Many rushed to social media after receiving news that political activist Charlie Kirk was killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University during a Turning Point USA debate, an organization aiming to empower students to promote principles of freedom and free markets with a conservative view.
When a controversial figure passes away, the public’s response can be filled with either criticism or admiration. However, following the viral video of Charlie Kirk’s shooting — now taken down from the internet — his death sparked widespread reflection that extended beyond politics.
According to Pastor Drew Sams at Bel Air Church, many sociologists believe modern society is in a “post-secular” — meaning people are recognizing the limits of secular solutions and are more open to connecting with different religions to help them in daily obstacles.
Since the death of Charlie Kirk, a surge of interest in Christianity has spread across social media platforms such as TikTok. Conservative political commentator and friend of Kirk Candace Owens, alongside others, has spoken openly about faith, and many have even shared that they are attending church services again.
Sams said that although Charlie Kirk was a polarizing figure, his courage and boldness in expressing his beliefs resonated deeply with supporters. Rallies in support of Kirk were held not only across the United States but also in Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
“People are like, ‘Wow. If he was courageous, if he was bold, if he was public with his faith, maybe I should be,’” Sams said. “I think while there are many things that people really dislike that he said, it’s a great reminder that Christianity isn’t about being perfect, but the faith that we put in God, who is perfect. We’re saved not by our works, but by Grace.”
His memorial was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona Sunday, Sept. 21. More than 60,000 people attended the service, including President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
One of the speeches was given by Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, which was broadcasted live on many news platforms. During her speech, she addressed her husband’s influence on youth and announced that she would be taking on his role as CEO of Turning Point USA. Since his assassination, the organization reported receiving over 60,000 inquiries to start new campus chapters.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” Erika Kirk said during the broadcast. “Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.’ That young man … I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”
The memorial included performances by several Christian artists, like Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham. Some attendees described the event as a “revival gathering.” Sams said that even though the memorial was an event of grieving, the Bible states to move forward with hope.
“In Scripture, it says that through faith in Jesus, this life isn’t all there is, and that through faith in Jesus, there is the experience of spending all of eternity with God,” Sams said. “Many Christian funerals are actually officially called celebrations of life. It’s kind of like grief mixed with the joy of and the celebration of not only the person’s life, but [also] celebrating the fact that death isn’t the end of the story for that individual.”
Hannah Cheung, a pre-law student at a Christian institute, Liberty University, said Kirk has given a few speeches at her church. She felt spiritually connected to him through the causes they both supported.
“Charlie Kirk’s legacy proves that this spiritual revival is so much more than a political movement of him being a man with conservative ideas of capitalism and free speech and gun rights,” Cheung said. “He wasn’t just a political person. He valued his faith so much, and that’s why his political views stemmed from his faith.”
Junior Josi Strouk at Brentwood School said that even if someone doesn’t share the same political beliefs, they can still resonate with Kirk’s movement of “loving your enemies” and having respect for others.
“He has a family. He has a wife. He has two young kids. You don’t even think about his political agenda right away,” Strouk said. “I definitely think it’s beautiful how connected to God he was. I think religion is so beautiful. I’m not Christian, so I don’t resonate with everything he said about religion. But I’m Jewish, and he would go to Israel all the time and advocate for them.”
Cheung said the assassination “hit close to home,” because she felt spiritually connected to Kirk. She encouraged people to use tragedy to create something positive, instead of allowing fear to silence and dictate their response to the “truth.”
“It felt so sobering to me … I think it really encouraged me to be even more outspoken about my beliefs, not just politically speaking, but also as a Christian,” Cheung said. “It made me really think about whether or not I am at the point in my faith where I would be willing to take a bullet for the name of Jesus or for speaking truth. I truly believe that I would be willing to do that.”
When Cheung was living in Los Angeles, she was harassed and cyberbullied by her high school peers because of her beliefs. This experience made her want to attend college in a state more aligned with her values.
Cheung’s story reflects a broader trend. According to UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies, nearly 69% of principals reported students making derogatory remarks toward peers with different political views.
Despite Cheung’s experience, she said through her prayers she felt called by God to return to California after law school to use her career to stand for truth and make a difference.
“When other people choose to hurt you, it’s from a place of anger, frustration [and] hurt. People deep down are yearning for something to fulfill them,” Cheung said. “I know that California is truly where the fight is. People need help. People need light in truth, so that’s where I’ll be trying to show people that true fulfillment comes from seeking a relationship with God.”
Cheung will be continuing to advocate for the freedom of speech once she moves back to California, pursuing her career as a lawyer. She said it’s important to have conversations with people that has opposite beliefs, instead of being judgmental and spreading hate.
As humans are constantly trying to make sense of the world, Sams said it’s essential to approach situations with an open mindset when faced with those that are difficult to comprehend.
“For anybody who’s skeptical, stay curious, ask questions and be inquisitive,” Sams said. “Whenever there’s a posture of curiosity, I find that I grow a lot, and I learn a lot. Even just observing what’s going on? Why would that many people respond in that way? Why would hundreds and thousands show up?”
This story was originally published on The Oracle on October 10, 2025.
