MTA Member Survey Results 2009

Contents

MTA Member Survey Results 2009 ...................................................... 1

Contents ........................................................................................... 1
Membership....................................................................................... 1
Transhumanist Declaration .................................................................. 1
Mormon Transhumanist Affirmation....................................................... 2
Participation ...................................................................................... 2
Location ............................................................................................ 3
Identity............................................................................................. 4
Religion............................................................................................. 7
Politics .............................................................................................. 8
Feedback.......................................................................................... 10
Perspective....................................................................................... 14
Demographic .................................................................................... 35

Membership

Basic Membership: 90
Voting Membership: 14
Total Membership: 104

All members of the Mormon Transhumanist Association support the Transhumanist

Declaration and the Mormon Transhumanist Affirmation, included below.

Transhumanist Declaration

(1) Humanity will be radically changed by technology in the future. We foresee the
feasibility of redesigning the human condition, including such parameters as the inevitability
of aging, limitations on human and artificial intellects, unchosen psychology, suffering, and
our confinement to the planet earth.

(2) Systematic research should be put into understanding these coming developments and
their long-term consequences.
(3) Transhumanists think that by being generally open and embracing of new technology we
have a better chance of turning it to our advantage than if we try to ban or prohibit it.

(4) Transhumanists advocate the moral right for those who so wish to use technology to
extend their mental and physical (including reproductive) capacities and to improve their
control over their own lives. We seek personal growth beyond our current biological
limitations.

(5) In planning for the future, it is mandatory to take into account the prospect of dramatic
progress in technological capabilities. It would be tragic if the potential benefits failed to
materialize because of technophobia and unnecessary prohibitions. On the other hand, it
would also be tragic if intelligent life went extinct because of some disaster or war involving
advanced technologies.

(6) We need to create forums where people can rationally debate what needs to be done,
and a social order where responsible decisions can be implemented.

(7) Transhumanism advocates the well-being of all sentience (whether in artificial intellects,
humans, posthumans, or non-human animals) and encompasses many principles of modern
humanism. Transhumanism does not support any particular party, politician or political
platform.

(From Humanity+)

Mormon Transhumanist Affirmation

(1) We seek the spiritual and physical exaltation of individuals and their anatomies, as well
as communities and their environments, according to their wills, desires and laws, to the
extent they are not oppressive.

(2) We believe that scientific knowledge and technological power are among the means
ordained of God to enable such exaltation, including realization of diverse prophetic visions
of transfiguration, immortality, resurrection, renewal of this world, and the discovery and
creation of worlds without end.

(3) We feel a duty to use science and technology according to wisdom and inspiration, to
identify and prepare for risks and responsibilities associated with future advances, and to
persuade others to do likewise.

(From the Constitution of the Mormon Transhumanist Association)

Participation

Number of Members that Participated: 51

Percentage of Members that Participated: 49%
Location

In which country is your primary residence?

USA 46
Other 5

If you live in the United States, in which state is your primary residence?

Utah 21
Other 25
Identity

Are you comfortable identifying yourself as a Mormon?

Always 17
Almost Always 18
Sometimes 7
Almost Never 4
Never 5
Are you comfortable identifying yourself as a Transhumanist?

Always 18
Almost Always 18
Sometimes 8
Almost Never 3
Never 4

Are you comfortable identifying yourself as a Mormon Transhumanist?

Always 15
Almost Always 18
Sometimes 10
Almost Never 3
Never 5

Are you comfortable identifying yourself as a Transfigurist?

Always 9
Almost Always 16
Sometimes 11
Almost Never 6
Never 9
Religion

Which of these best describes your perspective on God?

Agnostic 8
Atheist 3
Theist (any form) 39
No Opinion 1

Which of these best describes your religious affiliation?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) 39

Non-LDS Mormon Religion 2
Non-Mormon Christian Religion 2
Non-Christian Abramic Religion 1
Other Religion 0
No Affiliation 7
Religion Matrix
LDS 1 6 31
Non-LDS
0 0 2
Mormon
Non-Mormon
1 0 1
Christian
Non-Christian
0 0 1
Abramic
Other 0 0 0

No Affiliation 1 2 4

Atheist Agnostic Theist

Politics

Which of these best describes your political perspective on cultural matters?

