Nearly two-thirds of online Americans use the Internet for at least some faith-related reasons.
That's nearly 82 million people, according to a report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
Sixty-four percent of people online have done at least one of the following things:
- 38 percent have sent and received e-mail with spiritual content.
- 35 percent have sent or received online greeting cards related to religious holidays
- 32 percent have gone online to read news accounts of religious events and affairs.
- 21 percent have sought information about how to celebrate religious holidays.
- 17 percent have looked for information about where they could attend religious services.
- 14 percent have used e-mail to plan church meetings.
- 11 percent have downloaded or listened to religious music online.
- 7 percent have made or responded to online prayer requests.
- 7 percent have made donations to religious organizations or charities
The research group found that more people were engaged in these religion-related activities than in the past.
"There has been much speculation about the impact of the Internet on religion, particularly as increasing numbers of Americans have been turning to sources other than their own traditions and clergy," said Stewart Hoover, a University of Colorado at Boulder professor who was the lead author of the report.
He said the online activity also supplements ties to traditional institutions. But they're also interested in how others worship.
Twenty-six percent said they had used the Internet to seek or exchange information about the religious faiths or traditions of others.
The report also says that those who use the Internet for religious or spiritual purposes are more likely to be women, white, middle-aged, college educated, and relatively well-to-do. In addition, they are somewhat more active as Internet users than the rest of the Internet population.
Interviews for the report were conducted in Novermber and December 2003.