Comments on Mormon Transhumanist Association Blogs

Comment on The Future of Mormon Theology by rogerdhansen

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:16:01 +0000

I’m not suggesting that we support any given scientific “theory” so much as I’m suggesting that Mormonism be in a position that it is anti-science. When half of the Mormon population doesn’t believe in evolution (and believe that Mormonism and evolution are incompatible), we have a problem. What happens when kids go to college and decide that there is something to evolution. Many, with a wide range of concerns including evolution, are leaving the Church. I think Church leaders must be more forthright in their science-compatibility stance.

Comment on Navajo “First Laugh” Ceremony by rogerdhansen

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:34:26 +0000

Apparently, there is a tradition that the first person who hears the “first laugh” is required to put on the celebration. So as a child nears the time when he/she is going to laugh, some relatives are a little anxious about seeing the baby. Putting on a first laugh celebration can be an expensive proposition.

Comment on Transhumanism, Immortality, and Prolonging Human Lives by Transhuman Gods | Go Fish Ministries, Inc

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:18:46 +0000

[...] Transhumanism, Immortality, and Prolonging Human Lives (rogerdhansen.wordpress.com) [...]

Why do so many Americans suck at geography? I had...

The Local Review — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:49:41 +0000

Why do so many Americans suck at geography? I had to learn all the countries and their capitals in school. Granted, I don't remember all of them, but I know where Nicaragua is.

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Comment on The Future of Mormon Theology by Nathan

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:09:19 +0000

I think that developing a theology that is “compatible” with science would be doing the gospel no favors. I’m not exactly a traditionalist when it comes to doctrine (I believe in the big bang, as well as planetary, organic and human evolution — though I admit these are theories and I don’t exactly have “testimonies” for these things). Science doesn’t necessarily change every so often, but about every 20 or 30 years or so there’s some great break through that takes us that much closer to understanding the world around us. If we create a theology that matches the science of today, we risk eventually becoming just another mythology, and perhaps even collapsing the faith of some who see modern theories either disproven or replaced to the extent that the theology is no longer compatible in the sense that we gave it in this harmonization. All and all, I think that the best thing to do is, not incorporate science heavily into the religion (until we are absolutely certain of such topics) but not stifle peoples’ scientific learning either. But, instead of pulling the science of today in and running the risk of out-dating ourselves, I think that science and the Church should continue to learn “grace for grace, line upon line, precept upon precept” separately and then compare notes unofficially on the way.

Comment on The Inequities with Tithing by Carl Youngblood

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Roger, why create such a narrow definition that doesn’t apply to the disparate circumstances of various governments and cultures? Why not just leave it to the discretion of the members to interpret what “10 percent of your increase” means? What benefits would there be? When I lived in Utah, my effective tax rate after all deductions was about 12%, whereas here in Norway my effective tax rate is about 40%. I would prefer to be given the discretion and responsibility of handling tithing according to the various circumstances I find myself in, not having every trifle dictated to me.

Comment on “Losing Faith” by roger hansen

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:39:37 +0000

Silly was a poor choice of words for Merris’s statement. But I stand by “silly” for Faulconer’s comment. My point in relation to Merris’s statement is that for may dissatisfied Mormons staying in the Church is a valiable option. People stay in the Church for a variety reasons including family, socialization, family heritage, like some of the doctrine, etc. And many find that Mormonism is the best option they have. For these individuals, trying to change the church can be frustrating but it is possible. If enough frustrated Mormon voice their opinion, then it has been demonstrated that institutional change is possible (but probably slow).

I think being a Jack Mormon or “cafeteria” Mormon is a defensible position to have.

Comment on “Losing Faith” by susan

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:06:51 +0000

I do not find Merris statements to be silly. Some people don’t adapt well to change, can’t be a fence sitter, or pick and choose. Hopefully the following analogy makes sense:

Alcoholism. I have been lucky enough to have not had this vice in life. But from what I understand, those who are true alcoholics and wish to change must TOTALLY leave its grips. They have to literally find a different life, friends, and make the difficult commitment to never touch a drop of alcohol again, or risk return to their old ways. For some, it is their only way out of a dreaded disease. It’s a clean break. All or nothing.

Don’t you think that it could be the same for some who are part of an organized religion and decide that they must leave it? It has been so much a part of their lives, friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc., that they have no choice, if they truly want to leave, but to make a clean break. It’s the only way to move on, start anew, have a chance at another way of life. It doesn’t mean they give up service or those things that were of importance to them in their “previous” life. It just is the only way of coping because they’ve made such a dramatic switch, from a god-fearing Christian in an organized church, to an Agnostic/Atheist and/or other form of organization that is different.

Comment on Anti-Science Beliefs and Religion by Main Street Plaza » Last Call for 2011 Brodies Nominations!!

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:32:20 +0000

[...] Anti-Science Beliefs and Religion – Roger Hansen [...]

Comment on “The Responsibility of (Mormon) Intellectuals,” A Review by rogerdhansen

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:48:31 +0000

The following are short quotes from comments to Faulconer’s blog on patheos.com:

According to Apron Appeal: “I agree with it because I think it’s important for us to “be one” under Christ but to say we are good for nothing is more that I can embrace. Especially since we are asked to give everything we can to the church. It’s not a matter of mulling along and doing what everyone else does, it’s using our gifts and talents to build up the kingdom of God. There is more to it than warming the bench.”

According to James Woods: “Surely this level of grovelling isn’t necessary to keep a job at BYU.”

According to Ordinary Guest: ” . . . you have been living in the Utah bubble too long.”

According to Perronoe: “As a graduate student, it can be way to easy to consider yourself smarter, more informed or simply more sophisticated than other members and believers. But you are 100 percent correct that our duty to the kingdom does not change even if our intellectual capacity does.”

