MTAMemberSurvey2014Summary

ThestatisticsinthisdocumentreflectthemembershipoftheMormonTranshumanist
Associationattheendof2014.

Content

MTAMemberSurvey2014Summary
Content
Membership
Location
Perspective
GodandtheProblemofEvil
ConsciousnessandSpiritualProperties
Feedback
Demographics


Membership

TotalMembership:481(asofDec31,2014)
SurveyParticipants:66

TranshumanistDeclaration

(1)Humanitystandstobeprofoundlyaffectedbyscienceandtechnologyinthefuture.We
envisionthepossibilityofbroadeninghumanpotentialbyovercomingaging,cognitive
shortcomings,involuntarysuffering,andourconfinementtoplanetEarth.

(2)Webelievethathumanityspotentialisstillmostlyunrealized.Therearepossible
scenariosthatleadtowonderfulandexceedinglyworthwhileenhancedhumanconditions.

(3)Werecognizethathumanityfacesseriousrisks,especiallyfromthemisuseofnew
technologies.Therearepossiblerealisticscenariosthatleadtothelossofmost,orevenall,
ofwhatweholdvaluable.Someofthesescenariosaredrastic,othersaresubtle.Althoughall
progressischange,notallchangeisprogress.

(4)Researcheffortneedstobeinvestedintounderstandingtheseprospects.Weneedto
carefullydeliberatehowbesttoreducerisksandexpeditebeneficialapplications.Wealso
needforumswherepeoplecanconstructivelydiscusswhatshouldbedone,andasocial
orderwhereresponsibledecisionscanbeimplemented.

(5)Reductionofexistentialrisks,anddevelopmentofmeansforthepreservationoflifeand
health,thealleviationofgravesuffering,andtheimprovementofhumanforesightandwisdom
shouldbepursuedasurgentpriorities,andheavilyfunded.

(6)Policymakingoughttobeguidedbyresponsibleandinclusivemoralvision,taking
seriouslybothopportunitiesandrisks,respectingautonomyandindividualrights,andshowing
solidaritywithandconcernfortheinterestsanddignityofallpeoplearoundtheglobe.We
mustalsoconsiderourmoralresponsibilitiestowardsgenerationsthatwillexistinthefuture.

(7)Weadvocatethewellbeingofallsentience,includinghumans,nonhumananimals,and
anyfutureartificialintellects,modifiedlifeforms,orotherintelligencestowhichtechnological
andscientificadvancemaygiverise.

(8)Wefavourallowingindividualswidepersonalchoiceoverhowtheyenabletheirlives.This
includesuseoftechniquesthatmaybedevelopedtoassistmemory,concentration,and
mentalenergylifeextensiontherapiesreproductivechoicetechnologiescryonics
proceduresandmanyotherpossiblehumanmodificationandenhancementtechnologies.

MormonTranshumanistAffirmation

(1)Weseekthespiritualandphysicalexaltationofindividualsandtheiranatomies,aswellas
communitiesandtheirenvironments,accordingtotheirwills,desiresandlaws,totheextent
theyarenotoppressive.

(2)Webelievethatscientificknowledgeandtechnologicalpowerareamongthemeans
ordainedofGodtoenablesuchexaltation,includingrealizationofdiversepropheticvisionsof
transfiguration,immortality,resurrection,renewalofthisworld,andthediscoveryandcreation
ofworldswithoutend.

(3)Wefeeladutytousescienceandtechnologyaccordingtowisdomandinspiration,to
identifyandprepareforrisksandresponsibilitiesassociatedwithfutureadvances,andto
persuadeotherstodolikewise.

Location

Perspective

GodandtheProblemofEvil

ConsciousnessandSpiritualProperties

Feedback

Reason

Demographics