Conservative 4
Moderate 17
Progressive 29
No Opinion 1
Which of these best describes your political perspective on economic matters?

Conservative 19
Moderate 18
Progressive 13
No Opinion 1

Politics Matrix
Cultural
13 0 0
Progressive
Cultural
8 10 0
Moderate
 Cultural
8 6 4
Conservative
Economic Economic Economic
Progressive Moderate Conservative

Feedback

How satisfied are you with the MTA?

Very Satisfied 10
Satisfied 31
Unsatisfied 5
Very Unsatisfied 0
No Opinion 5

How important is the MTA?

Very Important 11
Important 28
Unimportant 2
Very Unimportant 0
No Opinion 10

General Feedback Matrix

Very
4 5 0 0
Satisfied
Satisfied 4 22 0 0

Unsatisfied 2 1 1 0
Very
0 0 0 0
Unsatisfied
Very Very
Important Unimportant
Important Unimportant

How satisfied are you with MTA discussions?

Very Satisfied 7
Satisfied 23
Unsatisfied 5
Very Unsatisfied 0
No Opinion 16

How important are MTA discussions?

Very Important 9
Important 24
Unimportant 2
Very Unimportant 0
No Opinion 16

Discussions Feedback Matrix

Very
4 3 0 0
Satisfied
Satisfied 4 15 1 0

Unsatisfied 0 3 1 0
Very
0 0 0 0
Unsatisfied
Very Very
Important Unimportant
Important Unimportant

How satisfied are you with MTA projects?

Very Satisfied 2
Satisfied 18
Unsatisfied 4
Very Unsatisfied 1
No Opinion 26

How important are MTA projects?

Very Important 8
Important 20
Unimportant 0
Very Unimportant 0
No Opinion 23

Projects Feedback Matrix

Very
2 0 0 0
Satisfied
Satisfied 4 13 0 0

Unsatisfied 0 4 0 0
Very
1 0 0 0
Unsatisfied
Very Very
Important Unimportant
Important Unimportant

How satisfied are you with MTA publications and presentations?

Very Satisfied 11
Satisfied 23
Unsatisfied 2
Very Unsatisfied 1
No Opinion 14
How important are MTA publications and presentations?

Very Important 16
Important 20
Unimportant 1
Very Unimportant 0
No Opinion 14

Publications and Presentations Feedback Matrix

Very
9 2 0 0
Satisfied
Satisfied 5 15 1 0

Unsatisfied 0 2 0 0
Very
1 0 0 0
Unsatisfied
Very Very
Important Unimportant
Important Unimportant

How satisfied are you with the MTA web site?

Very Satisfied 13
Satisfied 27
Unsatisfied 1
Very Unsatisfied 0
No Opinion 10

How important is the MTA web site?

Very Important 16
Important 23
Unimportant 1
Very Unimportant 0
No Opinion 11

Web Site Feedback Matrix

Very
7 6 0 0
Satisfied
Satisfied 8 15 1 0

Unsatisfied 0 1 0 0
Very
0 0 0 0
Unsatisfied
Very Very
Important Unimportant
Important Unimportant

Which of these best describe why you joined the MTA?

Intellectual Stimulation 6
Spiritual Stimulation 2
Friendship or Networking 0
To Support Diverse Mormon Perspectives 7
To Support Diverse Transhumanist Perspectives 2
To Engage in Mormon Transhumanist Activism 2

How likely are you to recommend that someone join the MTA?

Very Likely 19
Likely 18
Unlikely 13
Very Unlikely 1
Perspective
People have a right to use technology to extend their mental and physical (including reproductive)
capacities and to improve their control over their own lives.

Strongly Agree 37
Somewhat Agree 11
Neutral 1
Somewhat Disagree 0
Strongly Disagree 0

Human genetic engineering is wrong because it is "playing God".

