If it’s true that people are influenced by their peers and more likely to accept the ideology of those they like, then a lot can be said for taking interactions about heavy topics like abortion away from the internet and into the realm of the face to face human connection. After all, abortion is nothing if not a deeply personal and emotional topic. And while blogs and Facebook debates certainly do have their place, there’s only so much one can achieve through them. My greatest take-away from my recent conference experience at the American Atheist Convention in Memphis is that it’s a lot harder to vilify someone when you’ve laughed, sang, and swapped smiles/hugs with them! That works both ways – even with those who are currently our ideological opponents! 🙂
Thursday evening before the conference officially kicked off was a social event that I debated attending but am glad I did! It began with what is known in geek circles as a “pub quiz” (my youth of Bible study came in really handy for questions about the books of the Bible!) and was followed by a game of Cards Against Humanity with special edition cards related to figures known to the atheist community. Unfortunately, the CAH game was a special event for a $10 charity donation… to Planned Parenthood. 🙁
Although frustrated that an atheist event would choose a charity that is sure to not be a unanimous choice for all atheists, I decided against making a stand by leaving the event altogether. Instead I informed the organizer and my table mates that I could not in good conscience make a donation to Planned Parenthood since the good they do in contraception and other health services doesn’t negate the harm they cause in performing abortions. I was permitted to play without donating (though that sadly meant passing up on the special edition cards) and I’m glad I stayed. Some of the people I met that evening ended up being those with whom I connected most throughout the weekend.
One of those individuals was David, who despite being pro-choice generously drove me to and from my host home all weekend, printed up my new brochure on his home printer, and even let me use his paper cutter all weekend. We had some great chats in the car as we went to and from the hotel. And though we still disagreed by the weekend’s end, our future conversations on Facebook or at future conferences might now have more depth because we connected person to person.
Singing Hasa Diga Ebowai (a song from The Book of Mormon musical) with other exhibitors during the day; and dancing, jamming and singing around the lobby piano at night (with my former debate opponent Matt Dillahunty plunking fabulously on his ukulele) are all relationship-building experiences that can’t really be had online. We’re one-dimensional characters over the internet. Two-dimensional at best, when we do a podcast or video. But we’re real human beings to one another when we interact in person. Nothing can really replicate or replace that.
Below are just a small handful of the many many great people I interacted with this weekend. Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to snapping many pictures until Sunday (it was Easter in case you’re wondering about the bunny ears) so these pictures and accompanying stories are but a sampling of the fabulous people I connected with:
David Silverman, president of American Atheists loves the presence of pro-lifers in his community because it fosters diversity!
Mary, a pro-choice ally & friend I met during the Thursday social event.
David, pro-choice yet chauffeured me all weekend, lent me his paper cutter & printed copies of my brochure!
Science Babe, one of the speakers. We had a great talk. She’s awesome!
Bishop had the table next to mine. He’s open-minded when it comes to abortion. We had some great discussions!
The lovely Tracy Lockwood, also a speaker. We discussed abortion for a while, then found much common ground in our religious pasts. Definitely going to be staying in touch!
Again, I believe attending secular conferences opens doors for future dialog because people see us as real human beings who are friendly, good natured, at times silly, flirty and fun – and that we aren’t evil creatures who hate women. Of course, none of that guarantees that someone will change their mind and support fetal rights, but at very least, forging relationships ensures that pro-life atheists will have their place in the atheist community and be given a voice. It’s a voice that’s too long been left unheard. It’s time to hear: we are here!!
Thanks for going and supporting life.
"If it’s true that people are influenced by their peers and more likely to accept the ideology of those they like . . ."
It's unfortunate, in my view, when that works in the pro-choice direction or in the direction of the side I disagree with of any issue.
I have a feeling that if people better understood some of the things that influence them, those things would influence them less.
I've thought as best I could about where our moral principles come from here:
http://www.NoTerminationWithoutRepresentation.org/moral-intuition-logic-and-the-abortion-debate/
In The Practical Implications section near the end, I've tried to think about how to improve discourse.
I wrote: "It's unfortunate, in my view, when that works in the pro-choice direction or in the direction of the side I disagree with of any issue."
But I'm happy when it works in the pro-life direction! Again, thanks for going and supporting life in that way.
I’m happy to. I’d love to go to even more! Donations needed and I’d be happy to attend them all and bring other pro-life atheists with me! 🙂