Rest in Peace, Charlie

You inspired and empowered millions.

Last week, the world lost a towering figure.

Charlie Kirk was a Christian, patriot, husband, and father of two. His life on earth was cut short after 31 years, because somebody couldn’t tolerate a difference in opinion.

On 10th September, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking with students on a university campus, something he’d done countless times before as a well-known conservative activist and speaker.

I never met Charlie in person. We followed each other online, and had several mutual friends and acquaintances. I first became aware of him in 2019, and from a distance, I perceived him to be smart, hard-working, and intellectually honest. I respect people who engage in debates in good faith without resorting to insults, particularly when it comes to difficult topics. It’s far rarer than it should be.

Everyone I’m aware of who had met Charlie said that he was a good man. And I’ve heard that from people across the political and religious spectrum. He was devout in his Christian faith, dedicated to his wife and children, and passionate about his beliefs. But importantly, he was willing to discuss his ideas with everyone, whether they agreed or not.

Charlie was not an extremist in the eyes of any reasonable person. He was a socially conservative Christian who held beliefs shared by billions of people around the world. The fact that his views were even considered ‘controversial’ is an indictment on how far the West has drifted from its roots. He explicitly denounced political violence and actively chose to engage in discussion and debate. He sought to change people’s minds, but remained open to having his own mind changed.

Nonetheless, this was deemed intolerable to a segment of the population. So much so that they wanted him dead.

I’m not going to waste paragraphs denouncing the reprobates who are dancing on his grave. I’d rather dedicate my words and attention to those he inspired, as well as everyone with a shred of moral decency, who believe it’s wrong to murder a peaceful person over their political beliefs.

Indeed, the last week has been particularly heavy for millions of people - not just in the USA but worldwide.

Around 160,000 people die every single day. And many in horrific circumstances.

So, why is it that certain deaths impact us so much?

It’s not because one innocent human life is inherently worth more than another, but simply because some people are better known to us and impact our lives more than others. The more we relate to the person, the more we feel the loss.

Losing your own friend or family member impacts you more than a stranger losing theirs. That is normal. And if somebody is known to and appreciated by millions, then it’s only natural that his or her death will impact more people.

Charlie and the circumstances of his death represent something bigger than himself. He was killed while exercising his right to freedom of speech, on an American university campus, with thousands of people watching in person.

On 5th September 2025, I published an article called Why Politics is Making Everyone Stupider. In it, I expressed my concern for the aggressive rise in political polarisation.

Just five days later, Charlie Kirk was killed for expressing his beliefs. His murder was an affront and injustice to any person of moral character.

When one enters the upper echelons of politics, assassination attempts are not completely outside of the realm of possibility. That’s why all Presidents, Prime Ministers, and other high-ranking officials all over the world are assigned a security detail. While attacks on politicians in the West are thankfully rare, we all know that they’re not completely unprecedented.

However, the public murder of a young activist, public speaker, author, and podcast host is particularly egregious. Especially Charlie, who chose to engage, and often show kindness, towards people who were hostile towards him.

To put it simply, in the USA, people should be free to share their thoughts and opinions without fear of being imprisoned or killed. The fact that this is no longer guaranteed is rightfully chilling.

I don’t want to speculate on any conspiracies or place the blame on individuals who have nothing to do with this heinous act.

I do want to honour Charlie’s memory, express my sincere condolences to his family and friends, and encourage anybody who is grieving.

As a fellow Christian, I believe the end of our lives on this Earth means a transition to a better, more peaceful one. May we live by our beliefs, and never become as hateful as our enemies.

It would have been exciting to see what Charlie would have accomplished in the future, but what he achieved in his short life was incredible.

I was particularly inspired by how bold he was in discussing his Christian faith. I know that he helped many people on their journeys towards Jesus Christ, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he inspires many more with his passing.

And that’s a wonderful legacy in itself.

May we all be as bold and courageous in the face of worldly adversity.

Rest in peace, Charlie. God bless you and your family.