Frequently Asked Questions

The Anselm Project explores the intersection of Christian theology and artificial intelligence. This page addresses common questions about the project, its purpose, and how it works.

What is the Anselm Project?

The Anselm Project is a tool that uses advanced AI to generate in-depth reports on biblical passages. It was created by a single developer with a passion for both technology and Christian theology. The project aims to provide thoughtful analysis of Scripture that can aid in Bible study, sermon preparation, and personal spiritual growth.

Why is it called the "Anselm Project"?

The project is named after Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), the medieval theologian and philosopher who embodied the principle of "fides quaerens intellectum" - faith seeking understanding. Anselm believed that genuine faith naturally drives believers to deeper intellectual engagement with Scripture and theology.

Like Anselm, this project serves those who already have faith but desire deeper understanding of God's Word. Anselm was also revolutionary for his time in making sophisticated theological reasoning accessible beyond monastery walls - bringing rigorous scholarship to educated believers outside academic institutions.

The Anselm Project continues this legacy by democratizing seminary-level biblical scholarship while maintaining theological integrity. Just as Anselm insisted that proper theology must be both deeply faithful to Scripture and intellectually rigorous, this platform combines evangelical convictions with comprehensive analytical tools.

Anselm would have appreciated having Hebrew and Greek analysis at his fingertips!

Is it appropriate to use AI for theological analysis?

AI is simply a tool - like a concordance, commentary, or study Bible. The AI behind the Anselm Project has been trained on hundreds of thousands of pages of Christian theological texts spanning different traditions and time periods. This gives it the ability to synthesize and present theological insights in a helpful way.

However, like any tool, it should be used with discernment. The AI is designed to assist your study, not replace personal engagement with Scripture or the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What sources does the AI draw from?

The AI model has been trained on a vast corpus of text that includes many theological resources from throughout Christian history. This includes church fathers, reformers, modern theologians, biblical commentaries, and scholarly works across different Christian traditions.

This training enables the AI to access a broad range of theological perspectives when analyzing Scripture. However, the system does not directly cite specific works, as it synthesizes information rather than copying it.

How accurate are the reports?

In testing across hundreds of generated reports, the accuracy has been remarkably high. Most issues that have emerged relate to differences in theological tradition rather than factual errors.

That said, as with any Bible study resource, it's always wise to verify information. While AI has improved tremendously, it isn't infallible. I recommend using the Anselm Project as one tool among many in your study of Scripture.

Can I specify my theological tradition?

I'm working on this as an active feature. It's not quite ready for prime-time; the answers have been a little too inconsistent for me.

When this is introduced fully, it'll be optional and available for everyone when generating a report.

How does the credit system work?

Generating thorough, thoughtful reports requires significant computing resources, which come with costs. The credit system helps offset these expenses while keeping the tool accessible.

There are two types of credits:

  • Subscription Credits: If you have an active monthly subscription, your credit balance is reset to your tier's amount each month upon renewal (Personal: 30, Extended: 60, Team: 100). Subscription credits are used first when generating reports.
  • Purchased Credits: These are credits you buy in one-time packages. Purchased credits never expire and have no accumulation cap. They are used after any available subscription credits have been spent.

One report costs 1 credit. You can see your total available credits in the navigation bar when logged in.

Is my data private and secure?

Yes. The Anselm Project only collects the minimal information needed to operate the service (email for account management). The biblical references you submit and reports you generate are stored only to provide you access to them.

Your data is not sold or shared with third parties. For complete details, please see the Privacy Policy.

How often is the system updated?

The Anselm Project is regularly updated to improve both the technical infrastructure and the quality of reports. As AI technology advances, these improvements are incorporated to provide better, more insightful analysis.

Updates focus on enhancing theological depth, improving readability, and ensuring the reports remain faithful to the biblical text while providing helpful context and application.