Asking the Big Question
At Winthrop University’s Activity Fair, I set up a simple whiteboard and posed a big question: “Is Christianity good or bad for the world?” Over forty students placed their vote under “good,” which was encouraging—but also just the beginning of the story.
The Conversations That Followed
Whenever I could, I asked students why they chose the answer they did. Some didn’t want to talk, which is fair. But many were more than willing to share their thoughts. And while not everyone had deeply thought it through, their responses were often surprisingly insightful. With a little prompting, the conversations quickly moved past surface-level opinions into meaningful dialogue about morality, worldview, and personal experience.
Why Worldview Matters
It’s easy to answer a question like this on instinct. But when you press pause and ask what someone means by “good” or “bad,” the conversation shifts. The meaning depends heavily on one’s worldview. A student raised in a Christian home is likely drawing from a different moral foundation than someone who grew up without any exposure to faith. And that’s okay—it’s what makes these conversations so rich.
What Ratio Christi Is All About
This is exactly the kind of thing Ratio Christi is here to do. We’re not just hosting clubs or putting up tables—we’re creating space for thoughtful engagement. Our mission is to equip students to talk about their faith with confidence and clarity, to challenge assumptions, and to have real conversations that matter. In a culture that often pits faith and reason against each other, we’re here to say they belong together.
Christianity’s Impact on the World
But we’re not just asking questions—we’re also making a case. Christianity has made a tangible, positive difference in the world. J. Warner Wallace’s book Person of Interest shows how the life of Jesus—especially after His resurrection—sparked a wave of transformation. Think about it: hospitals, universities, charities, the idea of universal human rights—so much of what we now take for granted was either pioneered or profoundly shaped by followers of Christ.
Faith in Action
Christians didn’t just preach love—they practiced it, though we often see that there are those who claim to be Christians and don’t live it out. For those that have, they built hospitals, opened schools, cared for the poor, and fought for the dignity of every person. Even today, Christians remain some of the most generous people in terms of time, money, and care for others. And they do it not for status, but because they believe people matter to God.
The Takeaway
So is Christianity good for the world? Based on history, impact, and the conversations I had with students today, I’d say absolutely. It doesn’t mean Christians are perfect—but it does mean the teachings of Jesus have consistently moved the needle toward what’s good, true, and beautiful in the world. And that’s a message worth talking about.
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