Mormon Transhumanist Association
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| 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 | 549 |
| Website | transfigurism |
| Part of the Ideology series on |
| Transhumanism |
|---|
 |
| Overviews |
| Currents |
| Extrapolitics |
| Organizations |
The Mormon Transhumanist Association (MTA) is a nonprofit organization that syncretizes Mormonism and transhumanism.[1] MTA sees parallels between transhumanist ideas, such as the technological singularity, and Mormon teachings.[2][3] 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 affiliated with the MTA. MTA is affiliated with the world wide Humanity+ transhumanist organization.[3]
History and beliefs[edit]
MTA was founded by 14 members in 2006.[4] It received IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofit status that same year.[5] MTA and Humanity+ affiliated in 2006,[6][7][8] and they renewed the affiliation in 2010.[9]
As a transhumanist group within a traditional religion, MTA is unusual.[2] 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.[10][11] MTA’s teachings, in relevant part, reflect Mormonism’s tenets regarding bodily and spiritual progress toward theosis.[12][13] 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.[14]
Demographics[edit]
During 2014, the MTA grew to include 480 members, an increase of 30% over the previous year. Of the members, 65% were in the United States, with other members located in Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia.[15] The annual MTA survey completed in 2014 indicates that 62% of MTA members are also members of the LDS Church; that 59% identified as theist and 14% as atheist; that 53% identified as culturally progressive and 20% as culturally conservative; that 32% identified as economically progressive and 29% as economically liberal.[16]
Activities[edit]
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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]
References[edit]
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ashcraft, W. Michael (2011). "Progressive Millenialism". In Wessinger, Catherine. The Oxford Handbook of Millennialism. Oxford University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-19-061194-1. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "About the Mormon Transhumanist Association." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/ Archived 2019-01-11 at the Wayback Machine>.
- ↑ "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/ Archived 2013-07-09 at the Wayback Machine>.
- ↑ Hansell, Gregory R., and William Grassie. H±: Transhumanism and Its Critics. Philadelphia, PA: Metanexus Institute, 2011 (Xlibris). 26. Print.
- ↑ Tirosh-Samuelson, Hava. "Facing the challenges of transhumanism: Philosophical, religious, and ethical considerations." Metanexus Institute Global Spiral, October 5 (2007): 2007.
- ↑ "New Humanity+ Affiliate Program." Humanity+, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2012-10-04. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)>. - ↑ 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[permanent dead link]>.
- ↑ 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?" Open Humanities Press Cosmos and History: The Journal of Natural and Social Philosophy 4.1-2 (2008): 347-370.
- ↑ "Members." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 27 Sep. 2015. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/members/>.
- ↑ "Member Survey Results." Mormon Transhumanist Association, n.d. Web. 27 Sep. 2015. <http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/member-survey-results/ Archived 2018-11-06 at the Wayback Machine>.
- ↑ "Mormonism and Engineering Conference (2009)." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD28C25910E1CAFC3>.
- ↑ "Transhumanism and Spirituality Conference (2010)." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLED8C09028C2CE378>.
- ↑ "2012 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association." YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012. <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3893B119820E9DC1>.
External links[edit]
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