Numbers
This morning, as I sip coffee from my “Caffienated Christianity” coffee mug while wearing my “God Speaks” t-shirt, I wanted to share a few thoughts about numbers. No, not Numbers—numbers as in those related to Christian publishing.
I have been contemplating the business of Christianity in the context of an article I have just written on the proliferation of Bible translations and formats. I don’t want to give away the goods on the piece, as I am sure that competing editors even now are engaging in close-combat for the privilege of publishing it. However, here are some things to think about while browsing at Amazon or CBD.com for that “must have” Bible translation or Christian book.
No one actually knows how many Bibles are sold annually by all publishers, because many guard their sales figures — but the total is believed be in the tens of millions. The Gallup organization estimated that the United States market alone for the sale of Bibles is at least 20 million copies, with millions more being distributed free.
Hard numbers are anecdotal, and annual reports do not typically break out of sales of Bibles as a separate category. Nonetheless, publisher Thomas Nelson, which offers a full line of Bibles, reported net income of $16,165,000 in 2004.
Beyond Bibles, the figures are astounding. Once again, precise dollar figures for sales are elusive, but sales through Christian Bookseller Association member stores and distributors came to $4 billion in 2001.
By 2004, roughly 2,200 titles of Christian books were scheduled for publication, an increase of more than 80 percent from 1,200 a decade ago, according to Carol Johnson, editorial vice president at Bethany House, a major player in the field.
And fiction now accounts for 15 percent to 20 percent of the Christian book market, up nearly fourfold from about 5 percent in the early 1990s.
Think for a moment about Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, the authors of the extraordinarily popular, apocalyptic series Left Behind (Tyndale House). Their 12-book series — capped off by the release of Glorious Appearing in March 2004--sold more than 40 million copies since the first installment was released in 1995. There are films and book tie-ins galore.
In fact, New York publisher Kensington, a one-time specialist in gay and lesbian titles (not to mention books for all those Wiccans who follow a “neo-pagan, Earth-centered religion”…ok, witchcraft), is reportedly about to change gear and publish three romantic novellas by the king of apocalyptic Christian fiction, LaHaye. (“Selling Rapture,” The Guardian, 7/9/2005).
Want to get in on the action? Try the Christian Writers' Market Guide 2005 : The Reference Tool for the Christian Writer (Christian Writers' Market by Sally Stuart, which the Midwest Book Review bills as, “An essential reference for anyone seeking to be published in the Christian community.” But, you’ll have to shell out $16.49 over at Amazon (although it is eligible for free shipping).
Of course, there is plenty for kids, including book-related action figures like Bibleman (“Armed with the Sword of the Spirit, the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Helmet of Salvation, this caped Christian stands ready to battle evil.”), Moses, and Our Lord Himself (available in light or dark skin versions).
As an Anglo-catholic, I certainly like my books-lots and lots of books. And, I do have some religious statuary about-tasteful statuary, that is. But I have to confess that I find the industrial approach to the faith once-delivered to the saints a bit worrisome. After all, even the “alternate lifestyle” folks and witches are moving into the biz for economic reasons.
Jeremy Lott, a Baptist preacher’s kid writing at Reasononline, offers an interesting observation in the context of the Reformation:
(Jesus Sells, Feb. 2003)
Thinking about all of this caused me to turn to Numbers—the one with a capital “N”. In Chapter 11, we find the people in the midst of their desert wandering and none too happy with a limited menu. These folks had free food in abundance: the manna that fell from the sky, fed and sustained them. Yet, the people were in an a la carte frame of mind, remembering fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic that they had in Egypt.(11:5) Never mind that pesky slavery business.
After a sufficient amount of complaining, the advocates for expanded consumer choice get to “have it their way”. They find quail more abundant than chicken at a Rotary Club barbecue. But, “while the flesh was yet between their teeth,” they suffer a very permanent case of indigestion.(11:33)
My point in all of this is not to condemn the market for things Christian. I am all in favor of people having options in the marketplace, but, maybe I’m just getting penurious in my old age. As I look around my own study and see all of the books, even a selection of “Christian fiction”, I can’t help wondering that some of the budget might have been better allocated than providing support to the Christian publishing industry.
Might it be the case that one less Bible commentary might mean money for one more missionary priest? Could one less translation of Holy Writ equate to a couple of KJVs or NKJVs in the hands of someone who never has read it?
And as for us, how about a little attention to that unopened Bible on the bookshelf? Perhaps, safety does not lie in numbers, especially when it comes to faith. Reading one book, the Book, and finding out what it actually has to say might be a bit more profitable than reading a dozen books telling us what it says. Or, might there be something there to truly give help for our selves, rather than offer self-help? After all, why eat quail when you can have manna?
Just a couple of thoughts as I wait for UPS to bring that latest box from Amazon. And I didn’t even need to use my Moses action figure.
I have been contemplating the business of Christianity in the context of an article I have just written on the proliferation of Bible translations and formats. I don’t want to give away the goods on the piece, as I am sure that competing editors even now are engaging in close-combat for the privilege of publishing it. However, here are some things to think about while browsing at Amazon or CBD.com for that “must have” Bible translation or Christian book.
