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WHATISMORMONTRANSHUMANISM?

ByLincolnCannon

MormonTranshumanismistheideathathumanityshouldlearnhowtobecompassionatecreators.Thisideais
essentialtoMormonism,whichprovidesareligiousframeworkconsistentwithnaturalismandsupportiveofhuman
transformation.MormonTranshumanistsarenotlimitedtotraditionalorpopularaccountsofreligion,andembrace
opportunitiesandrisksoftechnologicalevolution.Althoughusuallyconsideredsecular,Transhumanismhassome
religiousoriginsandsometimesfunctionsasreligion.AcceleratingchangecontextualizesaMormonTranshumanist
narrativeofcommonexpectations,aspirations,andparallelsbetweenMormonismandTranshumanism.Mormon
TranshumanismhasproducedsecularargumentsforfaithinGodandreligiousargumentsforTranshumanism.

Transhumanismisanewparadigmforthinkingaboutthefutureofhumanity.1 AsTranshumanists,we
havediscardedtheoldassumptionthathumannatureisoreverwasstatic,notonlybecausescience
demonstratedbiologicalevolution,butespeciallybecausehistoryitselfisculturalandtechnological
evolution.Althoughdiverseinbackgroundandperspective,ourcommonexpectationisthathumanity
willcontinuetoevolve.Ourcommonambitionistoinjectourselvesintotheevolutionaryprocess,
changingourbodiesandminds,ourrelationships,andevenourworldforthebetterperhapstolearn,
love,andcreatetogetherindefinitely.2

Transhumanismmaybethemostdangerousidea.3 Therisksareashorribleastheopportunitiesare
wonderful.Evenacknowledgingconcernsandemphasizingethics,wemightagreewithourcriticsthatwe
aretryingtoplayGod.Afterall,whatarethealternatives?Whatprospectsforchildrenthatwouldnottry
toplayadult?Thatwouldnotgrowfromtryingtolearning?Wouldnotmaturefromplayingtobeing?
Surelytheirnurserywillprovetoosmall,evenforthesmallestoftheliving.Butforus,whoknowweare
notdeadasyet,whynotbelievethemostdangerousidea?Whynotlive?

Whateverthesecularresponse,perhapsproperlyexcusingitselffromvyingforthehighspiritof
humanity,theMormonTranshumanistresponseisaquickenedheartandbrightenedeyes.Wehaveheard
thisstorybefore.4 Thisisourcallingandourchoicehasnotchanged.5 ChildrenofGodwouldtrytoplay
God,andmore.WewouldlearnhowtobeGod.Dangerousindeed,andworthyofexquisitecautionand
utmostreverence.Butforthechild,thereisnootherway.MormonTranshumanismstandsfortheidea
thathumanityshouldlearnhowtobeGod,6andnotjustanykindofgod,notagodthatwouldraiseitself
inhubrisaboveothers, 7butrathertheGodthatwouldraiseeachothertogetherascompassionatecreators.

NickBostrom,WhatIsTranshumanism?,accessed1November2014,
http://www.nickbostrom.com/old/transhumanism.html.
2
TranshumanistFAQ,Humanity+,accessed1November2014,
http://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanistfaq/.
3
FrancisFukuyama,TranshumanismtheWorldsMostDangerousIdea,accessed1November2014,
http://www.au.dk/fukuyama/boger/essay/.
4
Moses4:13
5
Abraham3:2427
6
JosephSmithin
TeachingsoftheProphetJosephSmith
,ed.JosephFieldingSmith(SaltLakeCity:DeseretBook,
1938),346.
7
2Thessalonians2:34


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HumanityshouldlearnhowtobeChrist.9

MORMONISM

MormonismitselfisanimmersivediscipleshipofJesusChrist.10ItisnotsomuchareligionaboutJesus
asitisanaspirationtolivethereligionofJesus.11WithJesus,12 wewouldtrustin,13changetoward,14and
fullyimmerseourbodiesandmindsintheroleofChrist.15 Wewouldbemessiahs,16 saviorsforeach
other,17consolingandhealingandraising,18asexemplifiedandinvitedbyJesus.19 Wewouldalsoendure
inthatrole,20workingtoreconcileourselveswithourrelationsandworld, 21throughsufferingandeven
deathifneeded,22anticipatingtheprophesieddayoftransfigurationandresurrectiontoimmortalityin
eternallife.23SowhileMormonsmaynotbeChristianbycreed,24 weareplainlyChristianbyGospel.25

JosephSmithwasborninthestateofNewYorkin1805.26 Joseph,ashelikedtobecalled,spokeand
wroteaboutvisionsandrevelationsfromGod,beginninginadolescenceandthroughouthislife.In1830,
JosephpublishedtheBookofMormon.Hedescribedthebookasarevealedtranslationfromengravings
ongoldenplatesbyanancientAmericanprophetnamedMormon,whohadcompiledareligioushistory
ofhispeople,includingavisitfromtheresurrectedJesusChrist.Soonafterpublishingthebook,Joseph
foundedtheChurchofChristtobearestorationofprimitiveChristianity.Thechurchgrewquickly,
amidstcontroversyandsometimesviolentpersecution,untilamobkilledJosephin1844,andthe
alreadystrainedchurchfractured.

BrighamYoungemergedastherecognizedleaderofthemajorityofMormons,whoheledacrossthe
plainsandmountainsoftheAmericanwesttosettleinwhathasbecomethestateofUtah.There,in1851,
heincorporatedTheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints,whichnowconsistsofover15million
membersaroundtheworld.27ManyMormonsthatdidnotfollowBrighamYoungeventuallycoalesced
aroundtheleadershipofJosephSmithIII,theoldestsurvivingsonofJosephSmith.In1860,he
establishedTheReorganizedChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints,whichchangeditsnamein2001
8

Romans8:1617
Colossians1:27
10
2Nephi25:26
11
D&C93:1920
12
2Nephi31:513
13
Ether13:4
14
3Nephi11:3740
15
Mosiah5:9
16
2Corinthians1:21
17
D&C103:9
18
Matthew10:8
19
John14:12
20
2Nephi31:1621
21
3Nephi12:2124
22
D&C138:1114
23
D&C63:4952
24
JosephSmithHistory1:19
25
Mormon7:89
26
RichardBushman,
JosephSmith:RoughStoneRolling
(NewYork:RandomHouse,2005).
27
FactsandStatistics,TheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints,accessed1November2014,
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/factsandstats.
9


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toCommunityofChrist,andtodayconsistsofover250,000members.28Inadditiontotheselarge
Mormondenominations,therearenumeroussmalldenominations,suchastheFundamentalistChurchof
JesusChristofLatterdaySaints,whichcontinuestopracticepolygamy,unlikemostotherMormon
denominations.

