copy – Ask a Pro-Life Agnostic: Michelle L.
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 pro-life agnostic Michelle L.
How did you arrive at the anti-abortion position?
I was initially a live and let live person, abortion wasn’t something I’d do, but I could understand some arguments for it. Fetuses are alive but is someone obligated to bring an unwanted child into their life to be abused or suffer? I was an “unwanted” child and depressed, so I used to be passively suicidal and wish my mother had aborted me. As I got into therapy, and confronted these feelings, I realized I was wanted, I was happy to have my life, and I re-evaluated my stance on abortion. No person is unwanted truly and how we start our life isn’t a guarantee of how it will end up.
How did you arrive at the atheist position?
I don’t know what’s out there, and I have no way of confirming in this lifetime.
How do you contribute to the cause of saving lives in the womb?
I talk to people, try to be honest about where I used to be and why I used to think what I think and what changed my mind.
What words of wisdom do you have to share?
If we want to be consistent in our morals to care about people, we should care about all people. Adults can make a choice, a baby cannot, we need to protect the most vulnerable of society.
Every interview in this series starts with one person willing to speak up. Are you a pro-life atheist or agnostic? You could be next. Take our interview survey to get started. Not sure how to tell your story yet? Our free, self-paced Storytelling Symposium can help.
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