No one actually knows how many Bibles are sold annually by all publishers, because many guard their sales figures — but the total is believed be in the tens of millions. The Gallup organization estimated that the United States market alone for the sale of Bibles is at least 20 million copies, with millions more being distributed free.
Hard numbers are anecdotal, and annual reports do not typically break out of sales of Bibles as a separate category. Nonetheless, publisher Thomas Nelson, which offers a full line of Bibles, reported net income of $16,165,000 in 2004.
Beyond Bibles, the figures are astounding. Once again, precise dollar figures for sales are elusive, but sales through Christian Bookseller Association member stores and distributors came to $4 billion in 2001.
By 2004, roughly 2,200 titles of Christian books were scheduled for publication, an increase of more than 80 percent from 1,200 a decade ago, according to Carol Johnson, editorial vice president at Bethany House, a major player in the field.
And fiction now accounts for 15 percent to 20 percent of the Christian book market, up nearly fourfold from about 5 percent in the early 1990s.
Think for a moment about Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, the authors of the extraordinarily popular, apocalyptic series Left Behind (Tyndale House). Their 12-book series — capped off by the release of Glorious Appearing in March 2004--sold more than 40 million copies since the first installment was released in 1995. There are films and book tie-ins galore.
In fact, New York publisher Kensington, a one-time specialist in gay and lesbian titles (not to mention books for all those Wiccans who follow a “neo-pagan, Earth-centered religion”…ok, witchcraft), is reportedly about to change gear and publish three romantic novellas by the king of apocalyptic Christian fiction, LaHaye. (“Selling Rapture,” The Guardian, 7/9/2005).
Want to get in on the action? Try the Christian Writers' Market Guide 2005 : The Reference Tool for the Christian Writer (Christian Writers' Market by Sally Stuart, which the Midwest Book Review bills as, “An essential reference for anyone seeking to be published in the Christian community.” But, you’ll have to shell out $16.49 over at Amazon (although it is eligible for free shipping).
Of course, there is plenty for kids, including book-related action figures like Bibleman (“Armed with the Sword of the Spirit, the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Helmet of Salvation, this caped Christian stands ready to battle evil.”), Moses, and Our Lord Himself (available in light or dark skin versions).
As an Anglo-catholic, I certainly like my books-lots and lots of books. And, I do have some religious statuary about-tasteful statuary, that is. But I have to confess that I find the industrial approach to the faith once-delivered to the saints a bit worrisome. After all, even the “alternate lifestyle” folks and witches are moving into the biz for economic reasons.
Jeremy Lott, a Baptist preacher’s kid writing at Reasononline, offers an interesting observation in the context of the Reformation:
To many evangelicals, who after all are Protestants, the gaudy excesses of the industry trigger vague cultural memories of ancient controversies over relics and indulgences. The Reformers viewed the marketing of religious artifacts and get-out-of-purgatory-free passes as a sign of decay. It’s a pretty good bet that John Calvin or Martin Luther would be none too thrilled by the Jesus, Mary, and Joseph action figures or the Christian self-help books (as one author put it, "It’s like a regular motivational book with Bible verses sprinkled in").
(Jesus Sells, Feb. 2003)
Thinking about all of this caused me to turn to Numbers—the one with a capital “N”. In Chapter 11, we find the people in the midst of their desert wandering and none too happy with a limited menu. These folks had free food in abundance: the manna that fell from the sky, fed and sustained them. Yet, the people were in an a la carte frame of mind, remembering fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic that they had in Egypt.(11:5) Never mind that pesky slavery business.
After a sufficient amount of complaining, the advocates for expanded consumer choice get to “have it their way”. They find quail more abundant than chicken at a Rotary Club barbecue. But, “while the flesh was yet between their teeth,” they suffer a very permanent case of indigestion.(11:33)
My point in all of this is not to condemn the market for things Christian. I am all in favor of people having options in the marketplace, but, maybe I’m just getting penurious in my old age. As I look around my own study and see all of the books, even a selection of “Christian fiction”, I can’t help wondering that some of the budget might have been better allocated than providing support to the Christian publishing industry.
Might it be the case that one less Bible commentary might mean money for one more missionary priest? Could one less translation of Holy Writ equate to a couple of KJVs or NKJVs in the hands of someone who never has read it?
And as for us, how about a little attention to that unopened Bible on the bookshelf? Perhaps, safety does not lie in numbers, especially when it comes to faith. Reading one book, the Book, and finding out what it actually has to say might be a bit more profitable than reading a dozen books telling us what it says. Or, might there be something there to truly give help for our selves, rather than offer self-help? After all, why eat quail when you can have manna?
Just a couple of thoughts as I wait for UPS to bring that latest box from Amazon. And I didn’t even need to use my Moses action figure.
Posted by Fr. Charles Nalls on
Thursday November 3, 2005 at 8:21am