Molly Worthen: Is College Killing Christian Faith or Awakening It?

Molly Worthen: Is College Killing Christian Faith or Awakening It?

June 4, 2026 · 45 min · Season 1 · Episode 235

About this episode

Molly Worthen discusses her journey from secular skepticism to Christian faith and the challenges faced by Christian students in secular colleges.

Have You Ever Met a Secular Professor Who Became a Christian? In this episode of Good Faith , Curtis Chang talks with historian and UNC professor Molly Worthen about her surprising journey from secular skeptic to Christian believer—and what her story reveals about faith, doubt, college, and perceived crises in higher education. They explore why so many Christian students struggle with faith on secular campuses, how parents can help college-bound kids find mentors and community, and how Christian study centers are creating spaces for honest questions, intellectual formation, and spiritual growth. Molly also explains why the search for meaning in the age of AI may open new doors for Christian faith to thrive. 02:58 - Professor Molly Worthen Describes Her Faith Journey 06:22 - Is The Resurrection a Historical Truth? 10:23 - Molly's Leap of Faith Was Intellectual 11:25 - Why Do Students Leave Church in College? 13:48 - The Role of Christian Study Centers 19:49 - Students Seeking Mentorship 25:41 - Faith, Politics, and Crisis of Meaning 29:43 - The Timeless Questions of Faith Are Still the Dominant Ones 31:14 - What's The Professional Cost of Being a Public Christian on Campus? 34:01…

People in this episode

Host: Curtis Chang

Guest: Molly Worthen

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UNC, Consortium of Christian Study Centers, North Carolina Study Center

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