c. 2004 Religion News Service

CHICAGO _ Here are findings from the Publishers Weekly survey on the religion and spirituality book-buying habits of American consumers:

Why Consumers Purchased Religion, Spirituality Books

_ interest in subject: 48 percent

_ find God’s presence: 30 percent

_ find purpose in life: 29 percent

_ improve relationships: 21 percent

_ seeking children’s book: 17 percent

General Subject Matter of Nonfiction Purchases

_ practical life: 35 percent

_ Bibles: 28 percent

_ inspirational/religious: 24 percent

_ Bible study: 23 percent

_ children’s: 21 percent

_ self-help: 21 percent

_ health/healing: 20 percent

Religious Identification of Buyers

_ Christian/evangelical: 40 percent

_ Catholic: 17 percent

_ Christian/mainline Protestant: 14 percent

_ Mormon: 3 percent

_ Wiccan: 3 percent

_ Jewish: 2 percent

_ Buddhist: 2 percent

_ Spiritual/nonreligious: 10 percent

Source: Publishers Weekly Consumer Survey, May 2004

DEA END NELSON