Mormon Transhumanist Association
 | |
| Motto | Radical Flourishing in Creativity and Compassion through Technology and Religion |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Type | Public Charity |
| 205826770 | |
| Focus | Interfaith Issues |
| Origins | Mormonism and Transhumanism |
| Services | Conferences and Networking |
Members | 230 |
| Website |
transfigurism |
| Part of the Ideology series on |
| Transhumanism |
|---|
 |
| Overviews |
| Currents |
| Politics |
| Organizations |
| Transhumanism portal |
The Mormon Transhumanist Association (MTA) is a nonprofit organization that syncretizes Mormonism and Transhumanism.[1] MTA posits Transhumanist ideas, such as the Technological Singularity and posthuman gods, as fulfillment of religious prophecies.[2] The majority of members are also members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), but the LDS Church is not directly affiliated with the MTA. MTA is affiliated with the world wide Humanity+ Transhumanist organization.[3]
As a Transhumanist group within a traditional religion, MTA is unusual.[4] However, MTA illustrates similarities between the functions and goals of Transhumanism and traditional religions, such as a hope in the face of death for perpetual happiness and permanent youthfulness.[5][6] MTA’s teachings, in relevant part, reflect Mormonism’s tenets regarding bodily and spiritual progress toward theosis.[7][8] Because of such ideas, at least one scholar has argued that Mormon theology may lend itself better to reconciliation with Transhumanism than does mainstream Christian theology.[9]
History
MTA was founded by 14 members in 2006.[10] It received 501c3 nonprofit status that same year.[11] MTA and Humanity+ affiliated in 2006,[12][13][14] and they renewed the affiliation in 2010.[15]
Demographics
During 2012, the MTA grew to include 243 members, an increase of 78% over the previous year. Of the members, 81% were in the United States, with other members located in Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia. The annual MTA survey completed in 2012 indicates that 74% of MTA members are also members of the LDS Church; that 45% identified as theist and 5% as atheist; that 51% identified as culturally progressive and 12% as culturally conservative; that 40% identified as economically progressive and 30% as economically conservative.[16]
Activities
MTA organizes conferences on the intersection of technology, spirituality, science and religion. MTA co-sponsored the “Parallels and Convergences: Mormon Thought and Engineering Vision” conference at Claremont Graduate University in 2009,[17] and the “Transhumanism and Spirituality” conference at the University of Utah in 2010.[18] MTA also holds annual member conferences in Salt Lake City.[19]
See also
References
- ↑ Hughes, J. J. (2012), THE POLITICS OF TRANSHUMANISM AND THE TECHNO-MILLENNIAL IMAGINATION, 1626–2030. Zygon, 47: 757–776. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01289.x
- ↑ Hughes, James J. "The Compatibility of Religious and Transhumanist Views of Metaphysics, Suffering, Virtue and Transcendence in an Enhanced Future." The Global Spiral 8.2 (2007).
- ↑ "About the Mormon Transhumanist Association." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/>.
- ↑ Wessinger, Catherine. The Oxford Handbook of Millennialism. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. 59. Print.
- ↑ Mehlman, Maxwell J. Transhumanist Dreams and Dystopian Nightmares: The Promise and Peril of Genetic Engineering. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2012. Print.
- ↑ Geraci, Robert M. Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 137. Print.
- ↑ Brown, Samuel. "Enhancing Evolution." BYU Smith Institute, n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014. <https://smithinstitute.byu.edu/PDFLibrary/48.2BrownEnhancing0cf0e8a5-a1cf-4b63-9d59-489725b59b00.pdf>.
- ↑ Tirosh-Samuelson, H. (2012), TRANSHUMANISM AS A SECULARIST FAITH. Zygon, 47: 710–734. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01288.x
- ↑ Zimmerman, Michael. "The Singularity: A Crucial Phase in Divine Self-Actualization?." Cosmos and History: The Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy 4.1-2 (2008): 347-370.
- ↑ "Constitution of the Mormon Transhumanist Association." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/constitution/>.
- ↑ "Tax Exemption." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/tax-exemption/>.
- ↑ "The Mormon Transhumanist Association Affiliates with the WTA." World Transhumanist Association, 15 Nov. 2006. Web. 2 Oct. 2012. <http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/WTA/more/1223/>.
- ↑ Hansell, Gregory R., and William Grassie. H±: Transhumanism and Its Critics. Philadelphia, PA: Metanexus Institute, 2011. 26. Print.
- ↑ Tirosh-Samuelson, Hava. "Facing the challenges of transhumanism: Philosophical, religious, and ethical considerations." Global Spiral, October 5 (2007): 2007.
- ↑ "New Humanity+ Affiliate Program." Humanity+, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://humanityplus.org/2010/10/new-humanity-affiliate-program/>.
- ↑ "Member Survey Results." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/member-survey-results/>.
- ↑ "Mormonism and Engineering Conference (2009)." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD28C25910E1CAFC3>.
- ↑ "Transhumanism and Spirituality Conference (2010)." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLED8C09028C2CE378>.
- ↑ "2012 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3893B119820E9DC1>.
Further reading
- Cannon, Lincoln, et al. "Transfiguration: Parallels and Complements between Mormonism and Transhumanism." Sunstone Magazine Mar. 2007: 25-39. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/145-25-39.pdf>.
- Hansen, Dennis. "The Intersection of Mormonism and Transhumanism." Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/4955>.
- Herrick, James. "Mormon Transhumanism and a Mormon President." Hope College, May 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.hope.edu/academic/communication/faculty/herrick/RomneyMormonTranshumanism.pdf>.
- Howe, Scott, and Richard Bushman, eds. Parallels and Convergences: Mormon Thought and Engineering Vision. Draper, Utah: Greg Kofford, 2012. Print.
- "Lincoln Cannon on Singularity 1 on 1: Reach Out To Religious Transhumanists." Ed. Nikola Danaylov. Singularity Weblog, 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. <http://www.singularityweblog.com/lincoln-cannon-mormon-transhumanist/>.
- "Mormon Transhumanism: Eternal Progression towards Becoming like God." H+ Magazine. Ed. Hank Pellissier. Humanity+, 22 Aug. 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://hplusmagazine.com/2010/08/22/mormon-transhumanism-eternal-progression-towards-becoming-god/>.
- "Mormonism and Transhumanism." Ed. Dan Wotherspoon. Mormon Matters, 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://mormonmatters.org/2012/03/13/81-82-mormonism-and-transhumanism/>.
- "Mormonism: The Most Transhumanist Religion?" H+ Magazine. Ed. Ben Goertzel. Humanity+, 9 May 2011. Web. 2 Oct. 2012. <http://hplusmagazine.com/2011/05/09/mormonism-the-most-transhumanist-religion/>.