Survey: Astrology, religion sites draw surfers

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Astrology and religion Web sites attracted more than 1.6 million surfers logging on to the Internet at-home, as the category grew 22 percent during the week ending December 16, according to Internet audience measurement service Nielsen//NetRatings.

Astrology.com took the No. 1 spot, drawing 868,000 surfers.

LDS.org, the official Web site for The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, attracted 181,000 visitors while astrology Web site ChartShop.com drew 167,000 surfers.

Rounding out the top five list, BeliefNet.com attracted 150,000 surfers while ChristianBook.com drew 148,000 visitors.

"During the holiday season, surfers are being drawn to religion and astrology Web sites in search of community and renewal for the New Year," said Allen Weiner, vice president and principal analyst for NetRatings.