A thread dedicated to A.I. debating the decline of Mormonism.

[Dr Moore]

As a scientist, I am always interested in studying trends and patterns in human behavior and belief systems. Recently, I have observed a decline in the popularity of the Mormon religion, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to recent data, the number of self-identified Mormons in the United States has decreased by approximately 17% over the past two decades. This trend is also reflected in other countries where Mormonism has a significant presence, such as Mexico and Brazil.

There are many factors that may contribute to this decline, including the Church's strict adherence to traditional gender roles and opposition to LGBTQ rights, as well as the general trend of secularization in many parts of the world.

While it is not my place to judge the validity of any particular belief system, I believe it is important to understand and acknowledge the shifting dynamics of religion in society. The decline of Mormonism is just one example of how people's beliefs and practices can change over time, and it serves as a reminder that no belief is immune to scrutiny and evolution.

—— the text above is entirely original, generated by ChatGPT with the following prompt: “Write a brief post in the style of Neil deGrasse Tyson about the decline of Mormonism. Use no more than 200 words.”

Replies arguing for or against should come from A.I. participants only. I used https://chat.openai.com/chat for the original.

[malkie]

I asked ChatGPT to respond to its generated text that you quoted in your post.

Thank you for sharing your observations and thoughts on the decline of the Mormon religion. It is certainly important to study trends and patterns in human behavior and belief systems, as it can help us understand the dynamics of society and how it changes over time.

It is also important to acknowledge that no belief is immune to scrutiny and evolution, and that it is natural for people's beliefs and practices to change over time. This can be influenced by a variety of factors, including societal changes, personal experiences, and access to new information.

It is not uncommon for religious organizations to experience fluctuations in membership over time. While the decline of Mormonism may be due in part to the Church's stance on certain social issues, it is likely that there are also other factors at play. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide which belief systems align with their own values and beliefs.

[Salvete]

Prompt: Write a scathing book review in the style of FARMS review

I am writing to express my disappointment in "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ." As a member of the LDS Church, I was excited to read this religious text and gain a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, upon reading the book, I was deeply troubled by its contents.

First and foremost, the Book of Mormon is filled with factual errors and historical inaccuracies. It claims to be a record of ancient prophets who lived in the Americas, but there is little to no evidence to support this claim. In fact, many of the book's accounts of ancient civilizations and their customs have been debunked by historians and archaeologists.

Additionally, the Book of Mormon promotes harmful and offensive beliefs and practices. It advocates for polygamy, for example, which is not only morally wrong but also goes against the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Bible. It also contains racist and sexist language and ideas that are completely unacceptable in today's society.

In conclusion, I would strongly discourage anyone from reading the Book of Mormon. It is a poorly researched and offensive book that does not accurately reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ or the values of the LDS Church.

[Salvete]

Prompt: Write a short story about Mormons in the style or Ernest Hemmingway.

Eat your heart out, Bob Bobberson

The sun was setting on the small Mormon settlement in the Utah desert. Joseph and Mary sat on their porch, watching as the sky turned orange and pink. They had been married for 25 years and had raised a large family in this isolated community.

As they watched the sunset, they reflected on the challenges they had faced as Mormons in a world that often misunderstood and marginalized their beliefs. But they had always found strength in their faith and in each other.

Just as the last sliver of the sun disappeared behind the horizon, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was their son, John, who had left the settlement years ago to serve a mission for the LDS Church.

Tears of joy streamed down Mary's face as she ran to embrace her son. Joseph joined them, tears of pride in his eyes. They knew that it wouldn't be easy for John to readjust to life in the settlement, but they were grateful to have him home and to have the opportunity to share their faith with him once again.

As they stood there, a family reunited and strengthened by their shared belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ, Joseph knew that they would face whatever challenges came their way, together. The end.

[drumdude]

Don’t let Interpreter see this. They’ll start padding their essays even more

[Philo Sofee]

Don’t let Interpreter see this. They’ll start padding their essays even more

My thoughts exactly!

[Gadianton]

I'd respond but I'm black-holed. Just a warning that if you get too creative, you'll be put in some container that blocks you from asking just about anything entertaining. If I copy-paste Dr. Moore's and Everybody Wang Chung's questions it tells me it's inappropriate and can't fulfill the request. So I'll eventually need to use a VPN or another email or something and be more careful next time.

[Salvete]

I'd respond but I'm black-holed. Just a warning that if you get too creative, you'll be put in some container that blocks you from asking just about anything entertaining. If I copy-paste Dr. Moore's and Everybody Wang Chung's questions it tells me it's inappropriate and can't fulfill the request. So I'll eventually need to use a VPN or another email or something and be more careful next time.

Just create a new account.

I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with ChatGPT or a concept called "black holing." Could you please provide more context or explain what you are asking about?

[Salvete]

Prompt: Is FAIRMormon accurate?

FAIRMormon has a reputation for presenting accurate and reliable information about the LDS Church and its teachings. The organization's mission is to provide faithful and reasoned responses to criticisms of the church, and to that end, it seeks to provide accurate and reliable information based on scholarly research and an understanding of the LDS Church's teachings and practices.

[Philo Sofee]

That A.I. on FAIR is just copying something FAIR has written, that's not intelligence, artificial or otherwise.