Ask a Pro-Life Agnostic: J.H.
Once a month or so, the Secular Pro-Life blog features a short interview with a pro-life atheist or agnostic. (See the full series of interviews.) Although Secular Pro-Life is not exclusively for atheists and agnostics, historically, they have played a key role in the organization. As non-religious pro-lifers become more prominent in the pro-life movement, we’re excited for the opportunity to share their stories.
This month, we welcome non-religious pro-lifer J.H.
How did you arrive at the anti-abortion position?
I grew up keeping animals and I always thought that abortion was similar to euthanasia – a terrible decision made only in grave situations where the only other option was a lingering existence full of suffering. Then I went to college and saw how flippantly most pro-abortion people treat it. My big turning point was when I saw a sticker on a water bottle belonging to a girl I worked with that just said “Abortion, YASSSS,” and I thought to myself, this is disgusting, and I can’t support this movement in any capacity. I started interacting with more pro-life content and learning more about what abortion actually is and what the process entails, and it’s profoundly disturbing to me that our society tolerates, let alone encourages and normalizes this practice.
How did you arrive at the atheist position?
I wasn’t raised religious and I haven’t been convinced by any major religion I’ve studied, but I also think it’s very arrogant to definitively say there’s no god. We don’t know, and there’s a good possibility that we never will.
How do you contribute to the cause of saving lives in the womb?
I donate money and resources where I can to churches and other organizations that provide support for struggling mothers so they don’t feel like abortion is their only option.
What words of wisdom do you have to share?
I think it’s important to emphasize that there are many, many secular arguments against abortion. Pro-abortion people often lean very heavily on the idea of religious fundamentalists wanting to control women, which is simply not the case. I think it’s also helpful for people who are religious to know how to explain their position to people who are actively hostile to their faith.
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