When he started out, his position on stem cells was definitely very abstract. He espoused a set of opinions because his religion and his President mandated them, but under pressure he could have flopped. He did that with torture, when he encouraged Killer to demonstrate and then freaked out on hearing a water bottle opened.

But now the pressure's on, and this time his convictions are standing up to the test, and you're quite right: it's very much real to him now.

And thank you ^_^