News

Fifty Shades of the Good Book

Erotica fans aren’t the only beneficiaries of private digital consumption.

Fifty Shades of the Good Book

Fifty Shades of the Good Book

The notorious erotica trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James, has sold more than 60 million copies worldwide since March. Of note: Digital versions are outselling print more than 2 to 1.

The discretion offered by digital content has boosted the erotica industry. For example, adult eBooks accounted for 57 percent of Kensington Books' sales in 2011, compared with 2 percent in 2008, according to The Telegraph.

However, this discretion has also been a boon to those seeking access to the Bible.

"There is no question: A lot more people have access now," said Grant Lovejoy, director of orality strategies for the International Mission Board. "Especially in places where it's impossible to get Bibles in, or [where] there is a stigma attached to going into a Christian bookstore."

The fastest-growing areas for digital Bible reading are where access is restricted, said Troy Carl, national director of Faith Comes by Hearing. The ministry's second-most popular audio Bible (after English) has become Arabic. On average, those in traditional Muslim countries listen three to four hours at a time—far more than the average three to four minutes of those in developed countries.

"We've been distributing the Bible in other mediums for 37 years, and we reached 50 million people," said Carl. "In two and a half years, we reached 95 million people. That's exponential."

Lovejoy does offer a caution amid the good news. "It is the way of evangelicals to be blind to the fact that different media impose various restrictions and have an impact on the message," he said. "We need to pay attention. Each medium has its own advantages or reason for being."

Still, Russ Hersman, chief operations officer for Wycliffe Bible Translators, agrees that access is one of digital's biggest advantages. One Wycliffe organization has launched Operation Timothy, which aims to raise $100,000 to make digital Scriptures accessible worldwide.

And while some governments still restrict Internet access, such control is harder to maintain as technology evolves, he said. "Digital Scriptures are Scriptures without boundaries."

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Hidden History of Insider Movements

Cover Story

Worshiping Jesus in the Mosque

Cover Story

Why Evangelicals Should Be Thankful for Muslim Insiders

Cover Story

How Much Muslim Context Is Too Much for the Gospel?

The Gospel Hand-Off

So, Who Hallows God's Name?

My Top 5 Books on Mental Illness

Are You Worshiping the Idol of 'Open Options'?

Review

The Sin of a Preacher Man

Catholics and Baptists Together

Testimony

My Train Wreck Conversion

How Can Short-Term Missions Best Advance God's Mission?

Review

God Repairs the Shattered Glass

Election Is for Everyone

Excerpt

How Should Christians Get Rid of Garbage in their Hearts?

The Zombie Apocalypse

News

Schools Tussle Over Sex Standards

The Great Tiny Baby Rescue

Given Deborah, Jael, and Judith, Why Shouldn't Women Serve in Combat?

Editorial

Discipleship Is Messy

News

How Should Christian Satellite Networks Evangelize Muslims?

News

Kenyan Jihadists Target Surprising Recruits: Ex-Christians

The 2013 Book Awards

Top 10 News Stories of 2012

Quick Takes

Wilson's Bookmarks

Letters to the Editor

Exclusive: Christian Wiman Discusses Faith as He Leaves World's Top Poetry Magazine

News

Hope for the Gay Undergrad

News

Should Christian Colleges Build Top-Ranked Football Teams?

News

Quotation Marks

News

Go Figure

News

Gleanings

Change to Believe In

View issue

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Wire Story

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Southern Baptists have spent down reserves with over $12 million in legal fees over the past three years.

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Seminary Professor Accused of Secret Second Marriage

Accountability group says Vince Bantu, an expert in ancient African Christianity, is justifying adultery with an argument for polygamy. Bantu denies their claims.

These Christians Have Not Given Up on North Korea

Experts and practitioners discuss their top challenges and encouragements in serving the reclusive country.

Mobilizers See Millions of Future Missionaries in Overseas Filipino Workers

While Filipino Christians are reaching the diaspora, cross-cultural evangelism efforts face challenges.

Sports Betting Has Become Too Prevalent for Christians to Ignore

Online gambling isn’t necessarily sinful, but it’s certainly not a careful use of the wealth God has given us.

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You Can Turn Off the News and Still Be a Good Citizen

Five experts share advice for Christians overwhelmed by the headlines

Excerpt

God at the Bottom of the Glass

An excerpt from “The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust” on discovering the hand of God in the science of his creation.

Shielded from Truth at Our Own Expense

The Bible consistently tells us we must examine ourselves and accept correction, but our culture is forgetting the art of fair critique.

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