Mormonismpositsametaphysics,incontrasttoclassicalsubstancedualism,thatisconsistentwithsome
accountsofphysicalismandnaturalism.Accordingtoourscriptures,everythingismaterial,includingour
minds29andeverythingisembodied,includingGod.30Moreover,Goddidnotcreatematter.31 Instead,as
Josephdescribedit,Godwasonceaswearenow:findingourselvesinthemidstofmindsandmatter,
institutingnewlawswithinthecontextofexistinglaws,andorganizingtheworldoutofchaos.32 Inother
words,GodbecameGod,33 anditwasnotthefirsttimenorshoulditbethelast.

Mormonismoffersatheodicythatexplainsevilasanunavoidableriskinherentinanyopportunityto
createmoregenuinecreators. 34Atagrandcouncilinheavenbeforethecreationofthisworld,thechildren
ofGodpresentedtwoplans.35Oneplanwouldoptimizeforthrivingcultivation.Theotherwouldoptimize
forsufferingmitigation.Thefirstwouldbechallenging,withwonderfuljoyandterriblemisery:new
angelsanddemons,newgodsanddevils,evenanewChristandanewSatan.Thesecondwouldbeeasy.
Noreallosses,andyetnorealgains.Asthestorygoes,Godchosethefirstandwarensued,continuingto
thisday.36

Mormonismprojectsaneschatologyoftransformation,oftheEarthintoheaven,37 andofhumanityinto
God,38andwouldtherebyprovokeustoferventparticipationinitsnarrative.39Ourscripturessituateusin
atimeofrapidprogress,40apocalypticrisk,andmillennialopportunity.41Itculminatesinthereturnof
Christ,notasasolitarywanderer,butliketherisingsunforalltosee,42 andforalltobelike.43The
scripturesgoontodescribeaMillennialEarth,beyondpresentnotionsofpovertyordeath,wherethe
livingaretransfiguredandthedeadareresurrectedtoimmortality.44ThentheEarthitselfistransfigured,45
becominglikeacrystalglobe,aseaofglassandfire,whereallthingsaremanifest:past,present,and
future.46ItsinhabitantsreceivethefullgraceandpowerofGod,47 andtheylearnofayethigherorderof
28

GeneralDenominationalInformation,CommunityofChrist,accessed1November2014,
http://www.cofchrist.org/pr/GeneralInfo.asp.
29
D&C131:7
30
D&C130:22
31
D&C93:23,29,33
32
Smithin
Teachings
,354.
33
Smithin
Teachings
,345346.
34
2Nephi2:11
35
Moses4:13andAbraham3:2428
36
Revelation12:79
37
D&C88:2526
38
D&C132:20
39
D&C43:2325
40
D&C88:7380
41
D&C43:2633
42
JosephSmithMatthew1:2526
43
Moroni7:48
44
D&C101:2634
45
D&C63:2021
46
D&C130:69
47
D&C76:9295


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worlds.48

POSTSECULARRELIGION

Forsome,Godisnotalivingproposition,letaloneprophecyorreligion.Theywonderifwehavenot
heardthatGodisdead, 49andtheyarerighttowonder.FollowingtheirGods,traditionalreligionsappear
tobedying,particularlyintechnologicallyadvancedandprosperousplaces.50Observingthis,manyhave
embracedthesecularizationhypothesisthatreligionitselfisdying.However,thathypothesisisshowing
itsage,embracedmorebyantireligiousvoicesinpopularculturethanbycarefulstudentsofthereligious
phenomenon,amongwhomanotherhypothesisisgestating.51

IfGodismerelyasupernaturalsuperlative,heverywellmaybedead,butpositingsuchasGodmisses
thepracticalfunctionofGod.Godalwayshasbeenandisatleastaposthumanprojection,anextension
andnegationofhumandesire,imaginedandexpressedwithintheconstraintsofhumanthought,language,
andaction.52 ThatisnottosayGodisonlysomuch.Tothecontrary,wemayhavemoralandpractical
reasonstotrustthatothershavealreadyrealizedposthumanprojections.53 However,nomatteryour
attitudetowardfaith,Godisatleastthismuch:aposthumanprojection.Understoodintermsofthat
function,Godclearlyisnotdeadandneverwas,exceptperhapstotheextentrecurringdeathispartof
evolution,includingthatofGod.

Ifprophecyismerelyfortunetelling,ittoomaybedying,butthatalsofailstoaccountforfunction.
Whetherornotitbecomesforetelling,prophecyisalwaysforthtelling:asociallyinteractiveworkof
inspiration,evenprovocation,thatwouldsteerusfromperceivedriskstowarddesiredopportunities.Atits
best,itisapersuasiveexpressionofcompassion,evenifpunctuatedwithseriouswarnings,aimedata
sharedsublimepotential,notasnarrowlypreconceived,butratherasopenlyimaginedfromapositionthat
wouldtranscenditselfingenuinecreation.Buttofunctionwithpower,prophecymustbeconnected,in
theheartandmindofitsrecipient,withlivingpossibilities,especiallypressingnecessitiesandurgencies.
Prophecymatters,becomingforetellingfromforthtelling,onlytotheextentitreachesintousand
changesourthoughtssufficientlytochangeourwordsandactions,whichjustmightchangeourworld.

Likewise,ifreligionismerelygenuflectiontothesupernatural,itverywellmaybedying,butagainthat
overlooksfunction.Manyofushaveregardedreligionnarrowly,andmuchthatissupposedtobesecular
mayactuallyfunctionasreligion.54Forexample,someclaiminspirationfromscienceorethics.Awefills
usaswecontemplatethevastnessofspaceorthevoiceofthepeople.Yettheinspirationisnotmerelyin
thereductionistimplicationsofscienceortheproceduraladjudicationsofethics.Ratherestheticsare
woventhroughthem,tyingthemtogetherinmeaning,andthatiswhywecareaboutscienceorethics.
Estheticsshapeandmoveus,andattheirstrongest,theyprovokeusasacommunitytoastrenuousmood.
48

D&C130:10
FriedrichNietzsche,
ThusSpakeZarathustra
(NewYork:DoverPublications,1999),3.
50
JamesSmith,SecularLiturgiesandtheProspectsforaPostsecularSociologyofReligion,
ThePostsecularin
QuestionandReligioninContemporarySociety
(2012),159184.
51
JurgenHabermas,NotesonPostSecularSociety,
NewPerspectivesQuarterly
(2008),25:1729.
52
SigmundFreud,
CivilizationandItsDiscontents
(NewYork:Norton,1961),45.
53
LincolnCannon,TheologicalImplicationsoftheNewGodArgument,
ParallelsandConvergences:Mormon
ThoughtandEngineeringVision
(Draper,Utah:GregKoffordBooks,2012).
54
JohnMilbank,
TheologyandSocialTheory:BeyondSecularReason
(NewJersey:WileyBlackwell,2006).
49