Strongly Agree 0
Somewhat Agree 1
Neutral 1
Somewhat Disagree 17
Strongly Disagree 30
By being generally open and embracing of new technology we have a better chance of turning it
to our advantage than if we try to ban or prohibit it.

Strongly Agree 37
Somewhat Agree 12
Neutral 0
Somewhat Disagree 0
Strongly Disagree 0

I expect human progress to result from human accomplishment in addition to (or rather than)
divine intervention, grace, or redemption.
Strongly Agree 35
Somewhat Agree 10
Neutral 1
Somewhat Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 0

It would be a good thing if people could become many times more intelligent than they currently
are.

Strongly Agree 34
Somewhat Agree 14
Neutral 0
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 0
It would be a good thing if people could live (in good health) for hundreds of years or longer.

Strongly Agree 31
Somewhat Agree 8
Neutral 5
Somewhat Disagree 4
Strongly Disagree 1

Women should have the right to terminate their pregnancies.

Strongly Agree 13
Somewhat Agree 15
Neutral 8
Somewhat Disagree 9
Strongly Disagree 4

My ethical code advocates the well-being of all sentient beings, whether in artificial intellects,
humans, neohumans, or non-human animals.

Strongly Agree 26
Somewhat Agree 18
Neutral 1
Somewhat Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 1
I would consider having my mind uploaded to computers if it was the only way I could continue as
a conscious person.

Strongly Agree 16
Somewhat Agree 15
Neutral 4
Somewhat Disagree 8
Strongly Disagree 5

Parents should be able to have children through cloning once the technology is safe.

Strongly Agree 15
Somewhat Agree 19
Neutral 6
Somewhat Disagree 6
Strongly Disagree 2
Human nanotechnology and genetic engineering will always be dangerous and should be banned.

Strongly Agree 0
Somewhat Agree 0
Neutral 0
Somewhat Disagree 13
Strongly Disagree 33

There are clear divinely-set limits on what humans should do.

Strongly Agree 3
Somewhat Agree 10
Neutral 4
Somewhat Disagree 9
Strongly Disagree 20

My concept of "the meaning of life" is derived from human responsibility and opportunity in
addition to (or rather than) divine revelation.

Strongly Agree 24
Somewhat Agree 17
Neutral 4
Somewhat Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 0
A chimpanzee modified to think and communicate like a human being should be granted human
rights.

Strongly Agree 24
Somewhat Agree 14
Neutral 5
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 3

People should be allowed to experiment with recreational drugs so long as they don't harm
others.

Strongly Agree 15
Somewhat Agree 14
Neutral 8
Somewhat Disagree 8
Strongly Disagree 2
Robots who think and feel like human beings, and aren't a threat to human beings, should be
granted human rights.

Strongly Agree 18
Somewhat Agree 17
Neutral 7
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 4

I would consider being frozen and re-animated later if it was the only way I could continue living.

Strongly Agree 17
Somewhat Agree 5
Neutral 3
Somewhat Disagree 12
Strongly Disagree 10

The goal of ethics and morals should be the happiness and well being of all people.

Strongly Agree 33
Somewhat Agree 8
Neutral 1
Somewhat Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 1
Parents should be able to choose the sex, intelligence and other characteristics of their children.

Strongly Agree 4
Somewhat Agree 22
Neutral 10
Somewhat Disagree 11
Strongly Disagree 1

Although we may devise better political systems in the future, multi-party democracies with civil
liberties for individuals are the best of the existing political orders.

Strongly Agree 21
Somewhat Agree 21
Neutral 2
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 1
Humans and neohumans will be able to coexist in one society and polity.

Strongly Agree 15
Somewhat Agree 15
Neutral 11
Somewhat Disagree 5
Strongly Disagree 1

Emerging technologies will cause an abrupt, cataclysmic, worldwide social change by 2040.

