In her talk, Megan Phelps-Roper recounts her life growing up in the Westboro Baptist Church, where she was involved in anti-gay protests from a young age. Raised in an environment that framed the world as a battle between good (her church) and evil (everyone else), she spent years traveling across the country holding inflammatory signs and protesting various events. Her journey towards leaving the church began with interactions on Twitter, where she encountered people who engaged with her in civil, compassionate dialogues. These conversations, though initially hostile, gradually showed her the humanity and kindness of those she had been taught to view as enemies.Through these interactions, Megan started questioning the contradictions in her church’s beliefs, such as the discrepancy between their stance on punishment and Jesus’s teachings. This growing realization, coupled with the support she received from people she had once antagonized, led her to leave Westboro in 2012. The process was emotionally challenging, marked by a profound sense of loss and the need to rebuild her life. Yet, Megan found unexpected acceptance from those she had previously targeted and saw the power of empathy and dialogue in bridging divides.She reflects on how society’s current polarized discourse mirrors the divisive tactics she once endorsed and advocates for more understanding and respectful communication. Megan highlights four key strategies for effective dialogue: assuming good intent, asking questions, staying calm, and making well-reasoned arguments. Her experience underscores the importance of engaging with opposing views constructively to foster genuine change and mutual understanding.
