<div><strong>Technology for Spiritual and Theological Writing and Study</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A proposal for new tools in Biblical study and inter-religious engagement, incorporating the <em>Zettelkasten</em> method along with generative artificial intelligence tools.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This is what happens when a computer science professor feels a call to ministry, goes to seminary, completes his M.Div. and thesis, becomes disenchanted with the church, goes back into teaching, experiences burnout, pandemic lockdown, a dark night of the soul, and finds a syncretic way forward in this new moment in history.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This project is my attempt at doing something creative and useful as a process of continued discernment and as a form of digital ministry, bringing my theological and religious convictions, technological knowledge, and pedagogical understanding.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Limitations of Bible Study Tools</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Most digital Bible study tools have at least one of these qualities:
</div>
<ul>
<li>They are often built with a narrowly evangelical and fundamentalist agenda (BibleHub, SWORD, theWord).
</li>
<li>They are often prohibitively expensive and proprietary (Logos).
</li>
<li>They are often very limited in their ability to maintain notes and personal commentary (SWORD, theWord).
</li>
<li>They are often focused on one tradition and one canon.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This makes them less-than-desirable for ministers and academics who are committed to inclusivity and accessibility.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Connecting Ideas: Digital <em>Zettelkasten</em></strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>What is a <em>Zettelkasten</em>?
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A <em>Zettelkasten</em> ("note box") is a physical note-taking method using index cards. While it has existed in various forms for centuries, the method was formalized and made popular by the prolific 20th Century sociologist Niklas Luhmann.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The <em>Zettelkasten</em> method involves keeping <strong>atomic notes</strong> on individual index cards with a unique identifier (often a timestamp). The unique identifier allows for both easy <strong>cataloging</strong> and <strong>hyperlinking</strong> across notes, creating a network or mind-map of related ideas. This method has proven to be effective as a tool for both education and information management.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why learn Markdown?</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Markdown is an easy-to-learn markup language. Unlike conventional, so-called "user-friendly" and WYSIWYG word-processors, markup languages allow you to see <strong>exactly</strong> what formatting you have in your document, so there are no surprises when you go to print or publish to the web. Markdown also allows for hyperlinks across documents in the same project. Applications like <em>Zettlr</em> allow for the easy creation of hyperlinked notes using Markdown.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Markdown is an ideal language to learn for anyone who needs to keep digital notes, and it is especially useful for those keeping a digital <em>Zettelkasten</em>.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Connecting Wisdom: Engaging Sacred Texts</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Book, Chapter, and Verse</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Sacred texts, along with many other classical texts, follow a book, chapter, verse format, which allows for quick referencing within texts. The ability to uniquely identify and cross-reference portions of a text in this manner fits well into the framework of the <em>Zettelkasten</em> method.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Engagement across traditions</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The need for meaningful engagement across cultures and traditions could not be greater. Thoughtful dialogue and mutual understanding across communities are essential for working towards peace and challenging and dissolving prejudices in ourselves and others.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Spiritual Truth is universal. The cultural context in which Truth appears varies. Inter-religious dialogue should acknowledge, respect, and celebrate those cultural differences without conflation or erasure, while at the same time recognizing the universal truth that gives us common ground for unity and mutual understanding. If every person is created in the image and likeness of God, every encounter should recognize the dignity and worth of the individual.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If we can prayerfully engage with texts across traditions in a manner that is both organized and respectful, we can work towards a kinder and more peaceful world. We can also gain a deeper understanding of our own faith traditions.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Generative Artificial Intelligence</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The recent developments in language processing and large-language models (LLMs) is upending how we relate to information today. While general-purpose LLMs are often very limited and prone to hallucinations, the focused application of carefully-trained LLMs can transform how we engage with texts both within and beyond our individual faith traditions. These tools are already being used effectively to create summaries of text and generate translations.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Many preachers and scholars have incorporated ChatGPT or similar tools into our workflow. Even the general-purpose tools have proven useful in finding Scripture references by topic and studying Greek and Hebrew words by language.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>These tools have allowed for creative engagement with information. AI tools can help restructure or rephrase ideas and draw thematic connections across various subjects and source materials. They can be used to change the tone and style of writing, such as transforming traditional prayers and scripture readings to use more inclusive language while preserving the underlying meaning. They are not a substitute for human creativity, and certainly not a substitute for divine inspiration, yet they can serve as helpful tools for augmenting our work.