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PBH220H: Branching from the Head to the Heart

  • http://www.unmaskingchoice.ca/blog/2013/10/07/ignorant-or-denial
    • There's a difference between ignorance of the truth and denial of the truth.
      • When people are in denial about abortion, it's very often because of some hidden wound, especially an experience with abortion or some other trauma. That denial is a reaction of the heart, and it necessitates a fundamentally different response from us as pro-life advocates. Heart conversations require us to tailor our approach to allow us to address the hurt and pain that these people have experienced that prevent them from accepting the truth about abortion.
      • Example: Testimony - CCBR Video: "4 of my friends have had abortions"

Seek to understand

  1. Questions that you can ask when you find the intellectual/head arguments are coming up against a wall of denial:
    1. Head Q's = what someone believes, vs. heart Q's = why someone believes what they believe Reaching the person behind the argument
    2. “Do you know someone who's had an abortion?” Testimony: CCBR video - His sister had an abortion
    3. What made you decide to be pro-choice?“ Testimony: https://www.endthekilling.ca/blog/2018/03/28/speaking-from-the-heart/
    4. Where does your passion come from?

Love

  1. Strategies for dialoguing compassionately and sensitively with strangers about sensitive areas of personal history
    • Ways to covertly make them aware of help, if they might resist a direct offer
  2. Speaking with survivors of sexual assault
  3. Speaking with those whose loved ones have had abortions:
  4. Is it loving to show AVP?
  5. “What do you think someone like me thinks about women who've had abortions?”
    1. Communicate help available after abortion, share stories e.g. Angelina's story, etc.
    2. Communicate empathy

Inspire/impart courage

  1. “Who inspires you?”
    1. Those who inspire do the right thing and pursue the good, even when it's hard
  2. D = S - M
  3. Diagnosis of a disability or illness
  4. Inspire men to stand up for women and children
    1. https://www.torontoagainstabortion.org/2018/10/05/why-do-we-continue-in-the-face-of-violent-opposition/
  5. What about suffering and being unwanted?
    1. Testimony: Adoption, Suffering and Love