Dr. Ben Carson, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary, has praised the late Charlie Kirk for speeding up a recent resurgence in American religious faith. Speaking at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference, Carson highlighted how young people, especially Generation Z, are turning to religion amid concerns over the nation's direction. He also discussed initiatives to counter perceived leftist influences in education and expressed optimism about Donald Trump's second term.
Dr. Ben Carson, who served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the first Trump administration, shared his views on a burgeoning American faith revival during an interview with The Daily Wire at the conclusion of Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference on Sunday. He attributed much of the revival's momentum to the efforts of Charlie Kirk, the late founder of Turning Point USA.
Carson described the revival as a phenomenon that has been unfolding over the past couple of years, noting that it gained significant speed through Kirk's work. "An American faith revival has really been going on for the last couple of years," Carson said. "I think it accelerated quite a bit with what Charlie was doing."
He pointed to Generation Z's growing embrace of faith, driven by a realization that a path without religious values would not lead the country to positive outcomes. Many young people, Carson explained, began questioning how the United States could remain a great nation, prompting a return to religious principles. Particularly among young men, church attendance is rising, and Carson anticipates that young women will follow suit. He acknowledged the challenges women face in balancing careers and family, expressing hope that expanded virtual work options could ease these tensions.
To build on Kirk's legacy, Carson's American Cornerstone Institute has introduced the Little Patriots program. This initiative aims to educate young Americans early about the nation's founding principles and religious values, shielding them from what Carson views as corrupting influences in the education system. "The two biggest teacher unions are full of Marxists, and so it's a battle," he stated, "but I think we have the better message... and we just have to make sure that we don't get discouraged and that we're willing to fight as hard as they do."
Reflecting on politics, Carson called Donald Trump's second term "incredible." He suggested that Trump's perceived loss in the previous election was providential, allowing time for reflection. "I think the Lord did us a favor by allowing Trump to lose – or at least to be perceived as losing – so that he wasn't there for four years so he could really think about what happened," Carson remarked.
