The Denver Post reports that sales of religious books have increased 285% since 1983, and that growth in the Christian Book market is outpacing that of other adult book categories. Religious books accounted for 7% of all book sales in 2004. Denver is hosting the national convention of the Christian Booksellers Association for 2005.
I attended one CBA convention several years ago (about the time Veggie Tales was breaking big) and found the experience a mixed bag. I got to see some of the top names in Christian Music perform live. I got to hear Franklin Graham speak and I went home with a whole bag of cool freebies for the kids, but I was somewhat uncomfortable with the commercial atmosphere and kept wondering what Jesus would think as he wandered down the colossal aisles of million-dollar vendor displays.
How the money do flow!
The CBA is about more than just books, of course. Christian bookstores carry devotional items, music, jewelry, toys, videos, framed art – all kinds of products, some of which I find helpful and am grateful for. I even found a vendor that was carrying beautiful icons from eastern Europe (Catholic products are rare in the CBA, however). I know from experience that the success of the Christian marketplace has attracted many that have no interest in the spiritual nature of the products they are associated with. It is a business.
One has to wonder what this all means. Is America on the verge of a religious awakening? Or have great commercial interests simply awakened to the "Christian Market?"
People need something to read on the crapper that they can tear up for paper if they run out. That is why, my pallid friend.
Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly why.
Do those statistics include Catholic materials, even if the CBA doesn’t?
According to the story in the Denver Post those stats come from the Book Industry Study Group and include all religious titles, including Catholic.
Leave it up to the consumer culture –
Hey, let’s get rich… there are always $$$$$ to be made in Jesus’ name.
Consumerism as idolatry could be a problem as others implied here. Also it would seem obvious that American booksellers have realized that there is money to be made in a niche market.
I would like to think that this means that Christian ideas are permeating society, but I’m uncertain if it means that or if it just means that people have found a way to “mine” a particular religious group (in this case, Christian).