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55

Whentheydothat,theyfunctionasreligion,notnecessarilyinanynarrowsense,butestheticsthat
provokeacommunalstrenuousmoodmaybeunderstoodtofunctionasreligionfromapostsecular
vantagepoint.56

Ofcourse,noneofthismeansscienceorethicsshouldorevencouldbedisplacedbyreligion.Tothe
contrary,scienceshouldcontinuetoreconcileourcontendingaccountsofexperience,asethicsshouldour
contendingaccountsofdesire.57 Eachshouldexpanditsreachtotheuttermost,58alwaysbetterinforming
ouresthetics,affectingeachotherinafeedbackloop. 59

Yetevenasscienceandethicsincreasinglyempowerus,weshouldnotfoolourselvesintosupposingthey
willeverbefinishedorsufficientinthemselves.60 Itisnotenoughthatwecandescribeourworldthrough
scienceorimagineabetterworldthroughethics.Wealsowanttomakeabetterworld.Wecandothat
throughengineeringandgovernance,butitisalsonotenoughthatwecanmakeabetterworld.Wewant
tofeelit,sometimespowerfully,andmore:wewanttoshareourpowerfulfeelingswithothersinways
thatmoveustogether.Asengineeringandgovernanceareactiononscienceandethics,religionisaction
onesthetics.Asengineeringandgovernancearethepowerofscienceandethics,religionisthepowerof
esthetics.

Wecareforandusescienceandethicsonlyinaccordancewithesthetics,whichpresentsitselfas
foremostamongtheminthemostvitalmomentsoflife,whenwewemustact,accordingtowhatever
wisdomandinspirationwemighthave.Lifecannotwait.61Howwillweact?Willweseebeautyin
science?Willwefeelunityinethics?Willwecare,andhowmuchwillwecare?Couldourdegreeof
concernmakeapracticaldifference?Thesequestionsmattertoallexceptperhapsthemostapathetic,
escapist,ornihilisticamongus.Theiranswersscopeourfuture.

Ifwecanraiseoureyesfromthealtarofreligiousandantireligiousdogma,wewillseethatthehand
raisedtofinishthedyingGodisthesignoftheoathtotheresurrectingGod.Ifwecankeepoureyes
raised,resistingthecarnagebelow,wewillalsoseethehandisourownanditholdsabladethatisaged
andstained.Thatiswhenwehaveachoice,eithertorepeattheoldsacrificesofourancestors,orfinally
tomakethenewsacrificethattheyalwaysimplied:wecanputourselvesonthealtarandlearnhowtobe
God.Wecanrecognizethatnegationofoneposthumanprojectionalwaysimpliesanother,misrecognized
untilhumanityembracesitstransformation.62

TECHNOLOGICALEVOLUTION

Forsome,theideaoftransformationintoposthumanityconjuresimagesofcomicbookcyborgswithgun
armsandlasereyes.Butmostwouldagreethatgunarmsandlasereyeswouldnotbeparticularly
WilliamJames,
TheWilltoBelieve,andOtherEssaysinPopularPhilosophy,andHumanImmortality
(New
York:DoverPublications,1956),213.
56
Smith,SecularLiturgies.
57
James,
TheWilltoBelieve,andOtherEssaysinPopularPhilosophy,andHumanImmortality
,190.
58
SamHarris,
TheMoralLandscape:HowScienceCanDetermineHumanValues
(NewYork:FreePress,2010).
59
AlbertEinsteinin
ThePrivateAlbertEinstein
(KansasCity,Missouri:AndrewsandMcMeel,1992),85.
60
EmileDurkheim,
ElementaryFormsofReligiousLife
(OxfordUniversityPress,1912),325327.
61
Durkheim,
ElementaryFormsofReligiousLife
.
62
HavaTiroshSamuelson,TranshumanismasaSecularistFaith,
Zygon
(2012),47:710734.
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desirabletransformations,eitherpracticallyoresthetically.Forbetterexamples,lookatthetechnology
thatistransformingyourightnow.Youmaybeusingacomputingdevicetoextendyourabilityto
communicate.Youmaybereadingthroughglasses,contacts,orsurgicallymodifiedeyes,orlistening
throughhearingaidsorcochlearimplants.Youareprobablywearingclothingtoenhanceyourabilityto
adapttoenvironmentalchange.Underthoseclothes,youmighthaveimplantsorprosthetics.Through
yourblood,drugsmayberelievingpain,heighteningattention,orfacilitatinggrowth.Thatisjustnow.
Thinkthroughtherestofthedayleadinguptothismoment.Thinkthroughyourlife.Considerhuman
history.Iftechnologicallyenhancedhumansarecyborgsthenwehavealwaysbeencyborgs.63 Wehave
alwaysbeentransforminghumans,transhumans,andtotheextentwehavewelcomedthat,wehavebeen
implicitTranshumanists.Atleastincontextofthepastandpresent,thatisnotparticularlycontroversial.

Thecontroversyariseswhenwelookforward.Howwilltechnologychangeusinafewyearsordecades?
64
Whataboutathousandyearsfromnow?Howmanydrugs,surgeries,prosthetics,andotherchangesare
therebetweenhumansandposthumans,asdifferentfromusaswenowarefromourprehumanancestors?
Isitpossibletochangethatmuch?Ifso,shouldwe?

Sometimeswetalkabouthumansbecomingmoreroboticorrobotsbecomingmorehuman.When
thinkingofrobots,wemightfeelcoldmetalorhollowplastic.Ifthatiswhatrobotsarethenwearenot
andnevershould(orcouldmeaningfully)berobots.However,suchlanguagereliesonadichotomythatis
increasinglyinsufficientfordescribingnotonlythepossibilityspace,buteventheactualityspace.Doesa
humanreceivingaprostheticlimboranartificialheartbecomelesshuman?Canabodyoriginatingfrom
artificialDNA,conceivedthroughanartificialprocess,orgestatedinanartificialenvironmenteverbe
human,evenifitispracticallyindistinguishablefromnaturalhumans?Forthatmatter,hownaturalare
humans?Areagricultureandmedicinenatural?Theblurringbetweennaturalandartificialisasancientas
thestickourdistantancestorwieldedtoextendherreach,andtheleavesdonnedtoenhancehisskin.Inan
importantsense,asynthesisofanatomyandtoolsispartofwhatmadeushuman,empoweringusabove
anddifferentiatingusfromourprehumanancestors.Inthatsense,perhapswehavealwaysbeenrobots,
foratleastaslongaswehavebeenhumans.

