Ask a Pro-Life Atheist: L. P.

Once a month or so, the Secular Pro-Life blog features a short interview with a pro-life atheist. (See the full series of interviews here.) Although Secular Pro-Life is not exclusively for atheists, historically atheists have played a key role in the organization. As atheists become more prominent in the pro-life movement generally, we’re excited for the opportunity to share their stories. This month, we welcome L. P.!

How did you arrive at the anti-abortion position?

I’ve just always been pro-life. I remember in high school when a friend was pregnant, she was telling us how big her stomach was getting and how hard it was. We touched it and, at 15 were like wow! She had an abortion. Another friend was planning on abortion, but couldn’t get the money in time. Her daughter is now grown and to the best of knowledge, very loved. Another friend was using drugs and wanted an abortion — her mother refused to let her have one, and she birthed a healthy child. My best friend also had an abortion early on in high school. There was just so much abortion as a young teen and my natural stance was that it was a bad thing.

How did you arrive at the atheist position?

By being raised Catholic! Jokes aside, things started to not add up in around eighth grade. I started really questioning the legitimacy of claims like the pope is infallible, that women could not hold high positions in the church (flag), that we are all born with sin, and that good people go to hell for not believing (another flag). Reading the Satanic Bible really helped solidify my Atheist position.

How do you contribute to the cause of saving lives in the womb?

I know I should do more, but being present and letting folks know that you can be a progressive and be pro-life and those two views are not incongruent. Donating money and time are probably the easy ones. Being the only pro-life person in your friends and family group: the harder.

What words of wisdom do you have to share?

Life matters. Human life matters. The lives of animals matter. We live in a culture driven by profits and death and taking a stand against that isn’t easy. We need to be pro-life but also, be very critical of the pro-life movement as well. The way the pro-life movement will advance is by being anti-abortion and pro-social services for at-risk women.