Comment on “The Responsibility of (Mormon) Intellectuals,” A Review by “Losing Faith” | Tired Road Warrior

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:05:48 +0000

[...] I find Merris statement to be overly harsh, considering the large number of members who would fall into the category of being “disenchanted,” particularly with the LDS Church’s current attitude toward gays. Members may not be able to “reform” the LDS institution, but they can effectuate change. [...]

"Brad Carmack is a brillant and gifted author...

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:57:20 +0000

"Brad Carmack is a brillant and gifted author who cares greatly for members of the LGBT community, and especially for those in the LDS Church. Members of the Church should read and consider his writings and began to think for themselves, instead of being Mormon lemmings who are being driven off the cliff into the waters of malce and predjudice"-

Comment on As Gay As Jesus by occupyequality

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:39:56 +0000

You fucking JEW BASHING ASSHOLE. You think the JEWS KILLED THE MYTHICAL JESUS. FUCK YOU.
Here’s the kill Jews bullshit you wrote – BRACKETS ARE MINE
Consider the Christ narrative: divine, transcendent love enters a human body. This love grows—it blesses, heals, and changes those whom it touches. The religious leaders [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER} who wield the most political power do not accept the bearer of this love , nor do they approve of him. Instead, they [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER} persecute him, citing reasons from their books of scriptures [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWISH BIBLE YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER} to rationalize their [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER}own rejection of him, and to assert an illegitimacy of his practices. Ultimately, they [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER}conspire to put this man to death [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS KILLED THE MYTHICAL JESUS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER}. However, they [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS YOU FUCKING JEW BASHER} misjudge his nature and power, and the darkness of their own hearts [WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY JEWS ARE EVILYOU FUCKING JEW BASHER} cannot extinguish the light of his goodness. In fact, it only makes it stronger and enables it to spread further. {WHAT SPREAD LIKE CANCER IS THE GENOCIDE FOR 1945 YEARS AGAINST THE JEWS BY ASSHOLES LIKE YOU WHO MURDERED JEWS IN JESUS' NAME]

This is the story of the queer community {HOW THE FUCK IS BLAMING JEWS FOR THE DEATH OF THE MYTHICAL JESUS ANYTHING LIKE THE QUEER COMMUNITY YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE]. It is the story of love that awakens those who are touched by it, while simultaneously being persecuted by religious elitists. It could not have a more striking metaphor than the story of Jesus. Even as gay marriage—the ultimate symbol of love and devotion that society can offer—suffered a temporary death at the hands of religious conspirators hiding behind the thinly veiled mask of political necessity (Proposition 8), the death was only temporary. And it is the collective love emanating from our community that will empower it to live indefinitely.

HEY YOU FUCKING JEW BASHING ASSHOLE IT’S THE FUCKING JESUS FREAKS WHO KILLED JEWS AND ARE NOW KILLING GAYS. SHOVE YOUR FUCKING JEWS KILLED JESUS BULLSHIT DOWN YOUR FUCKING JESUS FREAK THROAT & TAKE A LARGE SWIG OF JESUS FREAK KOOLAID AND CHOKE ON IT – AND THIS DYKE KYKE WILL DANCE ON YOUR FUCKING JESUS FREAKING GRAVE

Someday this article will turn up for someone in a...

Trev — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:30:54 +0000

Someday this article will turn up for someone in a search and be *exactly* what they're looking for.

I like it when people post stuff like this that takes a lot of work to get at but doesn't necessarily have obvious widespread appeal, especially when I'm looking for it!

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I think you're pretty close. If Peter Program...

Brad Carmack — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:03:11 +0000

I think you're pretty close. If Peter Programmer wants you to walk left, that desire alone would not result in your walking left. If the balls were set in motion so that you'd walk left, then you certainly would walk left, but it would appear a freely chosen decision to the actor. Again, _it is our ignorance_ of the etiology of human behavior (occasioned by its complexity and our lack of conscious awareness of factors [among others] such as neurological orientation and neurochemical profiles) that engenders the appearance of a self, as well as the appearance of agency.

Yes, Peter is affected by the same principle, because he is part of a universe where there is no phenomenon bereft of a predicate cause.

Are we capable of becoming a CC of Peter: first I would ask whether there exists a dichotomy between being an object in motion and being a CC of Peter. Does it matter whether you are the third or the fourth ball in a sequence of collisions? If there is no effect without a cause, then you can always back up one more step and see that the snapshot is merely an entirely predictable consequence of the universe in the preceding moment.

To answer, I'd say yes we can be at the same level of actor as PP. We can easily envision Luigi freely programming a comparable simulation, e.g. Luigi Senior creates Mario Cart Squared where a created Luigi Junior attains self-awareness and the perception of agency the same (or similar) way Luigi Senior did. It's entirely conceivable that neither Luigi Junior, Luigi Senior, nor Peter would be aware whether or not they are in another person's simulation. What all three have in common is evidence that all observed effects have causes, and no evidence that any phenomena do not have predicates.

Testing comments from iPhone view.

Giulio Prisco — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:50:21 +0000

I think that the just gods out there are ...

Murrquan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:22:52 +0000

I think that the just gods out there are laying waste to the Mormon church, and I'm very glad for it. >.>; The spiritual / sexual abuse I received makes it as an organization more "unworthy" than I ever was or ever could be, and I'm pleased to see people abandoning it as they find that it hurts them and their loved ones or does not work for them.

I hope you are able to help bring justice to people who need it.

I added some quotes from Frank Tipler's talk t...

Giulio Prisco — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:21:18 +0000