Almost half of all American adults who are online are using the Internet for religious purposes, according to a new study from Grey Matter Research in Phoenix, Arizona

The research shows a variety of ways online Americans use the Internet for spiritual purposes:

– Nineteen percent have, in the past six months, visited the website of a church or other place of worship they are currently attending

– During that same time frame, another 17% have visited the website of a church or place of worship they were not attending

– Nineteen percent have visited a website designed to provide religious instruction or learning during the last six months

– Seventeen percent read religion-oriented blogs once a month or more

– Fourteen percent have a pastor or other religious leader as a friend on Facebook or a similar social network site

– Eleven percent have visited the website of a group or organization from a religious faith that is different from their own during the last six months

– One out of ten have “Liked” a church or other place of worship on Facebook or a similar social network site

– Eight percent participate in religion-oriented discussions online (e.g. bulletin boards or forums) once a month or more

– Two percent follow a church or other place of worship on Twitter

– Another 2% follow a pastor or other religious leader on Twitter

Among online Americans, Internet use for religious purposes is particularly common among the young. Fifty-seven percent of online adults under age 35 use the Internet for religion, compared to 48% who are 35 to 49 years old, 36% who are 50 to 64, and 31% who are 65 or older.

“Young people are especially likely to be using the Internet for religious purposes, and considering that older Americans in general are less likely than younger people to be online at all, the gap is even greater when that’s taken into consideration,” saidRon Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research. “Yet younger Americans in general are less likely than older people to attend worship services or claim any specific religious identity. Involvement in spirituality and expressions of faith differ considerably by generation – and young people are obviously looking to the Internet to be a significant part of their faith experience.”