Whydowewanttoenhanceourselves?Theanswerisnotnew.Wewanttoenhanceourselvesforallthe
reasonswehavemadetoolssincethebeginningofhistory.Toolsempowerus.Sowewillcontinueto
buildmoreandbettertools,andtheirsynthesiswithouranatomieswillbecomeincreasinglyseamlessand
intimate,becausewewanttoandbecausewecan,forthepoweritprovides.Likeallpower,toolsand
theirintimateevolutionintobodyandmindenhancementsarenotinherentlygoodorevil.Rather,they
arebothriskstomitigateandopportunitiestopursueaccordingtowhateverwisdomandinspirationwe
mighthave.Ontheonehand,toolscanempowerusagainsteachother.Somehoard,andothersdeplete.
Elitesform,totalitarianscontrol,andtyrantsoppress.Artificialcatastrophicriskswellbeyondthoseof
nuclearweaponspresentthemselves. 65Perhapswecouldrealizeourworstimaginationsofthe
Apocalypse.Ontheotherhand,toolscanalsoempowerusforeachother.Alreadywehaveusedthemto
build,relate,console,andhealinwaysourdistantancestorsimaginedonlyGodtohavethecapacity.66
Perhapssomedaywemighttransfigureourselvesintoagelessbodies.67Wemightevenraiseeachotheras
63

BrendaBrasher,"Thoughtsonthestatusofthecyborg:ontechnologicalsocializationanditslinktothereligious
functionofpopularculture,"
JournaloftheAmericanAcademyofReligion
(1996),64:809830.
64
RayKurzweil,
TheSingularityisNear
(NewYork:PenguinBooks,2005).
65
NickBostrom,
GlobalCatastrophicRisks
(OxfordUniversityPress,2008).
66
StevenPinker,
TheBetterAngelsofOurNature:WhyViolenceHasDeclined
(NewYork:PenguinBooks,2011).
67
AubreydeGrey,
EndingAging:TheRejuvenationBreakthroughsthatCouldReverseHumanAginginOur


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sublimemindsthatrelatewithunfathomablecompassionandconceivethoughtsthatinthemselves
constitutenothinglessthanthecreationofnewworlds.68Inanycase,Mormonorotherwise,
Transhumanistsaffirmthatwecanandshouldchangethroughcontinuedethicaluseoftechnologyto
expandourabilities.

TRANSHUMANISM

TranshumanistsgenerallytraceourideologicaloriginstoHumanism.PreSocraticGreekphilosophers
lookedbeyondtraditionalgodsforscientificexplanationsoftheworld.Seventeenthcenturyastronomer
GalileoGalileideferredtohumanobservationwhenconflictingwithecclesiasticalauthority.
EighteenthcenturyscientistMarquisdeCondorcetclaimedthatmedicalsciencecouldbeusedtoextend
humanlife.69

AlthoughmostselfidentifyingTranshumanistsaresecular,religiousHumanismhasmadesubstantial
contributionstotheoriginsofTranshumanism.EarlyChristianstaughtofidentifyingwithChristand
becominggods.70ThirteenthcenturyScholastictheologianscontinuedtherecurringsynthesisof
Christianitywithpopularscience.71NineteenthcenturytheologianNikolaiFyodorovproclaimedthatthe
commontaskofhumanityshouldbetheresuscitativeresurrectionofourancestors.72Twentiethcentury
theologianPierreTeilharddeChardinenvisionedhumanevolution,acceleratedbytechnology,moving
inexorablytowardaconceptionofGod.73

AnidentifiableTranshumanistmovementbeganinthelastfewdecadesofthetwentiethcentury.Inthe
1960s,futuristFereidounM.Esfandiary(FM2030),beganidentifyingastranshumansthosewho
behaveinamannerconducivetoaposthumanfuture.74Inthe1980s,philosopherMaxMoreformalizeda
Lifetime
(NewYork:StMartinsPress,2007).
68
AndersSandberg,ThePhysicsofInformationProcessingSuperobjects:DailyLifeAmongtheJupiterBrains,
JournalofEvolutionandTechnology
(1999),5.
69
GeorgeDvorsky,MarquisdeCondorcet,EnlightenmentProtoTranshumanist,InstituteforEthicsandEmerging
Technology,accessed1November2014,http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/dvorsky20080126.
70
JustinMartyr,"DialoguewithTrypho,124TheophilusofAntioch,"ToAutolycus,2:27Irenaeus,"Against
Heresies,4:38:34ClementofAlexandria,"ExhortationtotheHeathen,1Tertullian,"AgainstHermogenes,5
HippolytusofRome,"RefutationofAllHeresies,10:30Origen,"CommentaryonJohn,2:2Cyprianof
Carthage,"Treatise,6:11,15GregoryofNeocaesarea,"SectionalConfessionofFaith,16Methodiusof
Olympus,"BanquetoftheTenVirgins,8:8AntonytheGreat,"OntheCharacterofMenandontheVirtuous
Life,168AthanasiusofAlexandria,"IncarnationoftheWord,54HilaryofPoitiers,"OntheTrinity,9:38
CyrilofJerusalem,"CatecheticalLecture,21:1BasilofCaesarea,"OntheSpirit,23GregoryofNazianzus,
"Oration,2:2223AugustineofHippo,"OnthePsalms,50:2MarktheAscetic,"ToNicolastheSolitary
TheodoretofCyrus,"Letter,146DiadochosofPhotiki,"OnSpiritualKnowledgeandDiscrimination,89
ThalassiustheLibyan,"OnLove,SelfControlandLifeinaccordancewiththeIntellect,1:95101Maximusthe
Confessor,"OnTheology,1:5355JohnofDamascus,"ExpositionoftheOrthodoxFaith,2:12Theodoreof
Edessa,"TheoretikonPeterofDamaskos,"TreasuryofDivineKnowledge1:IntroductionandTheognostos,"On
thePracticeoftheVirtues,ContemplationandthePriesthood,32.
71
ThomasAquinas,
SummaTheologica
.
72
N.A.Berdyaev,TheReligionofResusciativeResurrection,accessed1November2014,
http://www.berdyaev.com/berdiaev/berd_lib/1915_186.html.
73
EricSteinhart,TeilharddeChardinandTranshumanism,JournalofEvolutionandTechnology,accessed1
November2014,http://jetpress.org/v20/steinhart.htm.
74
AboutFM2030,accessed1November2014,http://www.fm2030.com/about/.


