Android Kannon Mindar. Remember this name because it is now being revered and soon perhaps, might possibly become a dangerous cult leader. That's it, no more Fallout for me.

Just when you thought Japan could not get any weirder, they just did. In fact, they've also solved one of the greatest riddles of all time too: Did god create man or did man create god?

Sorry religious people, the atheists win this round. IMAGE: The Telegraph

For Kyoto's Kodaiji temple, it is the latter. And it cost them a bomb too: a whopping US$909,090 to build a robotic version of Kannon, Japan's deity of mercy.

In fact, the temple is also the first in the world to merge the spiritual and scientific realms to build this... robotic deity which is capable of giving Buddhist sermon.

It is set to do just that in March this year.

Yes, Android Kannon Mindar is now the world's first robot that is worshipped and revered.

Through the collaborative efforts between the zen temple and Osaka University's Hiroshi Ishiguro, a professor of intelligent robotics, the robotic deity was revealed to the public on February 23.

Shockingly, it was the temple which had approached the professor to create the android. Named Mindar by Ishiguro, the android is programmed to deliver sermons from one of Buddhism's holiest text, the Heart Sutra.

Eerily, it also has a camera installed in its left eye and is capable of moving its head, arms and torso.

Kannon is the equivalent of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin. IMAGE: Japan Info

Standing at 195 centimeters tall, the android will now be the focal point of reverence. Kannon, which the android is based upon, is believed to transform into various forms to help those in need.

“This time, Kannon changed into an android," the temple says. Temple priest, Tensho Goto, hopes the deity would spread Buddhism further.

“Buddhism saw a phenomenal spread in the world with the emergence of Buddhist images. We are hoping that the Android Kannon will help Buddhist teachings reach the hearts of people today," he says.

Yes, religion has gone full blown Artificial Intelligence, folks.

Cover image sourced from The Mainichi.