On The Rise: Finance majors don’t make great atheists + Why your team might be lying to you

Published about 14 hours ago • 3 min read

Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.

Today, some fresh data on which college majors are most likely to be atheists, why teams often don’t tell their senior leader the truth, a great inside story about Apple, and it looks like your people are falling deeper into debt.

English Majors Much More Likely to be Atheists than Finance Majors

Not all atheists are the same.

It may be a chicken and egg question, but it seems not all professions have the same approach to faith. Does your college major make you less religious, or do the less religious choose certain majors?

Ryan Burge’s analysis of the data on education and faith may help you think through some fresh approaches who you’re trying to reach and how to reach them.

Your Church Is Built for This Moment

The AI Hub will help you lead like it.

Everything AI can't replicate (real community, real presence, unchanging truth and rich integrity), is exactly what the church is designed to offer. That doesn't happen by accident, but by leaders paying attention and preparing.

AI and the Future Church just released a few weeks ago with a free The AI Hub companion packed with the tools, research, and practical frameworks to help you move from understanding what's coming to leading your church through it.

Because there’s a difference between understanding what AI means for the church and knowing what to do about it on Monday. The book gives you the first, and the AI Hub (its companion), gives you the second.

First, read the book with your team for the framework.

Then, use the AI Hub to see where your church stands, what to address first, and how to lead your team through it.

Haven't got a copy yet?

Get Your Copy Now

Strong Leaders Overestimate the Quality of the Data They Get

So, who’s going to tell him???

If you’re a strong leader, there’s a greater likelihood your team isn’t telling you the (whole) truth. Why? No one likes to poke the bear or challenge the strong leader.

And that’s a problem. Les McKeown explains why this happens and drops some clues about how to solve it.

Help Your Church Walk in Financial Freedom

A 6-week money course built for the Church.

As Christians, our relationship with money should look different:

Radical generosity instead of hoarding.
Knowing how to save and how to spend (without guilt).
Never worrying about money because God is Provider.

So why aren’t more believers experiencing financial peace and freedom?

There’s a difference between financial education and financial discipleship.

That’s what makes True Financial Freedom different: it’s a 6-week program from SeedTime Money combining Biblical wisdom, practical financial habits, and actually addressing the heart issues shaping our relationship with God and money.

Try the entire course free for 14 days at tff.seedtime.com.

Try it Free

Weekly Recommendation

Shop Different by Ron Johnson

I have Ron Johnson coming up on my podcast soon, and his new book Shop Different is my favorite insider profile of Apple since Walter Isaacson wrote his epic work Steve Jobs.

Ron designed the Apple Stores from scratch, worked directly with Steve, and was with him on his deathbed. A fascinating account of the inner workings.

Check It Out

People Are (Still) Broke

Credit card debt and auto loans rise again.

If you’ve found it harder to make ends meet, you’re not alone. American credit card debt and other loans rose again.

Maybe it’s time to plan a new money and the Bible series for 2027. People need real help, and if the church doesn’t step in, who will? Dave Ramsey can’t do it all.