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Transhumanistdoctrine,advocatingthePrinciplesofExtropyforcontinuouslyimprovingthehuman
condition.75Inthe1990s,agroupofinfluentialTranshumanistsauthoredtheTranshumanist
Declaration,statingvariousethicalpositionsrelatedtotheuseofandplanningfortechnological
advances.76 Alsointhe1990s,philosophersNickBostromandDavidPearcefoundedtheWorld
TranshumanistAssociation,whichbecamethelargestnetworkofTranshumanistswithmembershipinthe
thousands,andlaterchangeditsnametoHumanity+.77 Inthe2000s,technologistRayKurzweilpublished
TheSingularityIsNear,popularizingtheideaofacceleratingtechnologicalchange.78Alsointhe2000s,
theMormonTranshumanistAssociationbecamethelargestnetworkofreligiousTranshumanistswith
membershipinthehundreds.79

MISRECOGNIZEDRELIGIOSITY

Despiteoccasionalequivocation,80 whetheramongTranshumanistsorfromexternalaccounts,
Transhumanismisnotatheism.Infact,recentpollssuggestonlyabouthalfofTranshumanistsidentifyas
eitheratheistoragnostic,andthatisdownabout15%fromsurveysdoneadecadeago.81Giventhat
agnosticismtendstobemoreprevalentthanatheisminmostpopulations,itmaybethatnotevenaquarter
ofTranshumanistsareatheists,andtheproportionofatheistTranshumanistsmaybeindecline.

Whatmightexplainadecline?Onecontributorcouldbesimplythatreligiouspersonsareincreasingly
recognizingcompatibilityandevencomplementaritybetweentheirreligiousviewsandTranshumanism.
AnothercontributorcouldbethatsomecommonTranshumanistexpectations,ifnotaspirations,maybe
incompatiblewithatheism.Forexample,achievingthecapacitytosimulateorotherwiseemulateour
evolutionaryhistorymayentailthatourworldwascreatedbybeingsthatqualifyasGodinsome
religions.82PerhapsanothercontributoristhatsomeatheistinclinedTranshumanistshavebecome
alarmedbyorwearyoftheferventantireligiosityadvocatedbysomeatheists.83Havingnowishtobe
associatedwiththatanymorethanwithreligiousfundamentalism,theymightbeadjustingtheir
selfdescriptions.

YetanothercontributorcouldbethatwearebeginningtorecognizethatTranshumanismitselffunctions
asareligionforsomeofus,andperhapsmostespeciallyforsomeofusthatmoststronglydenythat
function. 84ThatisnottoclaimthatTranshumanismisinherentlyareligion.Initself,theadvocacyof
75

MaxMore,ThePrinciplesofExtropy,accessed1November2014,
https://www.scribd.com/doc/203978899/MaxMoreThePrinciplesofExtropy.
76
TranshumanistDeclaration,Humanity+,accessed1November2014,
http://humanityplus.org/philosophy/transhumanistdeclaration/.
77
About,Humanity+,accessed1November2014,http://humanityplus.org/about/.
78
Kurzweil,
TheSingularityIsNear
.
79
About,MormonTranshumanistAssociation,accessed1November2014,http://transfigurism.org/pages/about/.
80
ZoltanIstvan,SomeAtheistsandTranshumanistsareAsking:ShoulditbeIllegaltoIndoctrinateKidsWith
Religion?,HuffingtonPost,accessed1November2014,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltanistvan/someatheistsandtranshu_b_5814484.html.
81
WhoaretheIEETsaudience?,InstituteforEthicsandEmergingTechnology,accessed1November2014,
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/poll20130716.
82
Cannon,NewGodArgument.
83
GiulioPrisco,Yes,IAmaBeliever,InstituteforEthicsandEmergingTechnology,accessed1November2014,
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/prisco20120523.
84
TiroshSamuelson,SecularistFaith.


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ethicaluseoftechnologytoextendhumanabilitiesneednotbereligious.However,itnonethelessendsup
functioningasreligionforsomethatadoptandidentifywiththeideology.

Therearethesacramentsofnutritionsupplements,theritualsofcryonics,thepropheciesofindefinite
healthylifeextension,thespiritsofsubstrateindependentminds,theapocalypticandmessianicpostures
towardartificialintelligence,themillennialparadisiacalhopeoflifeandabundancebeyondpresent
notionsofsufferingandpoverty,andultimatelythepantheonofposthumanity.While,inthemindsof
someindividualTranshumanists,thesemayreallyonlyberoughanalogiesbetweenreligiousand
Transhumanistviews,theyarenonethelessinfusedwithcollectivestrenuosityamongsomegroupsof
Transhumanists.

Inotherwords,amongsomeTranshumanists,ourvisionandpracticefunctionasreligion,perhapsnot
accordingtonarrowpresecularaccountsofreligion,butratherfrombroadaccountsofthereligious
phenomenonfromdeephistorythroughitsevolutionintopopulartraditionaltrappingsandonintoits
emergingpostsecularmanifestations.85Transhumanism,forsomeTranshumanists,ispostsecularreligion,
evenifmisrecognized.

ACCELERATINGCHANGE

Inthe1960s,IntelcofounderGordonMooreobservedthattheratioofcomputingcapacitytocostwas
doublingpredictably,everycoupleyearsorfaster.Inotherwords,acomputerbuiltin1969hadtwiceas
muchcapacityasacomputerbuiltatthesamecostin1968,andoverahundredtimesasmuchcapacityas
acomputerbuiltatthesamecostin1962acomputerbuiltin1969wouldalsoreliablyhavehalfthe
capacityofacomputerbuiltatthesamecostin1970,andlessthanahundredththecapacityofa
computerbuiltatthesamecostin1976.

Thattrend,knownasMooresLaw,hascontinuedtothepresent.86 Today,a$150smartphonecanstore
aboutamilliontimesmoredataandprocessthatdataaboutathousandtimesfasterthanthe$150K
ApolloGuidanceComputerthattookastronautstothemoonin1969.Thesmartphonealsohaswireless
accesstoextendedcomputingcapacityontheInternet,includingpowerfulsystemssuchasGoogle,
Amazon,andFacebook.

SupposeMooresLawcontinues.Withindecades,whateverreplacessmartphoneswouldhavemillions,
billions,andthentrillionsoftimestheoverallcomputingcapacityatthesamecost.Withinacentury,
$150couldperhapspurchasemorecomputingcapacitythanthatofallhumanbrainscombined.87Imagine
thepossibilities.

