WASHINGTON, Dec 23: God trumps money online, a study released on Sunday found, as more adult Americans use the Internet for religious purposes than for gambling, banking or trading stocks.

One out of four adult American Internet users, roughly 28 million, have sought out religious or spiritual information online, according to a study released on Sunday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Each day, more than three million US adults find religious information online, up from two million last year.

But US churches and synagogues are unlikely to empty out any time soon, said report author Elena Larsen, as Web surfers tend to use the Internet for solitary activities like research rather than joining chat rooms or other communal activities.

“Almost all of them already belong to some sort of congregation,” Larsen said. “They’re not replacing things people do in groups.”

Those engaged in religious activities online are more likely to search for educational or reference material (69 per cent) or research other faiths (50 per cent) than offer spiritual advice through e-mail (35 per cent) or seek it out (21 per cent), the study found.

Those most active online are also most active offline in their congregations, Larsen said.

Internet religion seekers are more likely to belong to an organization like a church or synagogue and attend services weekly than the population as a whole, and are more likely to describe their religious faith as “very strong,” the report said. Eighty-six per cent said they prayed or meditated every day.

The Internet is not likely to change the views of the 14 per cent of US population with no religious affiliation, Larsen said.

“It’s supplementing, it’s augmenting” users’ religious lives, she said.

AFTER SEPT 11: While Americans flocked to churches and synagogues after the Sept 11 attacks, many also turned to their computers.

One out of four US Internet users sought out information on Islam online after the attacks, the report said, and 41 per cent said they sent or received e-mail prayer requests. Seven per cent contributed to charities online.

Members of less popular faiths said the Internet allows them to stay in touch with others who share their beliefs.

While 62 per cent said they believed the availability of religious information online encourages tolerance, 53 per cent said they thought it made it easier for fringe groups to hurt people.

The two views do not contradict each other, Larsen said.

“People are saying there’s good information there that can promote tolerance, but on the other hand there’s bad information to gain control over people,” she said.—Reuters