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

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 – Can You Have a Healthy Relationship With Doubt?

39:28 – Advice for Parents of College-Bound Students

More about the Consortium of Christian Study Centers

More the North Carolina Study Center

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Molly Worthen’s Spellbound
• LifeWay Research: Most Teenagers Drop Out of Church as Young Adults
• Tim Keller’s The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

More From Molly Worthen:

• Molly Worthen’s faculty page at UNC
• Molly Worthen’s website
• Molly Worthen’s Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.