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Connecting People: A Platform for Meaningful Dialogue</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The online iteration of this tool will incorporate social media elements that allow independent scholars to share their thoughts, notes, and commentary with other users. This platform will provide opportunities for individuals across various traditions to teach about their faith tradition and learn about others.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Gnostic Notes: Bringing it all together</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Gnostic Notes aims to be a simple, easy-to-use, extensible platform for engaging sacred texts, and developing new content (personal commentary, notes, sermons, devotionals, reflections, lesson plans, etc.) that engages with those texts.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Addressing the Shortcomings of Popular Bible Study Software</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This tool aims to address the previously mentioned shortfalls in a number of ways:
</div>
<ul>
<li>Incorporate inclusive translations of text (as available), and allow for the easier creation of dynamic translations to better meet the needs of specific communities.
</li>
<li>Allow for the engagement with other texts beyond the traditional Christian canon. This includes so-called "gnostic" literature, as well as sacred texts from other faith traditions.
</li>
<li>Free and open-source, with the ability to incorporate any and all publically-available texts without violating copyright.
</li>
<li>Explicitly make available many public domain resources and commentaries often neglected by other tools (new thought, metaphysical, transcendental, feminist, Social Gospel, etc.)
</li>
<li>Stronger focus on note-taking and creation of content by the end user using Markdown.
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Why?</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>My goal is to create the sort of study and note-taking tool I want to use for the purposes of my own theological study and exegesis.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>How?</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This project will build upon currently available open-source tools and frameworks, focusing on incorporating and expanding on open standards currently in use.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Who?</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I am a former professor of computer science with software development experience, who also happens to hold a Master of Divinity from <a href="https://utsnyc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Union Theological Seminary</a> . I have been a life-long student of religion and a spiritual nomad who practices <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_religious_belonging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multiple belonging</a> as a Christian, Buddhist, and Religious Scientist.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Iterations</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>1. <strong>Note-taking and Scripture-study.</strong> Moving the focus from content-consumption to content-engagement and creation.
</div>
<div>2.<strong> Artificial Intelligence.</strong> Thematic searching, summary generation, content generation, drawing new connections. The prototype will be built using Google Gemini.
</div>
<div><em>3. </em><strong><em>Social Networking.</em></strong><em> Allow scholars to share their content, commentaries and reflections, develop modules, and engage in dialogue.</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The current focus is on the first and second iteration.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>Contributors, Testing, and Training</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Students, preachers, and other scholars will be needed to test the base application for usability. The base application is a fairly straightforward design based on currently existing Bible study and notetaking apps. Imagine the SWORD project, with a built-in editor (like Zettlr), and a built-in generative AI tool specially-trained on scripture, commentaries, and resources, customized to meet the needs of the end-user.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Early iterations of the AI component will require reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF). This will require individuals committed to the mission of this project, and such individuals should be fairly compensated for their work.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><em>It is important to acknowledge the potential mental and emotional hazards of working with and training AI models. The risk typically comes from the way </em><strong><em>general-purpose</em></strong><em> models are trained. Yet those involved in early training and testing must themselves be trained and should be made aware of the risks.</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A project of this scope will require people of faith motivated by a desire for peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding. Those who are willing to generate content should be encouraged to do so, and usability should not be a barrier. The development of paid modules should not detract from the overarching goal of this project, which puts a strong emphasis on widespread availability regardless of social or economic conditions.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Funding</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>1. Crowdsourcing
</div>
<div>2. Grants
</div>
<div><em>3. Training and user support subscriptions.</em>
</div>
<div><em>4. Online subscriptions to paid (non-free) resources.</em>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Current focus is on crowdfunding campaigns and grants.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The Goal - $7,000 USD</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This amount will enable me to spend the next two months focusing on the development and testing of this project. The closer I get to the goal, the more time and energy I can afford for this project, and the sooner I can make it available.
</div>

Rev. Mary Ann Trifaro

Richard and Lorilee Strom

David Alexander

Help Develop Inclusive Tools for Studying Scripture

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

be_supporter_comments_enabled_supported_funds

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Develop Inclusive Tools for Studying Scripture

Still $1,850 to go. Help us build momentum.