Japan is putting faith to test in a way unheard of. A 400-year-old temple in Kyoto hopes to boost interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest. The android Kannon, based on the Buddhist deity of mercy, preaches sermons at Kodaiji temple in Kyoto, and priests at the temple believe it will change the face of the religion. The adult-sized robot started earlier this year and can move its torso, arms, and head. Developed at a cost of almost $1m in a joint project between the Zen temple and robotics professor Hiroshi Ishiguro at Osaka University, the humanoid teaches about compassion and of the dangers of desire, anger, and ego.