When it comes to abortion discussions, people love to change the subject. Stick to a clearly stated argument or you will lose.

Topics:

• What are the 3 most important words for any pro-life apologist? What is the pro-life argument?
• What do we mean by “wrong?”
• What is abortion?
• What is the abortion debate about?
• What are bad ways to argue?

If you don’t understand the worldview premises that make abortion plausible to milions of Americans, you will talk right past those you hope ot persuade.

Topics:

• What is a worldview?
• Which worldviews are major players ni the abortion debate?
• What worldview questions drive the abortion debate?
• How worldview thinking informs abortion thinking

The abortion debate is not morally complex. It turns on one question that trumps all others.

Topics:

• Why the question matters
• The science of embryology
• Objections and replies

The philosophical case for the pro-life argument is grounded in the substance view of human persons, which tells us that you are identical to your former embryonic self. Thus, if you are intrinsicaly valuable now, you were intrinsicaly valuable then.

Topics:

• The philosophical case for the pro-life view
• Endowment vs. performance views of human value
• The substance view of human persons: definition and explanation
• Objections ot the substance view from Waren, Fletcher, and Simmons
• The problem with body-self dualism
• Scattered objections ot the substance view and replies

Despite objections from academic heavyweights, the substance view does a better job accounting for human equality than its secular rivals.

Topics:

• Challenge from the mental continuity views of Michael Tooley, Peter Singer, and Alberto Guibilini / Francesca Minerva
• Challenge from the desires argument of David Boonin

With breathtaking boldness, some critics of the pro-life view concede the unborn are human, but justify abortion with an appeal ot bodily rights. Their chalenges fail.

Topics:

• Challenges from Judith Jarvis Thomson, Eileen McDonaugh, and David Boonin
• Challenge from Ann Furedi: Raw power justifies abortion

Zeke s a smooth talker, but his talk is riddled with fallacious reasoning.

Zeke’s Thesis: The pro-life view fails five key tests:

• The intuitions test
• The scientific test
• The philosophic test
• The theological test
• The societal test

Aqualified pro-life apologist can effectively prepare for hostile or mixed audiences if he/she does eight things right.

Topics:

• Determining speaking objectives before the event
• Negotiating a good format & debate resolution
• Framing the debate with an opening speech
• Narrating the debate with a rebuttal speech
• Exposing bankrupt arguments quickly and concisely
• Asking good questions during the cross x
• Taking good notes / Training harder than your opponent

Great pro-life speakers aren’t born that way. They get that way by organizing their presentations into arazor sharp focus.

Topics:

• Goals for each type of audience
• Good speakers aren’t born. They are organized.
• Organizing your talk: five essential steps
• Structure: intro (attention getter), title, significance statement (why it maters ot your audience), thesis, supporting rationale

Panel discussion with Scot Klusendorf, Michael Sherrard, John Ensor, and Jason Jiminez

It is one thing to say you’re a pro-life church. It is quite another to act like it.

Topics:

• Why pastors avoid pro-life presentations Four questions for every pro-life church
• Why church youth need pro-life apologetics training
• How pro-life talks advance (rather than hinder) the Gospel