As the capabilities of technology increase, it seems only a matter of time before artificial intelligence reaches the level seen in many sci-fi movies.

Undoubtedly, when AI reaches the point of human intelligence it will have a transformative effect on near everything in modern society.

Religion is often dismissed offhand by futurists as something which will simply fall by the wayside, but there are some religious leaders who have already planned for this revolution.

One writer for Gizmodo asked a number of evangelical figures how artificial intelligence will fit into religion, and the answer s may surprise you.

A number of ministers told Zoltan Istvan that they could see no reason a computer could not be saved in the same manner as a human.

"I don’t see Christ’s redemption limited to human beings," said Providence Presbyterian Church Associate Pastor Dr Christopher Benek. "If AI is autonomous, then we should encourage it to participate in Christ’s redemptive purposes in the world."

He even went so far as to say that "AI might help us understand God better."

Giulio Prisco of the transhumanist Turning Church, says that AI would be no less capable of religious belief than a person:

"... there is no reason why thinking and feeling AIs shouldn’t be able to be saved" Prisco wrote in an email. "Once human-like AI exist, they will be persons just like us."

Though Prisco suggests that AI might reject religion entirely, or at least the more petty and provincial aspects of it:

"At the same time, I think they would be interested in enlightened spirituality and religious cosmology, or eschatology, and develop their own versions."