Thisshortfablemighthelp.Akingwasdeeplygratefultohiscourtmathematician,whohadperformed
greatservices.Hesummonedherandaskedhowhemightbestrewardher.Aftersomeconsideration,the
mathematiciantoldthekingthatshewouldbedelightedtoreceiverice,thenumberofgrainstobe
determinedbyplacingonegrainonthefirstsquareofachessboard,twograinsonthesecondsquare,four
grainsonthethird,andsoon,doublingthenumberofgrainsforeachofthesixtyfoursquaresofthe
85

Smith,SecularLiturgies.
MooresLawandIntelInnovation,Intel,accessed1November2014,
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/history/museumgordonmoorelaw.html.
87
Kurzweil,
Singularity
,136.
86


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chessboard.Thekingwassurprisedandpressedhertoaskformore,butthemathematicianresisted,sohe
commandedherrequesttobegranted.

Howmuchricedidthemathematicianrequest?Visualizeit.Whatdoyousee?Ifyouarelikemostofus,
andifyouhavenotalreadyformallyconfrontedthenaturaldifficultyofintuitingexponentialchange,you
havedramaticallyunderestimated.Thericerequestedbythemathematicianwouldfillnotonlythe
chessboard,thetable,andeventhecourtroom.Itwouldfillmorethantheentirekingdom.The
mathematiciansrequestwouldactuallycovertheentireplanetunderakilometerofrice.

Ifacceleratingchangecontinues,ourinformalintuitivesenseofwhattheworldmightlookliketen,thirty,
orahundredyearsfromnowisalmostcertainlyandquitedramaticallywrong.Evenpredictionsbasedon
thebestsocialandeconomicandpoliticaltheories,ifnotaccountingforacceleratingchange,wouldbe
stunninglyincorrect.Thefutureprobablywillnotbeevenclosetowhatweimagine,ifaccelerating
changepersists,andifwedonotworktoaccountforthatpossibilityinourexpectations.

VISIONOFAFUTURE

MormonTranshumanistsdonothaveonevisionofthefuture.Wehavemanyvisionsmanydreams.
Andweexpresstheminmanynarratives.Hereisone,reflectingsomecommonexpectationsand
aspirations,andillustratingparallelsbetweenMormonismandTranshumanism.

Oursisoneofinnumerableworlds,88achildliketelestialworld,89growinginthefullnessoftimes.90Filled
asifbyanunstoppablerollingriverpouringfromtheheavens,ourknowledgebecomesunprecedented.91
Nothingiswithheld,whetherthelawsoftheearthortheboundsoftheheavens,whethertherebeoneGod
ormanygods,everythingbeginstomanifest.92AndtheworkofGodhastens.93Repeatingthewordsof
Christ,wespeak,94andinformationtechnologiesbegintocarrytheconsolationofcompassionaroundthe
world.EmulatingtheworksofChrist,weact,95andbiologicaltechnologiesbegintomaketheblindsee,96
thelamewalk,97andthedeafhear98agriculturaltechnologiesbegintofeedthehungryand
manufacturingtechnologiesbegintoclothethenaked.99Heartsturningtoourancestors,weremember,
88

Moses1:35
KevinBarney,TheEtymologyofTelestial,ByCommonConsent,accessed1November2014,
http://bycommonconsent.com/2010/01/27/theetymologyoftelestial/.
90
Ephesians1:10
91
D&C121:33
92
D&C121:2632
93
D&C88:7380
94
Mark16:15
95
Matthew10:8
96
AlicePark,StemCellsAllowNearlyBlindPatientstoSee,Time,accessed1November2014,
http://time.com/3507094/stemcellseyesight/.
97
JohnHewitt,Paralyzedmanwalksagainaftersurgeonstransplantcellsfromhisnosetohisspine,Extremetech,
accessed1November2014,
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/192548paralyzedmanwalksagainaftersurgeonstransplantcellsfromhis
nosetohisspine.
98
GordonRayner,Momentadeafwomancouldhearforfirsttime,TheTelegraph,accessed1November2014,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10728006/Momentadeafwomancouldhearforfirsttime.html.
99
Jacob2:19andMosiah4:26
89


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andsophisticatedmachinelearningalgorithmsbegintoprocessmassivedatabases,perhapstoredeemour
dead.100

Asinformationandbiologicalsciencescontinuetoadvanceandmerge,abiotechrevolutionbecomesas
obviousasthecomputingrevolutionwasattheadventoftheInternet.101 Syntheticbiologyrestoresextinct
species,createsnewformsoflife,andhintsatprogrammableecologies.Somecontemplateprophecies
aboutrenewalofourworld,102 andsomeponderscripturesaboutthecreationofwholenewworldsor
perhapstheiraccidentaldestruction.103Personalizedandregenerativemedicinesbegintorestorevitalityto
thebodiesandmindsofanoldergeneration.Respondingtoworriesthatdeathmaybenecessaryfor
meaning,newvoicesrepeatoldstoriesaboutthosewhoweremoreblessedfortheirdesiretoavoiddeath
altogether.104 Reproductiontechnologypermitsinfertileandgaycouples,aswellasindividualsorgroups,
toconceivetheirowngeneticchildren.Somerecoilfromperceivedthreatstotradition,whileothers
celebrateperceivedgiftstonewfamilies.105 Weaponizedpathogensareatopsecurityrisk,threatening
pandemicsaswellastargetedgenocidesandassassinations.Meanwhile,solarenergyislessexpensive
thananyother.AndtheInternetevolvesintoadistributedreputationnetwork,expeditingthesocial
feedbackloop,strengtheningincentivesforcooperation,andincreasingboththereachandthevalueof
relationships.Missionariesfindtheirworkmorechallengingandrewardingthaneverbefore.106

Biotechcombineswithadvancesinmaterialsandmanufacturingsciencestoproduceananotech
revolution.107 Generallyavailableandaffordableatomicallypreciseprintingtechnologiesgrant
unprecedentedaccesstofood,clothing,andshelter.Withsuchabundance,welfareprogramssolveold
problems,108 butsystemicunemploymentpresentsnewones.109 Amongthewealthy,roboticcellsflow
throughbodiesandbrains,extendingabilitiesbeyondthoseofthegreatestathletesandscholarsofhistory,
andfurtherrestoringvitality.Mostbecomeconvincedthatwecaneventuallyvanquishthatawful
monster,death,110 whilecautionaryandcriticalvoicesdrawincreasingattentiontopersistentand
sociallydamaginginequalities.111 Theabilitytoreadandwritedatatoandfromeveryneuroninthebrain
beginstoconnectusexperientially,bothsensoriallyandemotionally,witheachotherandwithour
environment.Asspiritualexperiencesbecomeeasilyreproducibleandmalleable,teachersshiftfocus
fromgeneralencouragementtocarefuldiscernmentbetweenhelpfulandharmfulesthetics. 112Hijacked
motorfunctionsorautomatedstimulationofpleasurecentersinthebrainpresentmajorpsychosocial
risks,hauntingfamilyrelationshipsandburdeningcommunities.TheInternetisacompositeofvirtual,
augmented,andintegratednaturalreality.Weaponizedselfreplicatingnanobotsareatopenvironmental
risk,threateningconsumptionofthebiosphere.Meanwhile,moonbasesfacilitateroboticminingof
asteroidsandinitiateconstructionofcoloniesinlargesatellitesorbitingEarthandonMars,reinvigorating