Strongly Agree 9
Somewhat Agree 15
Neutral 11
Somewhat Disagree 8
Strongly Disagree 4

Marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

Strongly Agree 13
Somewhat Agree 4
Neutral 7
Somewhat Disagree 8
Strongly Disagree 16

Mormon doctrine cannot accommodate homosexuality.

Strongly Agree 10
Somewhat Agree 6
Neutral 5
Somewhat Disagree 17
Strongly Disagree 10

Joseph Smith’s description of material spirit parallels the idea of substrate independence, which
is an assumption on which the feasibility of mind uploading and computed worlds depends.

Strongly Agree 4
Somewhat Agree 25
Neutral 15
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 2
The Mormon idea of God organizing worlds after emerging within chaos parallels technological
evolution superseding biological evolution.

Strongly Agree 9
Somewhat Agree 21
Neutral 14
Somewhat Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 0

Mormon scriptural accounts of inspiration and salvation enabled through tools and work parallel
engineering approaches to solving problems.
Strongly Agree 18
Somewhat Agree 19
Neutral 9
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 0

Prophecies about the dispensation of the fullness of times parallel our present observation of
exponentially accelerating scientific and technological advance.

Strongly Agree 19
Somewhat Agree 19
Neutral 7
Somewhat Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 0
Scriptural examples of evaded negative prophecies and conditional positive prophecies parallel
possibilities of probabilistic social engineering enabled by information technology.

Strongly Agree 10
Somewhat Agree 18
Neutral 16
Somewhat Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 1

Apocalyptic, messianic and millenarian expectations parallel opportunities and risks attributed to
artificial general intelligence and the technological singularity.
Strongly Agree 6
Somewhat Agree 20
Neutral 12
Somewhat Disagree 8
Strongly Disagree 0

Millenarian prophecies of prolonged life spans and worldwide prosperity parallel predictions of
engineered radical life extension and superabundance associated with molecular assemblers.

Strongly Agree 14
Somewhat Agree 20
Neutral 9
Somewhat Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 1
Prophecies of eternal spiritual and physical progression through ordinances of transfiguration
and resurrection to innumerable and differing glories parallel Transhumanists’ anticipation of
diverse technological enhancements to mental and physical capabilities and forms.

Strongly Agree 12
Somewhat Agree 19
Neutral 9
Somewhat Disagree 6
Strongly Disagree 0

Joseph Smith’s description of a plurality of gods creating worlds without end parallels the
simulation hypothesis of the simulation argument.
Strongly Agree 10
Somewhat Agree 23
Neutral 8
Somewhat Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 1

The Mormon idea of recursive theosis parallels speculation regarding self-replicating mechanisms
for cosmic evolution of universes within a multiverse.

Strongly Agree 10
Somewhat Agree 24
Neutral 8
Somewhat Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 1
Demographic

What is your birth year?

Unspecified 5
1990 or after 1
1980 - 1989 5
1970 - 1979 22
1960 - 1969 5
1950 - 1959 6
1940 - 1949 6
1930 - 1939 1
1920 - 1929 0
1910 - 1919 0
1909 or before 0

What is your annual household income?

Unspecified 11
$19,999 or less 5
$20,000 - $34,999 5
$35,000 - $54,999 6
$55,000 - $89,999 5
$90,000 - $154,999 14
$155,000 or more 5
What is your gender?

Unspecified 5
Female 6
Male 40

What is your race?

Unspecified 8
Caucasian / White 42
African American / Black 0
Hispanic / Latino 1
Asian 0
Other 0

What is your marital or relationship status?

Unspecified 7
Single, never married 4
Divorced 5
Separated 0
Widowed 0
Widowed, remarried 0
Divorced, remarried 3
Married, never divorced 31
Unmarried, living with partner 1
How many children have you had?

Unspecified 5
0 10
14
2 11
3 10
45
52
61
72
80
91
10 or more 0
What is your highest level of education?

Unspecified 5
Less than high school graduate 1
High school graduate 1
Business, technical or vocational school after high school 0
Some college, no 4-year degree 10
College graduate 8
Post graduate training after college, no degree earned 7
Post graduate degree earned 19