ITEMS OF INTEREST

with contributions from Renee Nadeau

BIBLE TOPS LIST OF FAVORITE BOOKS

THE BIBLE CONTINUES to top America's reading list by a huge margin and is as in-demand as ever, according to a Harris Poll.

Regina Corso, director of the poll, said the Bible ranked first among 23 percent of those polled on favored reading choices, with the No. 2 book, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, fetching just 12 percent. ...

"I have a feeling it was always a solid No. 1." She said that while the Good Book's lead may grow and shrink at times, the Bible is apt to stay atop the list.

Anne Robertson, executive director of the Massachusetts Bible Society, said the Bible is a bit more difficult to obtain than years ago.

"There are objections to giving out Bibles in some quarters," she said. "They're just not as readily available as they once were."

Robertson's nonprofit provides grants of $55,000 worth of Bibles each year to hospitals, prisons, churches, and other groups. It also fulfills requests for other holy books, such as the Koran and Bibles in different languages.

"We get a pretty constant line of requests," Robertson said.

A separate Harris Poll noted that 20 percent of Americans do not buy a single book in a year. That poll also showed 32 percent of women and 24 percent of men read "religious and spirituality" books.

Despite the lack of book sales as reported by that poll, Bible editions seem to be rolling off the presses without feeling the pinch.

Renee Nadeau
"Poll reveals Good News for Bible sales"
Boston Herald. Reprinted with permission. April 13, 2008

2010 FORUM TO FOCUS ON INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND INNOVATIONS IN OUTREACH COMMUNICATIONS

CHANGES IN PERCEPTIONS about religion, its influence in the public arena, and how technology delivers the message are among the issues communicators will consider at Religion Communication Congress 2010.

The congress, with the theme "Embracing Change: Communicating Faith in Today's World," is scheduled for April 7–10, 2010 ... in Chicago.

Participants will represent a broad spectrum of communications specialties, faith traditions, and theological perspective.

Shirley Whipple Struchen, a United Methodist and coordinator of RCCongress 2010, said the use of "instantaneous communication" is probably the biggest change since the last congress in 2000. That could mean networking through websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, offering different perspectives through blogging, or providing downloadable podcasts for MP-3 players and cellphones.

Jeffrey Cole, director for the Center for the Digital Future, University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication, is among speakers who will address that issue during the 2010 event.

In addition to the plenary sessions on timely issues, RCCongress 2010 will feature more than 50 skills-building workshops and time for participants to interact and learn from each other. ...

Inviting such a broad range of participants, including international representation, to the congress "is more than networking," she added. "It's really (about) understanding each other." ...

The 2010 event follows a 40-year tradition. The first congress was in 1970 in Chicago, followed by congresses in 1980, 1990, and 2000. In 2000, more than 80 cooperating organizations participated as partners and 1,300 attended.

"2010 Congress to explore faith communication issues"
United Methodist News Service, New York. April 8, 2008

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