100

D&C128:69
Kurzweil,
Singularity
,206.
102
ArticlesofFaith1:10
103
Moses1:38
104
3Nephi28
105
D&C88:33
106
D&C14:34
107
Kurzweil,
Singularity
,226.
108
D&C42:34,55
109
2Nephi26:3031
110
2Nephi9:10,19,26
111
D&C78:6
112
Joseph,
Teachings
,202.
101


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thepioneerspirit.113

Informationscience,empoweredbyadvancesinbiotechandnanotech,climaxesinaneurotech
revolution.114 Thefunctionsofthebrainandbodyarevirtualized,andwebeginextendingortransitioning
ourmindsintomorerobustbodies,biologicalandotherwiseasinnumerableanddiverseasthestars.115
Asthemorphologicalpossibilityspaceexpands,somewarnagainstdesecratingtheimageofGod,and
somerecallpropheciesabouttheordinanceoftransfiguration.116 Datastorageandmaterialsengineering
ensuresourmindsandbodiesaremaintainedorrestoredasneededinperpetuity,banishingdeathaswe
knowit.117 Brainandbodypreservationpatientsfrompreviousdecadesareresuscitated.Environmental
dataminingsuggeststhepossibilityofgatheringalltheinformationrequiredtoreconstructnotonlya
detailedevolutionaryhistoryofourworldandcivilization,butalsocompletemodelsofthebodiesand
brainsofourdeadancestorsindividually.Someconcludethispossibilitywasordained,beforetheworld
was,toenableustoredeemourdead,118 perhapseventoperformtheordinanceofresurrection.119 Diverse
formsofartificialandenhancedintelligence,bothsimilarandalientohuman,evolvetosuperhuman
capacities.Filledwithknowledgeandpower,120 theyvieforresourcestopursueanincreasinglydiverse
andcomplexpossibilityspaceofgoals.Malicioussuperintelligenceistheultimatesecurityrisk.
Meanwhile,weencountereachotherand,mostprofoundlyofall,weencounterthetangible
personificationofourworld,itselfinstrumentedintoanembodimentforavastmind,inintimateand
transformativewaysthatwedidnotpreviouslyhavetheanatomicalcapacitytoimagine,exceptvaguely
assublimecompassionandimmersiveempathymadepossiblebypervasiveexperiential
interconnectedness.

Inthatday,ourswillbeayoungterrestrialworld,121 amillennialparadise.122 Technologyandreligionwill

haveevolvedbeyondourpresentabilitiestoconceiveorexpress,exceptlooselythroughsymbolic
analogies.123 Wewillseeandfeelandknowthemessiah,124 thereturnofChrist,intheembodied
personificationofthelightandlifeofourworld, 125withandinwhomwewillbeone,126speakingthe
wordsanddoingtheworksofChrist:consoling,healing,andraisingeachothertogetherinthegloryof
God.127 Enjoyingaworldbeyondpresentnotionsofenmity,poverty,suffering,anddeaththeliving
transfiguredandthedeadresurrectedtoimmortalitywewillfulfillprophecies.128 Andwewillrepeat
others,forthtellingandprovokingourselvesonwardandupward,throughyetgreaterchallenges,129 to
113

D&C136
Kurzweil,
Singularity
,259.
115
D&C76:98,109
116
Joseph,
Teachings
,170.
117
1Corinthians15:5155
118
D&C128:22
119
BrighamYounginvol.3of
WilfordWoodruffsJournal
,ed.ScottKenney(Utah:SignatureBooks,1985),
323324.
120
D&C77:14
121
D&C76:91
122
ArticlesofFaith1:10
123
D&C1:24
124
1John3:2
125
John8:12,Mosiah16:9,3Nephi11:11,andD&C88:713
126
John17:2023
127
Matthew10:78
128
D&C101:2634
129
D&C43:31
114


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maturityinacelestialworld,130 andbeyondinworldswithoutend.131

NEWGODARGUMENT

PopularamongMormonTranshumanists,theNewGodArgumentisanargumentforfaithinGod,ortrust
inposthumanitythatmayqualifyasGodinsomereligions.132TheargumentdoesnotprovethatGod
exists.Rather,theargumentprovesthatifhumanitywillnotgoextinctbeforeevolvinginto
superintelligentposthumanitythen,givenassumptionsconsistentwithcontemporaryscienceand
technologicaltrends,superintelligentposthumanityprobablyismorecompassionatethanusandprobably
createdourworld.Theonlyalternativeisthathumanityprobablywillgoextinctbeforeevolvinginto
superintelligentposthumanity.Inotherwords,theNewGodArgumentshowsthattrustinourown
superintelligentpotentialmayentailfaithinGodandconversely,reasonsforskepticismaboutGodmay
bereasonsforskepticismaboutourownsuperintelligentpotential.

Hereisabasicformulationofandelaborationontheargumentinfourparts:FaithAssumption,
CompassionArgument,CreationArgument,andGodConclusion.

TheFaithAssumptionconsistsofasingleassumption:

F1:humanitywillnotgoextinctbeforeevolvingintosuperintelligentposthumanity(assumption)

Theassumptionmaybefalse,butwemayhavemoralorpracticalreasonstobehaveasifitistrue
pendingconclusiveevidencetothecontrary,133 oratleastwemaybesimplyinterestedinconsideringthe
ramificationsifitistrue.Inanycase,thisassumptionisacommonaspirationamongTranshumanists
generally,Mormonandotherwise.134

TheCompassionArgumentconsistsoftwoassumptionsandadeductionfromthoseassumptionsandthe
FaithAssumption.

