What does Christianity predict about character improvement, and does the empirical evidence back it up?

This paper focuses on two important questions about Christianity and sanctification: • If Christianity is true, then what can we reasonably predict about the impact of the sanctification process on Christians? • Is the empirical research on morally relevant behaviour consistent with such predictions, and in particular, is there evidence consistent with there being better moral character on average in Christians rather than non-Christians? In addressing the first question, we will focus on whether, if Christianity is true, there is good reason to predict that Christians on average will have a more virtuous character than non-Christians. In addressing the second question, we will see that there is significant empirical evidence that is consistent with this prediction.