With the recent implementation of Texas Heartbeat Act and oral arguments for Dobbs v. Jackson starting this Wednesday, abortion is once again back in the mainstream news cycle-- creating an opportunity for discussion about this important issue. Unfortunately, today's polarized environment doesn't exactly facilitate productive dialogue-- but that makes it even more important to hone such dialogue as we advocate for the truth about abortion. 1) Know productive dialogue. Dialogue is conversation ordered towards finding the truth. Productive dialogue, as defined in our club's mission statement, is both understanding and truth-advancing. Understanding dialogue seeks to truly understand the other side-- both the beliefs and the people who promote them. It is a mistake to assume that you know what someone believes just because they say they are pro-choice; as proven last year, those who use that label can base their opinions in any of the various justifications for abortion (biology, personhood, bodily autonomy, particular circumstances, etc.). There are many pro-choice positions in opposition to the one pro-life view of wanting to end abortion legally and culturally, and you can't begin to dialogue with someone about their position if you don't understand what their particular position is. Always ask questions, knowing that the person you're dialoguing with may have had impactful experiences that also influence their beliefs. Never be militant; talking at someone never leads to productive dialogue or greater understanding on both sides. Truth-advancing dialogue ensures that one's own side is heard. Listening to the other is crucial, but a conversation involves at least two opinions. Because of this, it is important to develop the technique of the Socratic Method-- asking questions to help the other understand the conclusion you yourself have reached. That way, you are not just stating what you believe but are still working to present your own side such that those who disagree can at least know where you are coming from. Don't forget why you are part of the pro-life movement; we can't afford to stay silent as the most vulnerable members of our society are killed every day. Of course, always stay understanding and respectful, but never become inactive when dialoguing; there is too much at stake. Dialogue is not debate. Yes, there is a place and time for debate-- which places more of an emphasis on the logical arguments alone-- but it is usually better to approach regular conversations as dialogues, framing logical arguments in a way that promotes conversation to find the truth. 2) Know the arguments. There are many different pro-choice arguments that come at the issue of abortion from different angles and bases. Fortunately, there are so many resources available to learn how to properly present the pro-life position in response! The apologists whom I have found to be the most helpful are Trent Horn and Stephanie Gray Connors; their material, much of which can be found on the internet, is very clear and meant to serve true civil dialogue. I would particularly recommend reading Horn's book Persuasive Pro-Life ; this organized and thorough guide to responding to the many types of pro-choicers and the arguments they pose is a must-read for anyone wanting to better understand apologetics. Watching professional apologists dialogue online is one thing; it is another to be engaged in a dialogue yourself. No matter how much material you have consumed and how well-versed you have become, experiencing real conversation with those who disagree is crucial to improving at dialogue. I have had so many conversations that have made me realize where my blind spots are and how I can better present my beliefs. When I lead apologetics-focused meetings or present apologetics trainings, I always present the pro-choice position first and ask those attending what their response would be before presenting the thoughts of experienced defenders of life. Thinking through the questions and responses in real time is essential to deepening one's understanding of the arguments. However, we can't stop at knowing the arguments; we have to know how to properly employ them in conversation. 3) Know the strategies. Each side focuses on different aspects of the issue when they dialogue; pro-lifers focus on the act of abortion itself while pro-choicers focus on the different circumstances that impel women to choose abortion. Pro-choicers focus on why women get abortions because they view the procedure primarily as a solution, a way for women to escape difficult circumstances. As Debbie Miller, a woman who has healed from her own abortion, stated, a women in a crisis pregnancy is "not thinking of it as a baby; she's thinking of it as a 'pregnancy', and [thinking] 'I can't be pregnant, so I have to undo this pregnancy.'" Because of this focus, the first arguments pro-choicers bring up almost always pertain to difficult circumstances, and they will ask if we should allow abortion in that situation, believing that it is the compassionate solution. Pro-lifers focus on the act of abortion because it is at the heart of the issue. As many have noted, if abortion does not take the life of a living human being, then virtually any reason put forth, whether a difficult situation or not, will suffice, but if it does, no situation can justify it. That is why the pro-life tendency is to first bring up the biological arguments and inarguable scientific facts that prove that the preborn are living human beings. However, it is not enough just to state scientific facts; pro-lifers must also respond to the pro-choicer's questions about women in difficult circumstances because those are legitimate concerns about legitimate problems in society. Poverty, lack of support, rape, and medical issues unfortunately greatly impact the women who experience them. The pro-life movement also believes in finding solutions and supporting everyone who is victimized in those situations (find local and national resources here)-- but we believe the solution cannot involve making another victim, namely the preborn child. Violence is never the answer; we can never directly take a life in order to try to improve someone else's. Unfortunately, if the conversation strays from what abortion truly does without discussing it, the two sides can begin to talk past each other; the pro-lifer feels they are discussing a procedure that violently takes a human life while the pro-choicer feels they are discussing a procedure that can be the difference between a good life and a tragic one. To avoid this misunderstanding, pro-lifers can implement a dialogue technique known as Trot Out a Toddler, created by Scott Klusendorf, which takes the proposed situation and replaces the preborn with a toddler (or another born person, depending on the circumstance). If the pro-choicer objects to that person being killed, ask why that standard is not applied to the preborn-- and the conversation will shift to the humanity of the preborn. Acknowledging common ground is very important. Often, this takes the form of acknowledging principles held by both sides before explaining where the reasoning of the two sides begins to differ. Since nearly everyone involved in the abortion debate believes in equal human rights based on equal human dignity (a core tenet of American legal philosophy, regardless of failures to implement it), pro-lifers should appeal to that-- after all, that is the most fundamental basis for our belief. Everyone agrees with equal rights; why shouldn't that extend to the most voiceless among us? No one has the right to violently violate someone else's rights by killing them; is that not what happens during an abortion? Unfortunately, not everyone wants to dialogue. If someone is constantly talking over you, throwing insults, or refusing to address your concerns, then they don't want to engage in a productive conversation at that time. Even if this is the case, it is important to not respond with the same behavior. Instead, it is often best to save the conversation for another day. * Always be open to conversation if someone brings up the topic at school or other events, and try to build avenues that facilitate the dialogue as well. Rather than creating controversy, the pro-life movement is bringing to light this controversial issue that pervades today's society-- because no society can sustain such violence for long. If we don't speak up, thousands more will die-- but we must speak well and develop the skill of dialogue in order to build the culture of life that we are all working to promote. For more information about how dialogue informs our club's activities, check out our mission statement. Maria ThomasMaria has worked as co-president of Brebeuf’s Right to Life Club since her freshman year. There, she gives talks and leads discussions about abortion and other prominent life issues, emphasizing the importance of reasoning and authentic dialogue as a means to finding the truth.
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