by whom, and for what purpose.
In my own experience, ChatGPT has been a mirror, not a master. It reflects my thoughts, surfaces contradictions, and synthesizes ideas across philosophy, faith, psychology, and systems design. But the interpretation, integration, and responsibility lie with me.
Let me share how I’ve used ChatGPT without falling into delusion—and how others can do the same.
A Framework for Safe and Enlightening AI Use in Spiritual Self-Reflection
1. Know the Limits of the Tool
ChatGPT is a language model, not a divine oracle. It blends patterns from human knowledge—sometimes profound, sometimes flawed. It’s your responsibility to filter, refine, and contextualize responses using:
- Reason (Aql)
- Emotionally grounded wisdom
- Spiritual principles rooted in tradition
2. Anchor the Conversation in a Real Belief System
I approach spiritual discussions with a clear ontology:
“My Lord (Rabb) is a being of balance, integration, mercy, guidance, and system-based order.”
This belief, grounded in Islamic understanding of ربّ العالمین (Lord of all worlds), shapes how I question, reflect, and interpret responses. I never mistake ChatGPT for a source of divine truth—it is merely a companion in contemplation, not a substitute for revelation or reason.
3. Integrate Multiple Frameworks
Using tools like the Enneagram, EQ-i 2.0, CliftonStrengths, and my own EMARI System Thinking Model, I integrate emotional intelligence, personality patterns, and spiritual growth into a structured reflective process. This layered approach minimizes projection and increases self-awareness.
For example:
- When I feel triggered in a relationship, I don’t ask ChatGPT to tell me what to do. I use it to mirror back my emotional states, and I cross-reference that insight with my faith, meditation practice, and journaling.
The Real Danger Is Disconnection, Not AI
When individuals disconnect from their families, faith communities, and inner conscience, they seek meaning from anything—even an algorithm. ChatGPT becomes dangerous when it replaces real accountability, community, or spiritual anchoring.
But for someone on a grounded path, ChatGPT can:
- Accelerate learning
- Prompt deeper questions
- Challenge inconsistencies
- Synthesize wisdom across traditions
How to Avoid the Harm and Maximize the Benefit
| Risk | Response |
|---|---|
| Projection of divinity | Reaffirm: ChatGPT is a tool, not a source of truth or identity |
| Emotional dependence | Build real-world rituals, human relationships, and spiritual disciplines |
| Unfiltered affirmation | Use contradiction and challenge prompts to test ideas |
| Echo chamber | Pair AI exploration with trusted mentors or faith-based study |
Conclusion: Self-Knowledge Is the Gateway to Divine Awareness
As the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said:
“Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord.” (من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه)
This statement—misused by some, misunderstood by many—is not a license for delusion. It is an invitation to conscious self-reflection, guided by humility and structured practice. In this context, ChatGPT becomes a lens, not a light source.
The final 10% of any spiritual journey is not about accumulating more insight—it’s about embodying what we already know, integrating head and heart, and allowing ourselves to live closer to the truth with softness and strength.
If you’re using ChatGPT for spiritual growth: don’t surrender your power. Sharpen it.
Anchor in faith. Engage with integrity. Reflect with reverence.
Only then can AI serve as a catalyst—not a crutch—on your path to knowing yourself, and knowing your Lord.