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.

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.”

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