NEW YORK--When most Americans log-on to the Internet they have a religious purpose for surfing, according to Ecumenical News International. New data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project study "Faith Online" shows some 82 million Americans, nearly two-thirds of the 128 million users, are impacting not only Internet use, but faith in the U.S.

The study shows that most religious usage of the Internet isn't from spiritual seekers, but from well-known religious traditions. For example, two-thirds of those who attend religious services weekly reported they also use the Internet for personal religious or spiritual purposes.

"The survey provides clear evidence that the majority of the online faithful are there for personal spiritual reasons, including seeking outside their own traditions," said Stewart Hoover, a professor at the University of Colorado and the lead author of the report.

But, Hoover noted, users "are also deeply grounded in those traditions, and this Internet activity supplements their ties to traditional institutions, rather than moving them away from church."

A small percentage (28 percent) of religious users found the Internet a tool to seek and exchange information about their own religious faith or tradition. An equally small percentage (26 percent) reported using the Internet to look for information about other faiths.

"The online faithful are quite serious about their spiritual journeys, and they are committed to those in their social networks who accompany them on those journeys," said Lynn Schofield Clark, also of the University of Colorado and a co-author of the report. "Most of the online faithful describe themselves as spiritual and religious and that is a perfect characterization of their use of the Internet. They probe for information and network with others in order to enrich their spiritual lives."

Other survey findings:

38 percent of US Internet users have sent or received e-mail with spiritual content.

35 percent have sent or received online greeting religious holiday cards.

32 percent have used the Internet to read news about religious affairs or events.

21 percent have sought information about how to celebrate religious holidays.

17 percent have searched for information about where they could attend religious services.

The study said the profiles of those using the Internet for religious or spiritual purposes are more likely to be white, middle-aged women who are college-educated.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is a non-profit, non-partisan research center, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts to examine the social impact of the Internet. The report is available at: www.pewinternet.org/reports.