CO1:EITHERhumanityprobablywillgoextinctbeforeevolvingintosuperintelligentposthumanityOR
superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldnothavemoredestructivecapacitythanhumanityOR
superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldbemorecompassionatethanus(assumption)

CO2:superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldhavemoredestructivecapacitythanhumanity
(assumption)

CO3:superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldbemorecompassionatethanus(deductionfrom
CO1,CO2,andF1)

130

D&C88:2526
D&C130:911
132
Cannon,NewGodArgument.
133
FerdinandSchiller,
StudiesinHumanism
(London:MacmillanandCo.,1907),430andJames,
WilltoBelieve
,
26.
134
JamesHughes,ExecutiveSummaryofthe2007WTAMemberSurvey,accessed1November2014,
http://www.transhumanism.org/index.php/th/print/1319/.
131


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ThedeductionoftheCompassionArgumentisnecessarilytrueifitsassumptionsandtheFaith
Assumptionaretrue.EitherorbothoftheCompassionArgumentassumptionsmaybefalse,butwemay
havehistoricalandtechnologicalreasonstobelievetheyaretrue.Forexample,recordssuggestthat
violencehasdecreasedandcivillibertieshaveimprovedasgovernmentshavebecomemorepowerful,135
andsometechnologistsbelievethatmachineintelligencemaydestroyusifwedonotensureits
friendliness,atleastasinstrumentalcooperationifnotasinternalizedcompassion.136

TheCreationArgumentalsoconsistsoftwoassumptionsandadeductionfromthoseassumptionsandthe
FaithAssumption.

CR1:EITHERhumanityprobablywillgoextinctbeforeevolvingintosuperintelligentposthumanityOR
superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldnotcreatemanyworldsemulatingitsevolutionaryhistory
ORsuperintelligentposthumanityprobablycreatedourworld(assumption)

CR2:superintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldcreatemanyworldsemulatingitsevolutionary
history(assumption)

CR3:superintelligentposthumanityprobablycreatedourworld(deductionfromCR1,CR2,andF1)

ThedeductionoftheCreationArgumentisnecessarilytrueifitsassumptionsandtheFaithAssumption
aretrue.EitherorbothoftheCreationArgumentassumptionsmaybefalse,butwemayhave
technologicalandmathematicalreasonstobelievetheyaretrue.Forexample,sometechnologistsbelieve
thatcomputationmayenableustorunmanyfamilyhistorysimulationsdetailedenoughtoconsistof
emulatedconsciouspersons,inwhichcasestatisticswouldshowwealmostcertainlyarealreadylivingin
suchafamilyhistorysimulationourselves.137

Finally,theGodConclusionconsistsofasinglededuction,whichisnecessarilytrueiftheCompassion
ArgumentandCreationArgumentaretrue.

G1:BOTHsuperintelligentposthumanityprobablywouldbemorecompassionatethanusAND
superintelligentposthumanityprobablycreatedourworld(deductionfromCO3andCR3)

MORMONISMMANDATESTRANSHUMANISM

SomeMormonTranshumanistscontendthat,beyondmerecompatibilityorevencomplementarity,
MormonismactuallymandatesTranshumanism.Fromthisperspective,onecanbeaTranshumanist
withoutbeingaMormon,butonecannotbeaMormonwithoutbeingaTranshumanist,atleastimplicitly.
Althoughthisisacontroversialclaim,wecanuseMormonscripturetoformulateasupportingargument.

ThefirstpremiseisthatGodcommandsustouseordainedmeanstoparticipateinGod'swork.This
premiseisbasedonscriptureslike1Nephi3,whichsaysGodprepareswaysforustoaccomplishGods

StevenPinker,
TheBetterAngelsofOurNature
(NewYork:Viking,2011).
NickBostrom,
Superintelligence
(OxfordUniversityPress,2014).
137
NickBostrom,TheSimulationArgument,accessed1November2014,
http://www.simulationargument.com/simulation.html.
135
136


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commands138Alma60,whichsaysGodwillnotsaveusunlessweusethemeansGodhasalready
provided139 andD&C58,whichsaysweshouldengageingoodcauseswithoutwaitingforGodto
providespecificcommands.140

ThesecondpremiseisthatscienceandtechnologyareamongthemeansordainedofGod.Thispremiseis
basedonscriptureslike1Nephi17,whereGodcommandsNephitoconstructashiptosavehisfamily141
Alma37,whichsaysGodgaveNephiacompasstoguidehisfamilytothepromisedland142 D&C88,
whereGodcommandsustostudyandteacheverythingfromastronomyandgeologytohistoryand
politics143 andD&C121,whichsayswewilllearnallthephysicallawsoftheworldbeforeattaining
heaven.144

ThethirdpremiseisthatGod'sworkistohelpeachotherattainGodhood.Thispremiseisbasedon
scriptureslike3Nephi12,whereJesuscommandsustobeperfectlikeGod 145D&C76,whichsaysGod
wouldmakeusGodsofequalpowerwithhim146 andMoses1,whichsaysGodsworkistomakeus
immortalineternallife.147

ThefourthandfinalpremiseisthatanessentialattributeofGodhoodisaglorifiedimmortalbody.This
premiseisbasedonscriptureslikeEther3,wheretheBrotherofJaredseesthatGodisembodied148 D&C
76,whichsaysGodhasabodyglorifiedlikethesun149 D&C93,whichsaysfulljoyrequiresabody,
elementsarethebodyofGod,andintelligenceisthegloryofGod150 andD&C130,whichsaysGods
bodyisastangibleasthatofahuman.151

Fromthesefourpremises,wecanreason.

BecauseGodcommandsustouseordainedmeanstoparticipateinGodswork,andbecausescienceand
technologyareamongthosemeans,wecandeducethatGodcommandsustousescienceandtechnology
toparticipateinGodswork.

Next,becauseGodcommandsustousescienceandtechnologytoparticipateinGodswork,andbecause
GodsworkistohelpeachotherattainGodhood,wecandeducethatGodcommandsustousescience
andtechnologytohelpeachotherattainGodhood.

Finally,becauseGodcommandsustousescienceandtechnologytohelpeachotherattainGodhood,and
becauseanessentialattributeofGodhoodisaglorifiedimmortalbody,wecanconcludethatGod
138

1Nephi3:7
Alma60:11,2123
140
D&C58:2728
141
1Nephi17:811,16
142
Alma37:3839
143
D&C88:7879
144
D&C121:2633
145
3Nephi12:48
146
D&C76:5860,9295
147
Moses1:39
148
Ether3:716
149
D&C76:70
150
D&C93:3336
151
D&C130:22
139


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commandsustousescienceandtechnologytohelpeachotherattainaglorifiedimmortalbody.

Thisconclusionisbothareligiousmandate,inthatitpurportstoexpressthewillofGod,anda
descriptionoftheTranshumanistproject,advocatingtheethicaluseoftechnologytoexpandhuman
abilities.Ifwearrivedatthisconclusionbyvalidreasoning,whichwedid,andifwebeganwithpremises
thataccuratelyreflectMormonism,thenMormonismmandatesTranshumanism.