Creator of CIA torture interrogations becomes Bishop

[Uncle Ted]

Public outcry from what I understand. Ward members?

Yeah, I wouldn't want this guy or Harry Reid as my bishop. Engineers make the best bishops, IMHO.

[Green Monstah]

One of the councilors in our bishopric was an interrogator in Vietnam. Nobody makes much fuss about that, maybe because he is Canadian.

Yeah, torturne by Canadians in VietNam was tame compared to their techniques today.

Then:

"I'm going to politely ask you one more time the nature of your connections to the Viet Cong. Refusal to answer will result in one fewer conjugal visit per week with your spouse and a revocation of healthcare benefits in the event you eventually migrate to Canada."

Now:

"Spill the beans or get three more days of Nickelback's "Rockstar" on continual repeat."

[Solon]

It does make one wonder if LDS church teachings or culture lead members to be more willing to push the boundries of morality in circumstances where it could be argued that it was done for the greater good? (i.e. Nephi and Laban, Post manifesto polygamy, Mark Hoffman fiasco, or lying for the Lord in general.)

However, I guess we can always fall back on the adage that "whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies."

IMO there's definitely something to this, but I would characterize this more benignly, in the sense that Mormons have to compartmentalize stuff & deal with ambiguity all the time. Some of it is just the way a person's brain is wired, but I also think that LDS are well represented in CIA fields because they can handle cognitive dissonance (willfully breaking one country's laws while assiduously upholding the laws of another country).

Also, LDS generally don't smoke weed, which automatically disqualifies a lot of other applicants.

[Moliere]

IMO there's definitely something to this, but I would characterize this more benignly, in the sense that Mormons have to compartmentalize stuff & deal with ambiguity all the time. Some of it is just the way a person's brain is wired, but I also think that LDS are well represented in CIA fields because they can handle cognitive dissonance (willfully breaking one country's laws while assiduously upholding the laws of another country).

Also, LDS generally don't smoke weed, which automatically disqualifies a lot of other applicants.

I read an article from one of those feminist progressive lds sites (can't remember the name, but it was a bit obscure) that basically came to the conclusion that church teachings were really the reason that the US was torturing people. It wasn't just a stretch, but downright lunacy to come to that conclusion. I think you are correct that a person's brain is just wired that way. When we want something bad enough we'll stretch even our own personal morality to get it. Liberals, conservatives, Mormons, jews, atheists, we all do it.

[Topper]

I read an article from one of those feminist progressive lds sites (can't remember the name, but it was a bit obscure) that basically came to the conclusion that church teachings were really the reason that the US was torturing people. It wasn't just a stretch, but downright lunacy to come to that conclusion. I think you are correct that a person's brain is just wired that way. When we want something bad enough we'll stretch even our own personal morality to get it. Liberals, conservatives, Mormons, jews, atheists, we all do it.

This is a true observation. Most are unwilling to admit this truth.

[Jeff Lebowski]

IMO there's definitely something to this, but I would characterize this more benignly, in the sense that Mormons have to compartmentalize stuff & deal with ambiguity all the time. Some of it is just the way a person's brain is wired, but I also think that LDS are well represented in CIA fields because they can handle cognitive dissonance (willfully breaking one country's laws while assiduously upholding the laws of another country).

Also, LDS generally don't smoke weed, which automatically disqualifies a lot of other applicants.

Call me crazy, but it also might have a little bit to do with the fact that LDS people in general have international experience, foreign language skills, and a strong sense of patriotism.

[creekster]

Call me crazy, but it also might have a little bit to do with the fact that LDS people in general have international experience, foreign language skills, and a strong sense of patriotism.

You're crazy. but not about this.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Call me crazy...

You're crazy.

Thanks, man.

[imanihonjin]

Call me crazy, but it also might have a little bit to do with the fact that LDS people in general have international experience, foreign language skills, and a strong sense of patriotism.

Pft.....like you aren't thinking about how to break Canadian law while upholding the laws of the Democratic Republic of Congo when you are taking the sacrement.

[Green Monstah]

Call me crazy, but it also might have a little bit to do with the fact that LDS people in general have international experience, foreign language skills, and a strong sense of patriotism.

I think those are all reasons there's a mutually beneficial relationship between LDS candidates and the FBI, CIA, DHS, etc., but not necessarily reasons why there are three Mormons who played prominent roles in morally questionable interrogation techniques.

[Topper]

If there are large numbers of LDS who succeed in those agencies, perhaps it was a question of dumb luck.

[Uncle Ted]

Call me crazy, but it also might have a little bit to do with the fact that LDS people in general have international experience, foreign language skills, and a strong sense of patriotism.

And maybe LDS people are good at passing the polygraph test after the countless bishop interviews... especially by bishops that are experts in torture interrogations.

[thesaint258]

And maybe LDS people are good at passing the polygraph test after the countless bishop interviews... especially by bishops that are experts in torture interrogations.

A friend of mine told me that it's the opposite. Apparently, Mormon guilt rears its ugly head and has people either confessing to stealing a candy bar when they were five or gives a false positive because they feel guilty about stealing that candy bar.

[Green Monstah]

And maybe Mark Grace Mormons are good at passing the polygraph test after the countless bishop interviews... especially by bishops that are experts in torture interrogations.

FIFY

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think those are all reasons there's a mutually beneficial relationship between LDS candidates and the FBI, CIA, DHS, etc., but not necessarily reasons why there are three Mormons who played prominent roles in morally questionable interrogation techniques.

Yes, but I was very specifically responding to the question of why "LDS are well represented in CIA fields".

As to your question, I am guessing it might be because the CIA is involved in interrogation and with quite a few LDS people working in the CIA there is a pretty high likelihood that LDS employees would be involved to some degree.