Last month, I was at Umass Amherst attending a Q&A with CliffeKnechtle, a pastor who has gone viral on social media in the past few months for his arguments in support of Christianity. Originally a pastor at a church in Connecticut, Knechtle is partly compelling because of how compassionately and thoughtfully he states his positions. Unlike many evangelists, he does not seem interested in forcing his faith on non-Christians but rather presenting biblical teachings and letting people wrestle with their meaning.

Beyond the actual substance of what was discussed at the event, I was most struck by one thing: the sheer number of people in attendance. There were at least several hundred people gathered to hear conversations about Christianity — most of them high school or college students — on a Friday afternoon. This made me wonder, why are so many young people choosing to spend their time discussing religion, and what does this say about our society?

There is recent data suggesting that what I saw at this event is part of a larger trend. A few months ago Pew released their Religious Landscape Study, which shed light on the fact that a decades-long decrease in religious membership has slowed. Young people seem to be returning to organized religion, which accounts for much of this trend.

If you look around, it makes complete sense why people are turning to religion: there is an unprecedented amount of conflict, both domestic and international, unfolding at the moment. In times of deep uncertainty, religion can provide a sense of spiritual confidence that is difficult to find elsewhere.

Additionally, we live in a time when our political leaders, who are supposed to provide examples of moral strength and courage, have proven themselves to be completely incapable of moral leadership.

The policies of Donald Trump, who won the 2024 election in part with the support of evangelical Christians and has claimed he is “the chosen one,” could not be further from the Christian ideals. Trump’s disregard for due process and human rights is antithetical to the teachings of Christ, who taught disciples to love and care for those on the margins of society.

Additionally, the recent posting of an AI image of Trump as Pope on his and White House social media accounts and Trump’s response to criticism of it indicates that he not only does not understand Christianity but considers it a joke. And this should be insulting not just to Catholics, but Christians of all denominations who see the Papacy as an important position of moral guidance.

Yet if there has ever been a time when Christians needed to stand up for their faith and not shy away from it, that time is now. Because otherwise, the faith will be allowed to be further co-opted by those who use it not as a call for moral action but as a justification for evil.

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One of the questions Knechtle received at the Umass event I attended came from a person of color, who said she was distrusting of Christianity because so many perpetrators of violence and racism have called themselves Christian. In response to this, Knechtle reminded the audience that Jesus saw hypocrisy as a fundamental evil. “What’s the sin that Jesus attacks most? It’s hypocrisy,” Knechtle said.

While we are all guilty of hypocrisy, political leaders who do not even attempt to act in line with their professed values pose the greatest risk to our collective sense of morality. They suggest that it is acceptable to say one thing and do another, when in reality this sort of falseness erodes our sense of trust in our institutions and in each other.

By the time this column is published, it is possible that there will be a new Pope — and following the great leadership of the late Pope Francis, this Pope will have big shoes to fill. Regardless of who is selected to lead the Catholic church, though, it is clear that we are at an inflection point in the state of Christianity, and there has never been so much at stake.

If people of faith remain silent on important issues, it sends the message that the interpretation of Christianity by those who have used the religion for their own gain is in fact the true one. It will repel people from the very admirable aspects of faith.

If people are willing to profess their beliefs openly and with confidence, however, it will make clear that bad actors in the news media and politics do not get the final say.

It is a hard reality, but also true, that “silence in the face of evil is itself evil,” as Dietrich Bonhoeffer once noted. In times like this, Bonhoeffer said, “not to speak is to speak,” and “not to act is to act.”

Olin Rose-Bardawil of Florence is a student at the Williston Northampton School and the editor in chief of the school’s newspaper, The Willistonian. He will be attending Tufts University to study political science in the fall.