I don't want to cause an argument but personally I really do shy away from
deliberately annoying Christians (maybe the really fundamentalist types
sometimes when they go on and on, and then I will argue, but they are not
the majority thankfully). If I find that if we have something in common,
either vegetarianism or veganism or if we share another strong belief for
the betterment of this life for animals or people, then I can get on with
some Christians and our differences can be put aside because many of them
are actually very nice people and do care about some of the same issues as I
care about. I am almost certainly a humanist but do not want to let this get
in the way of cooperating with people who are like-minded in some ways.

I like the idea of the "O Project" http://www.oproject.co.uk/
What do people here think of this? It seems they want cooperation between
Christians and Humanists for a change, I like that, the idealist in me likes
that very much.

I would also like to get more involved in some human causes that are almost
entirely Christian-led, in particular pro-life and especially befriending
women in crisis pregnancy, but I have unfortunately found that as an openly
"out" Bright/atheist/humanist there are many groups that do this type of
work where they cannot welcome me to help because they only welcome those
who share their faith (Care groups more than Life groups have this attitude,
and my most local one is a Care group while the nearest Life group do not
have befriending type support set up). This is quite frustrating for me
because it is an area where I really want to help! I even contemplated lying
and pretending I was a Christian just to get accepted to help on the
practical side, if it helped women so they did not feel desperate enough to
abort their unborn babies! However I am not a good or convincing liar so
decided against that strategy pretty quickly, I just knew it was doomed to
fail.

I am personally committed to reverence for life largely BECAUSE I believe
this life is all we get (and same applies to other sentient species). My
non-belief in anything supernatural or godly is completely at the heart of
my vegan and also at the heart of my pro-life beliefs, and therefore is a
positive belief in THIS life, and now my kids are in school I have a bit
more time to do more for others.

I am in contact with Feminists for Life and also the Atheist and Agnostic
Pro-life League, but they cannot help me to get involved in a "real-life"
way in the cause I care about, as they are US-based groups and all their
active ppl are so few and far between.

I am quite involved in veggie and vegan groups, both social and occasionally
activist, and as a humanist I do not find that I need any help or advice on
that, it is not really an issue as many seem not to be religious people
within the movement, and those who are I can usually get on with OK, but if
anyone can advise on getting on better with Christians and convincing them I
am genuinely committed to some of their causes, especially prevention of
abortion, please advise away as I am listening!

I do not want to get into an abortion debate with those many humanists who
disagree with me on the political side, but if anyone can help me to get
involved in the practical and caring side while remaining a humanist, I
would like to hear from you. I am not looking to get involved in protests
outside abortion clinics, I know that is not the place for me. But those
women who want to choose life but need support, those are the ones I would
like to help, just as I would like to do by bit to save animals.

Please mail me off-list if you prefer, that is fine with me.

Love and liberation,
Lesley